With Veterans Day this week, groups around campus organized several activities for students to pay their respect to the men and women of the military, both past and present.

The events began Sunday evening at Stotler Lounge, inside Memorial Student Union, where the Missouri Student Veterans Association held a banquet for MSVA members, veterans and their guests.

Monday kicked off the annual “Tigers 4 Troops” supply drive. The event encourages students to donate useful items that will then be sent in care packages to Missouri soldiers overseas, in hopes it will brighten the day of a serviceman or servicewoman in time for the holidays.

The first Veterans Week blood drive was held Monday. Students and faculty alike gathered in the Mark Twain Ballroom at Memorial Student Union throughout the day, eager to save lives by donating a pint of blood.

Carol Graham spoke to a large audience Monday in Stotler Lounge about several topics, including recognizing signs of depression and how to cope with grief.

Graham lost both of her sons in 2003. Her youngest son Kevin committed suicide. Her older son, Jeffrey, was killed in Iraq seven months later.

Graham stressed the importance of recognizing suicidal warning signs, and explained how to assist someone showing such signs. She also encouraged the audience members to seek help themselves if they ever felt depressed, especially for those serving in the armed forces.

The main attraction of Veterans Week took place Tuesday night in Jesse Auditorium. Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta addressed a crowd of hundreds of people to tell his stories about Afghanistan, and also to stress the importance of teamwork, selflessness and leadership.

Giunta is the first living winner of the Congressional Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War.

Under ambush from Taliban militants, Giunta’s bravery, selflessness and determination to follow orders saved most of his men from certain death.

“When all of the men alongside you would rather die than see you die, you are almost impossible to stop,” Giunta said. “That is the kind of bond that we shared over there.”

Giunta also explained that he believes that his medal of honor actually belongs to everyone sacrificed for the country, not just himself.

“We see heroes everyday,” Giunta said. “So many people out there among us have stories a lot like mine. That’s why I find it so ridiculous that I am the only one standing up here tonight.”

Sgt. Giunta ended the evening by thanking all of the veterans with a long uproar of applause, followed by a series of questions from the audience.

Earlier that day, Giunta visited with MU ROTC cadets from all of the three main branches of the military.

“He told us that he really appreciated the commitment that all of us have made,” army ROTC cadet Jeff Dorn said. “He also told us to keep working hard and to get the most out of our experience here, because ROTC creates the future leaders of our military.”

Sgt. Giunta was stationed near the Korengal Valley in Afghanistan, where Wednesday’s movie at Wrench Auditorium, “Restrepo,” was filmed.

“Restrepo” tells the story of a platoon stationed in the Korengal in 2007. Under constant attack from Taliban Militants, the soldiers manage to build a fortress that they named Outpost Restrepo after one of their fallen comrades.

ROTC cadets held a memorial vigil Thursday outside Boone County Courthouse.

At Memorial Union, students gathered to write thank-you cards for veterans, which were then sent to the veterans hospital on campus.

Thursday also marked the 236th birthday of the Marine Corps, and a celebration was held at American Legion post 202.

Friday’s events include a parade beginning at the Columns at 10:40 a.m., as well as a few memorial ceremonies beginning at noon on the east side of Memorial Tower.

Veterans Week is capped off with a showing of “Captain America: The First Avenger” at 7:30 p.m. inside Wrench Auditorium.

“Without those guys, we wouldn’t be able to go to great schools like this,” Dorn said. “America would also be a much more dangerous place to live. The least we can do is show them that they are appreciated.”