SC State Veterans Day speaker calls for selfless service, honors university's military legacy

Retired Army Col. Larry C. Boyd Sr. challenges Bulldog Battalion ROTC cadets to lead with character

ORANGEBURG, S.C. — A military commission may open doors, but character determines what a leader does with the opportunities, retired Army Col. Larry C. Boyd Sr. told South Carolina State University ROTC cadets on Veterans Day.

Boyd challenged the cadets — and everyone in attendance — to embrace a principle he believes should guide both military service and everyday life: "It's selfish not to be selfless."

The SC State alumnus and ROTC Hall of Fame member delivered the keynote address Wednesday, Nov. 11, during the university's Veterans Appreciation Program in Martin Luther King Jr. Auditorium.

"Selflessness does not mean neglecting yourself. It means recognizing that life is bigger than your individual needs and ambitions," Boyd said. 

The program honored veterans from generations of military service, recognized the sacrifices of military families and highlighted the university's longstanding role in preparing officers for the U.S. armed forces.

Veterans representing each branch of the U.S. armed forces were asked to stand and be recognized as their respective service songs were played, giving the audience an opportunity to honor those who served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Space Force.

SC State President Alexander Conyers welcomed the audience and reflected on the university's military heritage, which dates to its founding in 1896. He noted that military tactics were among the institution's original areas of instruction, alongside agriculture and mechanical arts.

Conyers, a retired Army colonel who received his commission through SC State’s Army ROTC Bulldog Battalion, expressed personal gratitude to fellow veterans in attendance. 

"I've been proud to have called you teammates," Conyers said. "I put on the uniform for the very first time at 18 years old and I took it off for the last time at 50, giving me 32 years of service to our country." 

He also encouraged students to recognize the veterans in their own lives and thank them for their sacrifices.

Dr. Lakeisa Tucker, dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies, delivered the occasion, reflecting on the origins of Veterans Day and the importance of remembering those who served and sacrificed for the nation.

She traced the observance to the end of World War I and the significance of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, when the armistice took effect in 1918.

"We do not mark this day each year as a celebration of victory. We mark this day as a celebration of those who made victory possible," Tucker said.

She encouraged the audience to honor veterans and active-duty military personnel for their commitment to defending the nation's freedoms and ideals.

A legacy of military leadership

Boyd reflected on SC State's military history, beginning with the establishment of its Department of Military Science during the 1947-48 academic year. The university's first ROTC graduating class in 1949 consisted of six cadets, establishing a tradition that has produced generations of military officers.

He noted that 25 SC State graduates have attained the rank of general or admiral in the U.S. armed forces, an achievement he described as evidence of the university's commitment to developing leaders. He referred to them as “25 individuals who carry the Bulldog legacy from this campus to the highest ranks of our nation's military.” 

Earlier in the program, Conyers recognized the Bulldog Battalion's newest general, U.S. Army Reserve Brig. Gen. Tanya E. Simmons, an Orangeburg native, SC State alumna and Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School graduate. Following the Veterans Day observance, Simmons delivered a presentation as part of SC State's College of Business and Information Systems’ Executive Speaker Series in Belcher Hall.

Equality, justice and a challenge to the next generation

In his Veterans Day address, Boyd recognized the contributions of Black service members who defended the nation while confronting discrimination and unequal treatment at home.

"They did not ask whether America was perfect. They served because they believed America could become better," Boyd said.

He emphasized that their service contributed not only to national security but also to the advancement of equality and justice. 

Addressing cadets of SC State's Bulldog Battalion, Boyd encouraged them to measure their success not by the ranks they attain but by the people they influence and the responsibilities they accept. 

"Your commission will open the door — your character will determine what happens after you walk through it," he said. 

Boyd reminded the cadets that military leadership requires accountability, mentorship and a willingness to place the mission above personal interests. 

He also recognized veterans whose service spanned the Vietnam War, Cold War, Operation Desert Storm and conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, along with those who served in other military operations.

"Regardless of when, where or how you served, you answered the call," Boyd said.

 Boyd paid particular tribute to military spouses, children, parents and other loved ones who endured deployments, separations and missed family milestones.

"Their sacrifices may not appear in the military records, but they are written in the hearts of those who served," he said. 

Service beyond the uniform

Boyd emphasized that military service instills values that continue to benefit communities long after veterans leave active duty. 

He pointed to veterans who become educators, mentors, business leaders, clergy members and community advocates, bringing lessons in discipline, integrity, teamwork and accountability into civilian life.

His message reinforced the importance of selfless service as a principle that extends beyond the military and into everyday relationships, professional responsibilities and community involvement.

Honoring veterans through ceremony and music 

Cadets from SC State's Bulldog Battalion played a central role in the Veterans Appreciation Program, delivering the opening and closing prayers, conducting the candle-lighting ceremony and presenting the colors of the United States and South Carolina.

SC State music industry instructor Willie Bradley performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “Taps” on trumpet. The Orangeburg choir of the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses performed “God Bless America.” Latwanna Flake, a sophomore music industry major, led the singing of the university's alma mater.

A career of service

 A native of Newberry, South Carolina, Boyd graduated with honors from South Carolina State College with a bachelor's degree in political science. A Distinguished Military Graduate, he received a Regular Army commission and entered active duty in May 1980.

During his military career, Boyd held numerous command and staff assignments in the United States and overseas. His responsibilities included serving as theater adjutant general for the 3rd Army at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, during Operation Iraqi Freedom III.

He was inducted into the SC State ROTC Hall of Fame in 2017. 

After his military career, Boyd continued serving young people as a senior Army instructor in the JROTC program at Darlington High School, retiring in 2021. He also serves as chairman of the Board of Deacons at Trinity Baptist Church in Florence, South Carolina.