Sharon Harmon, the first Black Colonel in the Rhode Island National Guard, spoke about her experience serving in the military in a Veterans Day Observance event at the University of Rhode Island.
A tribute to the challenges for veterans in today’s society, the event was meant to emphasize where America’s strength as a nation comes from, according to Harmon. The roots of those who served hold veterans steady so they can grow stronger and higher.
Harmon said she joined the military 40 years ago with a goal to serve her country and community. As she served, Harmon realized that working wasn’t only a career, but a calling that challenged and shaped her as a person.
“[Leadership] involves people who dare to push those boundaries, respectfully and courageously,” Harmon said. “Expanding your tradition, time and what you owe to this country will strengthen you.”
Through deployment training, Harmon said she learned that leadership is not based on someone’s rank or recognition. It’s about responsibility and respect toward fellow recruits.
Receiving the promotion from member to colonel wasn’t just a personal milestone but a reflection of the Rhode Island National Guard’s own growth in diversity, according to Harmon.
Being rooted in tradition means holding to values that matter, honor, duty and respect, while looking toward what’s next after service, Harmon said.
After retirement from the military in August 2025, the next mission was serving on the Woonsocket City Council, according to Harmon. As a council member, Harmon fights for and alongside veterans through discipline, integrity and teamwork. Through these values, she has the power to speak up for someone else when they need to be heard.
“If you’re going to be a voice for another person, it takes courage and commitment because now you’re putting yourself out there instead of holding back,” Harmon said. “It’s not about me, it’s about all those you speak for.”
Before Harmon’s speech, third-year URI Navy veteran student speaker, Lidell Booysen, spoke on the importance of Veterans Day.
“Veterans Day is not a glorification of war or celebrating our military fight,” Booysen said. “It’s about recognizing real people who, for many reasons, have made the choice to serve something greater than themselves.”
The holiday honors and remembers people who served and those who are serving for the U.S. armed forces, according to Booysen. Civilians should understand the work veterans do to keep them safe.
Regardless of why people join the armed forces, every story involves sacrifice, according to Booysen. Those who serve spend time away from their loved ones and put their personal goals aside.
Not every veteran has seen combat or spent decades in a uniform, but they all gave a significant part of themselves for their country so people can live in freedom, safety and with opportunities, according to Booysen. Each veteran’s willingness to put others before themselves is something that everyone should remember and honor.
“[Thanking a veteran] is a small gesture that carries a lot of weight because acknowledgement matters,” Booysen said. “It reminds us that our time and sacrifices, both large and small, mean something and don’t go unnoticed.”
Following Harmon and Booysen’s speeches, Bob Flynn, the director of the Center for Military and Veteran Education, awarded the Veteran Alumni Excellence Award to Lt. Carolyn Spinney, who served in the U.S. Air Force in 1951. During her time in the airforce, she cared for military families as a nurse at stations far from their homes.
After her service, Spinney settled in Rhode Island with her husband, according to Flynn. Spinney attended URI in the 1970s, earning her master’s degree in nursing. After graduation, she spent 40 years as a nurse, delivering over 3,000 babies.
“We continue to work hard to acknowledge our veterans and their families,” Flynn said. “[As well as] the great outcomes [they receive] for them and our community.”
