SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Syracuse University’s Office of Veteran and Military Affairs hosted its first-ever in-person Veterans Day Ceremony Thursday morning. The ceremony featured speeches and remarks from members of the Syracuse University community who have served in the United States military.
The ceremony was emceed by Charlie Poag, a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, and a Public Relations student at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Christine Brophy, a U.S. Army veteran and a research analyst at Syracuse University’s Office of Institutional Research, delivered remarks about the history of Veterans Day.
Following that, Harris Krahn, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who is an Anthropology student at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and serves as Secretary of the Student Veterans Organization here at Syracuse University, detailed the history of the veteran community at Syracuse University.
Following performances of “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” and “America the Beautiful” by the Syracuse University Singers, Syracuse University Chancellor and President Kent Syverud presented the Chancellor’s Medal, the University’s most prestigious award, to Syracuse University Vice Chancellor Dr. J. Michael Haynie for service to the veteran community at the University and for leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Syverud then introduced the Veterans Day Ceremony’s keynote speaker, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Victor Holman, a 1982 graduate of Syracuse University. Holman detailed his experiences during his time as a cadet in Syracuse University’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, and how what he learned during his time there allowed him to mature and succeed as his military career progressed.
However, what Holman emphasized most in his speech was what he believes to be the obligations that come with serving the nation, and how he believes that those obligations do not exist only when serving in a military capacity.
“To my current and future veterans in the audience: our contract to the nation is not for term of service or commission, but for life,” Holman said during his speech. “You’ll be sought out to lead on the job, in the community, at your children’s school, and in the classroom right here at Syracuse University. Our service to the country and others never ends.”
After Holman delivered his speech, members of the 198th Army Band played the service anthems of all branches of the United States military, during which veterans of each service branch in the audience were invited to stand up and be recognized.
The ceremony ended with a benediction delivered by the Rev. Brian Konkol, Dean of Hendricks Chapel, praying that all members of the Syracuse University community keep those who serve and those who have served in their thoughts and in their care.
