Rows of flags wave in the November breeze on the Clock Tower lawn, each one bearing a message of gratitude from the Fort Lewis College community. The display follows last week’s Veterans Day luncheon, where Air Force veteran Meghan Ripple shared powerful reflections on leadership, service, and the lasting bond between veterans and their communities.
Ripple, who served 25 years in the Air Force, predominately in special operations close air support, spoke candidly about the honor and weight of military service and the lessons she carried forward—from commanding in high-stakes situations to raising three sons at home.
“The number one characteristic of a leader is the ability to grow,” Ripple said. “As veterans, we’ve experienced both pride and pain in our service. Growth helps us carry both with purpose.”
Drawing from her experience in combat, Ripple described how leadership is tested not only in moments of crisis but in the courage to reflect afterward.
Ripple urged those gathered to see veterans as vital contributors to their communities, describing service members as “the ultimate team players” who bring a willingness to tackle ethical dilemmas, having to choose not between right and wrong but between two things that are right, and a “bias to action.”
“We are all just ordinary people who came together on extraordinary teams and did some incredible things,” she said. 
“We believe in being part of something bigger than ourselves,” she said. “Whenever someone thanks me for my service, I tell them, ‘Thank you for making this a country worth serving.’ We need our communities because they remind us that our service mattered—and that it still matters. Our democracy, the ideals enshrined in our constitution, is special and worth serving.”
The luncheon was part of a series of events hosted by the Veteran Student Organization to honor those who served. This week, the group invited the campus community to visit the flag display on the Clock Tower lawn and contribute personal messages of thanks.
In a message to campus, President Heather Shotton recognized veterans as integral members of the FLC community.
“Their perspectives deepen our classrooms, our conversations, and our sense of purpose,” Shotton wrote. “Veterans are valued members of our campus whose courage and commitment inspire us all.”