Citrus College, APU continue tradition of honoring veterans
On Nov. 7, Citrus College and Azusa Pacific University (APU) came together to honor local military heroes during the 19th annual Saluting Our Veterans ceremony.
Held in the Campus Mall, the event opened with remarks from Superintendent/President Schulz and was followed by a presentation of colors from APU's Army ROTC. Afterwards, the Citrus College Blue Note Swing Orchestra performed the national anthem and Rio Martinez, a military and veteran coach at APU, delivered the invocation.
The event's two honorees included Martinez, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, and U.S. Army veteran Allan Weaver, who serves as an instructional lab technician II in the Citrus College Automotive Technology program.
Weaver was recognized for his military service and contributions to Citrus College. After 9/11, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served for more than seven years as a heavy-duty motor transport operator. In this role, Weaver was responsible for hauling tanks and supplies, as well as maintaining vehicles.
While in the armed forces, Weaver was deployed to Kuwait and Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. After being honorably discharged, he returned home and worked in a management role before deciding to study automotive technology at Citrus College.
As a work-study student, Weaver took on a leadership role in the Veterans Success Center, supporting staff and students while also creating a welcoming environment for veterans. After earning his degree at Citrus College, he began working in the automotive technology program, eventually becoming an instructional lab technician II.
After Martinez and Weaver were honored, Citrus College alumnus and U.S. Army veteran Jixing Bian gave the keynote address. Reflecting on his personal journey, Bian talked about his time at Citrus College and discussed his dream of working for the California Highway Patrol to improve traffic safety.
To learn more about the services available to Citrus College student-veterans, visit www.citruscollege.edu/vsc.
This article originally appeared in the December 2024 edition of the Citrus View.