At Nov. 11 panel, Monmouth College honors veterans by featuring the school's own

by Barry McNamara

Monmouth, Ill. (11/12/2026) — The childhood memories of Addie Smith, who will graduate from Monmouth College in December, provided vivid details about the life of a military family, which was the theme of this year's Veterans Day event on campus.

Four Monmouth staff members who've served in the military - and who each have children enrolled at Monmouth - were featured in the panel, which was led by State Rep. Dan Swanson and held in the Veterans Memorial Great Room on the main floor of the Center for Science and Business.

"I remember Skyping with him," said Smith, also a graduate of Monmouth-Roseville High School and the daughter of 21-year Army veteran Allen Smith. "I'd be very excited to see his face on the screen. Mom would try to explain where my dad was. So I remember that confusion of where my dad was, but also the overwhelming feeling of pride that I felt."

Addie's mom, Kim Smith, wasn't on the panel, but Swanson asked her for a comment during the Q&A portion.

"It makes you stronger as a family," said Kim. "And I was fortunate to have my Monmouth family to support me during that time" when her husband was overseas.

In her opening remarks, Monmouth President Patricia Draves said, "Today is a day to pause and reflect on the freedoms we enjoy and that we all take for granted. It's a time to show our gratitude for those who've served and the families who support those people in uniform."

Before Draves spoke and before Swanson, who chairs the Illinois House Veterans' Affairs Committee, introduced the panelists, Eli Kelly led members of the Fighting Scots Marching Band in several rousing patriotic selections.

There was also a somber moment, as one of the band members, Maylee Huffman '29 of Farmington, Illinois, played "Taps" in honor of another "tireless" champion of veterans, Cheri Stanton, a member of last year's panel, who died earlier this year. A Monmouth resident, Stanton became the first female department commander in the 98-year history of the Illinois American Legion when she was inducted in 2017. Swanson paid tribute to her by "remembering her life and the example she set."

Swanson's first question was directed to Jake Miller, whose 20-year stint in the military officially ended a few days earlier on Nov. 1. Miller was asked why he chose to join the Army all those years ago.

"My mindset was 'carrying the torch,'" replied Miller, Monmouth's director of career and professional connections. "I wanted to help make sure that what happened in the past is happening in the future."

Lessons from their service

The military provided learning opportunities for him every step of the way.

"I learned pretty early on how to get out of my comfort zone," said Miller, who was honored in 2015 as an award-winning drill sergeant in a service-wide competition against hundreds of his peers. "And my time in the Army also taught me skills like leadership development, program management and team building."

Asked whether any of his father's drill sergeant traits were present on the homefront, Jacob Miller '27 jokingly replied, "Every bit of it. But no, I've never even heard him yell."

What Jacob did enjoy was an element of his father's job that some kids might see as a detriment - moving on to a new duty station in a different state every couple of years, just when the previous location was starting to feel like home.

"I liked having new experiences with new people," he said. "I think it's really helped me out, meeting new people and seeing the world."

The Rev. Dr. John Huxtable, a 2004 graduate of Monmouth, serves as the college's chaplain. But he's also a Navy veteran, joining the service right out of high school.

"What's beautiful about the military is the camaraderie that happens," he said. "I was on a 200-man crew out at sea, and everybody leans on each other, relies on each other. The Navy taught me to communicate with all types of people. I also learned how to 'breathe' in a crisis. Now that helps me work with students and get them to breathe through their own crises."

Smith had two "rewarding" jobs during his 21 years in the Army, serving as a small arms and artillery repairman and as an infantry soldier. That's helped him have two jobs as a civilian. In addition to being on the college's maintenance staff, he works out of Monmouth's Tac Shack as a certified firearms instructor.

Smith's co-worker on the maintenance staff, Jared Bushmaker, said one of the lessons the military taught him is that "attention to detail matters," and he applies that principle in his work for the college. "I want things on this campus to look as pristine as possible."

Bushmaker also gave a shout out to the Army's Soldier Family Readiness Group program, which provides a communication bridge, moral support and a connection to resources.

"Having that FRG system was so important," he said. "The families who run that don't get the support and recognition they serve."

On a day honoring the sacrifices that men and women in the military have made, Grace Huxtable '28 paid tribute to veterans with her reply to a question from Swanson, who asked her whether she considered following a military path.

"No," she replied. "That takes a level of bravery I don't have."

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