EVENT
Join us for a Veterans Day Ceremony
Published October 2017
The NDSU Veterans Alliance Organization, known as VALOR, is scheduled to host a short ceremony in honor of Veterans Day on Thursday, Nov. 9, at 8:30 a.m. at the flag plaza near the south entrance of the Memorial Union.
The ceremony is open to the public and NDSU faculty, staff and students are encouraged to attend.
VALOR faculty liaison Carol Cwiak, associate professor of emergency management, and NDSU Provost Beth Ingram are set to provide opening remarks. Retired Air Force major James Stoddard, who serves as the project coordinator of Veterans Educational Training at NDSU and is a member of VALOR’s advisory board, is scheduled to give a commemorative speech that recognizes the service of veterans.
Stoddard retired after serving 24 years in the U.S. Air Force as a nuclear missile operations officer. His military assignments included a yearlong tour in the Kabul, Afghanistan, combat zone, as well as stateside assignments in North Dakota, Montana, California and Louisiana.
“I have one of the greatest jobs in the world where I get to spend my day helping other veterans achieve their goals and improve their lives,” Stoddard said. “It’s great to have the support of the state and NDSU to provide this assistance to those who put themselves at risk and put their own education and career plans on hold to serve in the United States military.”
NDSU Army and Air Force ROTC cadets will be in formation during the ceremony and conduct the flag raising. Maddie Huffman, who plays with NDSU’s Wind Symphony brass quintet, and the Jazz Lab band will play taps.
“VALOR is honored to be able to host a Veterans Day ceremony on NDSU’s campus,” Cwiak said. “We owe a debt of gratitude to the brave men and women who have served, and who continue to serve, as they have selflessly committed to service of country above their own interests. Their commitment enables the rest of us to maintain the freedoms and ideals we hold dear as a country and we can never forget the sacrifice they have made on our behalf.”
