Veterans Salute: Honoring and Remembering Our Veterans

On Tuesday, November 9, 2021, Student Government (SGA), The Community Veterans History Project (VHP), and the Veterans Academic Resource Center (VARC) hosted Veterans Salute: Honoring and Remembering Our Veterans at the UCF Veterans Memorial. This event included remarks from:

• Dr. Alexander Cartwright, UCF President
• U.S. Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy
• Dr. Barbara Gannon (U.S. Army Veteran), Associate Professor of History
• Joshua “JJ” Johnson, VARC Student Resource Specialist II
• Zach Dench, Student Government Association, Financial Allocations for Organization Committee Chair
• Meg Hall, Student Government Association, Student Body President
• Michael Richardson (Navy Veteran), Community Veterans History Project, Student Assistant

Germaliz Porrata performed the National Anthem and Matt Winstel (Navy Veteran), VARC Office Support Assistant, performed the Pledge of Allegiance. The flag-raising was conducted by UCF Air Force ROTC and Presentation of Colors by UCF Army ROTC. SGA presented the VARC with a copy of the proclamation passed by the SGA Senate, recognizing November 11, 2021, as Veterans Day. At the end of the event, members from the audience were invited to plant the remaining flag for the student veterans flag display on Memory Mall.

In attendance other UCF Community Dignitaries present were:

• Dr. Andrea Guzman, Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• Janet Owen, Vice President for Government Affairs and Community Relations 
• Dr. Adrienne Frame, Interim Vice President of Student Development and Enrollment Services (SDES)
• Dr. Sharon Ekern (Marine Veteran), Associate Vice President, Administration and Student Life (SDES)
• Dr. Kerry Welch, Associate Vice President, Student Engagement and Leadership Development (SDES)
• Col. Michael Peeler, UCF Air Force ROTC
• LTC Christopher DeRuyter, UCF Army ROTC
• Austin Wilson, Student Government Association, Student Body Vice-President
• Joao Pedro “JP” Vartanian, Student Government Association, Director of Student Affairs

Below are some pictures from the event. 

(Photos Credit: Nicholas Leyva, Multimedia Specialist I, UCF Communications and Marketing, unless notated)

   

Flag Raising Conducted by UCF Air Force ROTC

(Photo Credit: Isabella Martinez, OPS Student, College of Arts and Humanities)

 

Presentation of Colors by UCF Army ROTC

Opening Remarks by UCF President, Dr. Alexander Cartwright

Welcome and Remarks by Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy

Significance of Veterans Day by Dr. Barbara Gannon (Army Veteran), Department of History/Community Veterans History Project

(Photo Credit: Isabella Martinez, OPS Student, College of Arts and Humanities)

Taps played by Adam Zapf, UCF Student

Remarks by Joshua “JJ” Johnson, VARC Student Resource Specialist II

(Photo Credit: Isabella Martinez, OPS Student, College of Arts and Humanities)

Proclamation Reading by Student Government Senator Zach Dench

Remarks from Student Government Association’s President Meg Hall

Remarks and Charge to Completing Veterans Day Flag Display by Michael Richardson (Navy Veteran), Community Veterans History Project

   

  

20 American Flags were added to the UCF Veterans Day Flag Display.  Photos of some members of the community assisting with planting of the flags:

• Dr. Alexander Cartwright, UCF President
• Dr. Andrea Guzman, Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• U.S. Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy
• Sgt. Adam Casebolt, Community Partnerships, UCF Police Department

After the ceremony conversations.  In the picture:

• Dr. Adrienne Frame, Interim Vice President of Student Development and Enrollment Services
• Shane Juntunen, Director of Office of Student Involvement & SGA Advisor
• Joshua “JJ” Johnson, Student Resource Specialist II, Veterans Academic Resource Center
• Members of UCF Student Government Association

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