蓝莓视频 hosted a meaningful ceremony on Veterans Day outside of Gilman Hall to honor the service and sacrifice of U.S. military veterans. The event, which was attended by about 100 students, faculty, staff, and community members, highlighted the College鈥檚 commitment to supporting veterans and their families.
Maria Cipro 鈥25, President of the Student Government Association, began the ceremony by thanking veterans in attendance for their service and detailing how 蓝莓视频 supports student veterans. Retired U.S. Marine Corps veteran and SVA President Jon White 鈥26 thanked campus for supporting veterans before introducing 蓝莓视频 President Margaret L. Drugovich.
Dr. Drugovich began her remarks by recognizing two key figures: White and Jason Nulton, a retired U.S. Air Force veteran and Coordinator of the College鈥檚 Veterans and ROTC programs. She also provided a brief history of Veterans Day, emphasizing its roots in Armistice Day, which began in 1918 to mark the end of World War I. She explained how President Woodrow Wilson designated the day in 1919 to honor World War I veterans. By 1938, the day was made a legal holiday, and in 1954, U.S. Congress officially renamed it 鈥淰eterans Day鈥 to recognize all military veterans, including those who served in World War II and the Korean War.
鈥淣ow, we honor all veterans on this day. I think it鈥檚 important to understand that this is a longstanding commemoration of service to our country,鈥 Dr. Drugovich said. 鈥淎s Maria (Cipro) said, Marietta is very proud to celebrate and remember the women and men who have served us and our country as members of the U.S. military. They do this to ensure our safety, to ensure our democracy, and to ensure our future.鈥
She went on to highlight the College鈥檚 initiatives for supporting veterans, including the Collegiate Purple Star Designation, the Student Veterans of America Chapter, the Military Center, and the recent partnership with Ohio University to offer an Air Force and Space Force ROTC Program.
鈥淲hy do we do these things?鈥 Dr. Drugovich said. 鈥淲e do it because we鈥檙e grateful for the more than 41 million Americans who have at some point in their journey and the journey of our country, set aside their own needs for us. Think about it. Setting aside their own needs for us, often leaving their families, often going to a place where they didn鈥檛 understand the language, often being asked to serve in ways that no human would ever expect. We鈥檙e grateful to them.鈥
She also reminded the audience that while veterans may not always be at the forefront of everyday conversation, their readiness to defend the nation is crucial, especially in times of uncertainty.
鈥淚n times of peace, we may not think often enough about the women and men who serve our country, but they have been there at the ready,鈥 she said. 鈥淚n times of uncertainty, we have turned to them to defend our freedom. They were there at the ready. There is little doubt for me that we will need to turn to them to defend our country at some point in the future. If we鈥檙e fortunate, with our support, they will be there at the ready.鈥
Dr. Drugovich closed her remarks with a personal reflection, acknowledging that her own father was a Korean War veteran. She expressed the College鈥檚 deep gratitude for all veterans, both living and deceased.
鈥溊遁悠 will always remember with gratitude those who served in our U.S. military. I want to thank our veterans, and I want to thank you all for taking this moment to gather here today,鈥 she said.