Dean Jane Bray sent the following message to the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies faculty and staff community on November 5, 2019. - Ed.
As we approach Veterans Day this November 11, let us be ever more keenly aware of the richness we possess simply by living and working in a military community. We all are fortunate to be able to brag about the largest naval installation in the world being our closest neighbor. That pride brings us neighbors, husbands, wives, students, and co-workers who are currently serving military, retired military or strong veterans of the military. I encourage you to attend Old Dominion University's annual Veterans Day Observance Thursday, Nov. 7 at 12:30 p.m. on Kaufman Mall. You may find a surprise in the person standing or seated next to you who is being honored and you were not even aware she/he was in the military.
In my personal note last year, I shared my visit to see my uncle buried in the American cemetery in Luxembourg. This year, I wish to share even more of my personal connection to Veterans Day. I would like to share that my husband, Bill, is a proud veteran having served two tours in Vietnam as a crew chief and gunner on a helicopter. It is through his lens that I realize how important it is to have our men and women fighting for all of us. Our freedom that our military protects on a daily basis allowed Americans to loudly and harshly protest our involvement in the Vietnam war. We may have carried our freedom too far by the way our Vietnam vets were poorly treated when they returned after fighting on the foreign soils of Vietnam. Rear Admiral Charles "Chip" Rock, a friend to ODU, told my husband that "the Vietnam vets are a very distinguished group. They were the only group to come off of the battlefield and be despised by their country."
So on this Veterans Day, I urge all to loudly celebrate the military area in which we reside and to turn to your left and to your right to see the wealth of military living amongst us. To all veterans, we extend a deep and heartfelt thank you for your service. And with a special note to all Vietnam veterans - we not only thank you for your service - but we proudly extend our hands in a salute to you and a long overdue gesture of welcome home!
With gratitude and appreciation for your sacrifice and your service,
Jane S. Bray
Dean, Darden College of Education and Professional Studies