How will your story read and what will your legacy be?

Cornell’s Veterans Day program featured Technical Sgt. Michael Skuban, an Air Force recruiter, who came back to Wisconsin to live, because he said he loves the “help everyone” atmosphere. Skuban also spoke at the Lake Holcombe program, earlier in the morning. Photo by Ginna Young

By Ginna Young

“It’s been a heck of a ride.”

That’s what Technical Sgt. Michael T. Skuban, United States Air Force recruiter, said about his time serving his country, during Cornell and Lake Holcombe’s Veterans Day programs Nov. 11. Skuban spoke to students, teachers and community members, about the 15 years, he’s been in active duty and how it’s changed his life.

It wasn’t always a smooth ride, though, as at first, Skuban didn’t know what he wanted to do out of high school. The Wisconsin native tried community college, but it wasn’t the right fit. He tried working at several places, but ended up flat broke. All Skuban knew was that he wanted to help people, but how did you turn that into a living?

Finally, he turned to the wisest person he knew – his father, who told him he might want to consider a career in the Air Force, since Skuban enjoyed flying and helping people. His father told him that the military must have firefighters.

Skuban headed to the nearest recruiting office and a short time later, he was in basic training. However, that proved to be a challenge, as he couldn’t get the physical fitness part down. One thing the Air Force didn’t do, was give up on Skuban and he attended a camp designed to whip him into shape.

“One thing I’ve learned, you never learn from success,” said Skuban. “You always learn from failure.”

While it was discouraging to “fail” his first time out, Skuban didn’t quit and went on to become a fire protection specialist in 2007. Over his career, Skuban has been deployed overseas three times, including to Kuwait, Columbia, and northern Afghanistan.

When asked by a student how many times he had to fight overseas, firefighter Skuban gave food for thought: zero.

“I got to see the world, I got to save lives,” he said, adding that as a Wisconsinite, it’s part of his makeup to naturally want to help people. “If I help people, it fills my cup.”

Skuban says he’s been able to do things he never imagined with the Air Force, such as singing the National Anthem in front of thousands of people at Rock Fest, repelling down an eight-story building, pulling G’s in a Fat Albert and running a 5K race in a kilt, dressed as a leprechaun when overseas, in front of 2,000 soldiers.

“No matter what you do in life, no matter where your journey takes you, have fun with it,” said Skuban. “As you go through life, how will your story read? What is your legacy?”

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="242"] The Lake Holcombe kindergarten class led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance at their Veterans Day Program, followed by upper classmates who shared what the special day means to them. Photo by Ginna Young[/caption]   [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="492"] After Lake Holcombe’s ceremony was complete, students filed by veterans to give them their thanks and even hugs, in some cases. Photo by Ginna Young[/caption]   [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="243"] Lake Holcombe band member Logan Jaedike played the ever-somber TAPS to close the program, after a 21-gun salute was held to honor those who fell in service of their country. Photo by Ginna Young[/caption]   [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="326"] Cornell’s program welcomed the Cornell American Legion color guard, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance by younger students and a patriotic selection of songs from the elementary kids. Photo by Ginna Young[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_160249" align="alignnone" width="300"] Joining fellow servicemen in saluting the flag, Vietnam veteran Pat Sime is a familiar fixture at the annual Cornell program, sharing briefly about his time in the service. Photo by Ginna Young[/caption]