Several Events Planned in Observance of Veterans Day
November 01, 2012
With a quarter of its student body directly connected to the military, two thriving ROTC units and a recent selection as a "Military-Friendly School" by G.I. Jobs, it would make sense that Old Dominion University would observe Veterans Day in proper fashion.
ODU's annual Veterans Day Remembrance will be held in the North Cafe of Webb Center at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8. And it's only one of several events being planned for the campus community to honor and celebrate the country's military veterans. The event was moved from Kaufman Mall because of the forecast of inclement weather.
The Veterans Day program features guest speaker Maj. Gen. Peter C. Bayer Jr., U.S. Army, Deputy of Chief of Staff, Strategic Plans and Policy, NATO. ODU President John R. Broderick will act as host for the event.
The program will include strong participation from ODU's Army ROTC and the Hampton Roads Naval ROTC programs. America Luna, an undergraduate student and U.S. Army veteran who served two tours of duty in Iraq, will be the Student Veterans Association speaker for the event.
Music for the event will be provided by the ODU Men's Choral and the Faithful Men, under the direction of Nancy Klein, associate professor of music, and the Joint ROTC Choir, under the direction of Gabrielle Carter.
Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP to 757-683-3116 or www.odu.edu/univents (event code VET12).
Other events are planned for the campus community in observance of Veterans Day.
On Nov. 9 and 11, two concerts, titled "Images of America" and directed by Klein, will be performed by a 70-voice choir, consisting of the music written by and for the people who built the nation, including spirituals, revivalist songs, folk songs and patriotic music.
The concerts are at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, at Kempsville Presbyterian Church, 805 Kempsville Road, in Virginia Beach, and at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11, in the atrium of ODU's Diehn Center for the Performing Arts.
The concerts are free and open to the public. Audience members who are veterans will be acknowledged and honored. Call 495-1913 (Kempsville Presbyterian Church) or 683-4061 (the ODU music department) for more information.
On Sunday, Nov. 11, a student volunteer organization known as RUCK4VETS is hosting a 12-mile hike in full military gear through Newport News Park, beginning at 10 a.m. The "ruck" - or hike - is being held in appreciation of military veterans. It is scheduled to end at approximately 2 p.m. There is no cost or entry fee. Individuals do not have to have a backpack to participate; families and pets are welcome.
And throughout the week, ODU Student Veterans Association members will go to elementary schools and read to schoolchildren, also speaking about their experiences as members of the military. The classes will then create a poster that will be delivered to the VA Hospital in Hampton on Veterans Day.