Veterans Day at UNE: Honoring those who serve

In recognition of Veterans Day, the University of New England honored those who served and continue to serve their country in a ceremony cosponsored by the Military Appreciation Club and Undergraduate Student Government. “Veterans Day is an opportunity to be able to support the veterans that you have in your lives, to recognize them for who they are also to be able to bring them into your own community,” said Jesse Hall, vice president of UNE Undergraduate Student Government.

The ceremony included remarks from President Danielle Ripich, who recalled stories from her father about World War II. “He always said that he was prepared to never come back.”

The Storm Surge Chamber Ensemble performed the Star Spangled Banner, followed by an acapella performance from Sympathetic Tones.  Assistant Provost John Langevin, Ph.D., and Director of Disability Services Hahna Patterson, M.A., shared stories about their own service. Patterson called on Americans to do more to support veterans. “Very few of us are burdened by the impacts of war, very few of us. So we might say thank you for your service and maybe we mean it and maybe it’s sincere, but platitudes are not enough.”