Across the University of New England’s two campuses on Veteran’s Day on Wednesday, Nov. 11, commemorative ceremonies and public shows of gratitude to veterans in the University community were offered from leadership as well as those on the faculty who served in the military.
In the Danielle N. Ripich Commons on the Biddeford Campus, Christian Alers (Marine Biology, ’29), a cadet in the Reserves Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) at UNE who participated in the color guard, said the ceremony illustrated the respect the UNE community holds for veterans everywhere.
“That question that was posed: ‘If I don’t, who will?’ I think about that a lot, but every time it’s brought up, it makes me think about how I can help people,” Alers said.
In his welcome remarks, President James Herbert echoed the importance of these shows of gratitude, respect, empathy, and support and asked those gathered to be mindful of the veterans in the UNE community throughout the year. When there are foreign policy discussions around places where U.S. troops are deployed or when passing a veteran on UNE’s campuses, Herbert suggested students “introduce yourself, acknowledge them, and thank them.”
Herbert asked those veterans or active service members present in the Commons to stand and be recognized. And about a dozen gathered rose to rousing applause.
“Thank you for your service and sacrifice. UNE wouldn’t be the amazing intuition it is without you,” said Herbert, who shared that his father, brother, and uncle all served. “You embody our nation's very best qualities, and you play an important role in modeling who we are and what we stand for both around the world and also here at home.”
The event, organized by Sarah Rossignol (Nutrition, ’27) and Marena Beale (Social Work, ’27), the Undergraduate Student Government president, featured two women veterans as guest speakers.
Here at UNE, we don't have that many veterans, so it's nice to see that, no matter the population, they're still willing to support all of us.” — Crystal Vejar (D.O., ’29), U.S. Army veteran and president of the UNE chapter of The Association of Military Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons
Kirsten Walsh, Ph.D., director of UNE’s undergraduate Social Work program and a U.S. Navy veteran, told those gathered her service didn't end when she became a veteran.
Since she left the service, Walsh has helped in the development of national legislation supporting women veterans and worked to advance the Women Warriors Initiative, which provides opportunities for women veterans to gain professional development skills.
Walsh’s vast experience aiding underserved veteran communities has her uniquely positioned at UNE to help future social workers address complex behavioral health and social challenges faced by veterans and military-connected communities by providing the kind of first-hand experience needed to gain insight into the challenges these communities face.
Within her first months at UNE, Walsh organized the first Wounded Warrior Project roundtable held in Maine on UNE’s Portland Campus for the Health Sciences.
“After I got out of the military, I chose to go to where I can make change. I went to Congress. Change is possible and I served writing bills and writing laws and writing legislation to serve and support not only the service members, but their families,” Walsh said in her Veteran’s Day talk. “So, how can you serve? There are many ways. Thanking a veteran is an act of service and an act of gratitude.”
Speaker Rebecca Cornell du Houx, LCSW, a 23‑year service member of the Maine Army National Guard who currently serves as a captain and behavioral health officer, explained her belief that every veteran deserves dignity, safety, and community — a mantra that echoes UNE’s core mission to champion innovation to foster healthier communities, a healthier planet, and to improve the health of people.
She offered the students gathered the same advice she gives to service members in times of stress, chaos, and despair, “to fall back on your values and let them ground you,” and it will help others.
“Then you're opening the door for others who want to return back to their values,” Cornell du Houx said.
On the Portland Campus, students, faculty, and professional staff placed flags in rows at the base of the flagpole on the main quad in honor of those named on the recognition boards around campus in Proctor Hall, Innovation Hall, and at the Harold and Bibby Alfond Center for Health Sciences. More than 300 flags were planted in 2026.
In addition, students were invited to participate in a service project that benefits veterans, an annual tradition facilitated by Trisha Mason, M.A., director of the Office of Service Learning, and Molly Collin, PT, the Service Learning program coordinator.
This year, students made friendship bracelets and wrote personal messages to the residents of the Maine Veterans Home in Scarborough, as a way to show gratitude to veterans. Students were also invited to pack small snack kits, also including personal messages, for Hope Squad Maine, an organization that provides food to Portland’s unhoused population, which includes a large number of veterans.
“I think it's very sweet that they put it on. Here at UNE, we don't have that many veterans, so it's nice to see that, no matter the population, they're still willing to support all of us,” said second-year medical student Crystal Vejar (D.O., ’29), a veteran of the U.S. Army and president of the UNE chapter of The Association of Military Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons (AMOPS).
In the annual Veteran’s Day resource room, UNE partnered with Veteran Affairs and the U.S. Army Medical Recruiting along with student leaders in UNE’s AMOPS chapter to provide information on veterans benefits, resources, and career pathways for students interested in service.
“The Veterans Day Observance on the Portland Campus has evolved in each of the past three years but the underlying theme has been consistent: It provides students an opportunity to recognize and express gratitude for veterans both in their personal lives and those in their community,” said Chris McCarry, director of Graduate and Professional Student Life, who also helped organize Wednesday’s events.
Debra Leahy, Ed.D., UNE interim provost, vice president of Global Affairs, and dean of the UNE Tangier Campus in Morocco, who offered welcome remarks in Alumni Hall, shared stories of the veterans in her family and their undying commitment to service.
“I come from a Department of Defense family, mostly Navy, and there was always a sense growing up about civic responsibility,” Leahy told those gathered. “There's this notion of service, whether you're wearing a uniform at that time or you're not, there's always that notion of service.
“So, I'm really happy we're doing this today,” Leahy added. “Thank you, thank you. Because I talked about dedication, service, and doing something bigger than yourself. And I see that happening in this room.”