Patrick LaRoche began his career in the United States Marines Corps stationed in California with the 3rd Battalion. Here, he trained with militaries across the South Pacific and spent hot summers working in the Mojave Desert.
But these days, LaRoche can be found in a classroom at Northeastern University, working toward his bachelor’s degree in business administration.
LaRoche is one of around 700 student veterans currently studying at Northeastern and one of the many the university honored at its Veterans Day ceremony on Nov. 11.
“It’s comforting to be in a campus community that takes the time to celebrate veterans,” said LaRoche, treasurer of Northeastern’s Student Veterans Organization, in his welcoming address at Tuesday’s ceremony at the Raytheon Amphitheater. “People often ask why I enlisted, and while there were several practical reasons, they all paled in comparison to the reasons I felt as I served. I woke up every day and went to work because of the men and women I served with. Veterans Day gives me the opportunity to celebrate them and the countless others who have lived those same experiences here at Northeastern.”
