Marine corps veteran Levi Kammes said he looks back on his time in the military with a smile.

Kammes, who served from 2001 to 2005, also serves as the president of the NIU Veterans Club, which hosts a Veterans Day memorial service at 11 a.m. today in front of Altgeld Hall.

“[Veteran’s Day] is one of the days that we get to honor those who served and didn’t get to come home,” Kammes said. “It’s always really important.”

The service is scheduled to take place in front of the flagpole across from Altgeld. Speeches are planned from Clay Campbell, DeKalb County State’s Attorney and U.S. Army Veteran, and members of the NIU ROTC, according to an NIU Today article.

The memorial service is important, Kammes said, not only because it gets the Veterans Club name out, but also because it sends a message to veterans.

“Its a way to tell everyone that veterans are on campus and we appreciate them,” Kammes said. “We haven’t forgotten about them, and they’re still an important part of the community.”

Members of the NIU ROTC will provide a 21-gun salute, according to NIU Today.

Kammes said military service runs in his family and played a big role in his decision to serve; his grandfather, uncle, brother and others are veterans as well.

“This is what I wanted to do,” Kammes said. “Serve my community and my country and honor those that served [before me]; I think I was 12 when I decided to do it.”

Kammes said his military service challenged him and he remembers it positively.

“You know you’ve done something … you thought you never could,” Kammes said. “You’ve pushed yourself physically and mentally.”