Even though Veterans Day has come and gone, students, faculty and staff continue their efforts to honor and support armed forces overseas.

The Southeastern Student Veterans Association (SSVA) is assembling care packages to send to four local soldiers serving overseas. SSVA has partnered up with Southeastern’s radio station, KSLU, and the Lady Lions basketball team to collect supplies for the packages.

According to SSVA Vice President Cal Broussard, a retired Navy veteran and sophomore criminal justice major, the partnership with KSLU and women’s basketball was made in order to spread the word to students about the care packages.

“They were collecting it,” said Broussard. “They had a Home Town Heroes night at the basketball game. They were advertising letting people know where to bring stuff.”

 The effort  to collect goods for the care packages was led by SSVA President Mark Lawrence, with help from Broussard, SSVA advisor Rene Abadie and the other officers of the organization. According to Broussard, the drive has already received many items, ranging from beef jerky to DVDs.

“We’ve collected more stuff than we have places to put it right now,” said Broussard. “Since we’re such a young organization we don’t have very much money right now. We’re using the Livingston Parish Veterans Association. Right now, they are our contact, and that’s who we’re sending through.”

Broussard is not positive on the exact date the packages will be shipped or to the exact location they will be going, but he did say that the soldiers would hopefully receive the packages before the holiday season.

“We’re trying to get them pushed to make sure we can get them there by Christmas,” said Broussard.

The SSVA is an organization that was formed by Southeastern veterans. The purpose of the group is to help veterans transitioning to college life. Broussard explained that the organization is open to anyone who supports the troops.

“All vets, vets’ families, active duty, active duty families, supporters. You don’t have to support the military mission just our troops,” said Broussard when asked about who was eligible to join. “We’re here for the guys and girls not for any military mission. We’re here to support them.”

Broussard hopes that, in the future, the SSVA will be able to establish a place for veterans who come to Southeastern to call their own. He wants students at Southeastern to try to relate to the former soldiers and recognize their achievements.

“Every person in the military, when they enter, they understand that they may have to give their life and they do it willingly. Not everybody can do that. It takes a special breed to say, ‘I’ll die for you,'” said Broussard. “Those people deserve some recognition and a little respect. Most of them don’t ask for it, but they do deserve it. They’ve earned it.”

Those interested in joining the SSVA or donating to the organization can send an email to [email protected].