Honoring Our Veterans

November 8, 2022

Dear Gonzaga Community:

In 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 of each year to be Armistice Day, a day to honor, remember and give thanks for those who have served our nation as members of the United States Armed Forces. On that day, he said:

To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of nations.

As a community, the Transfer, Veteran, and Returning Adult Students (TVRAS) Office has afforded us opportunities throughout the week to show our continued gratitude to our Veterans including:

• To celebrate Veterans, all week from November 7-11, there will be a "Post a Picture of a Veteran" display in the Hemmingson Rotunda. If you have a photo of a veteran in your life that you would like to share, please email it to Courtney at vetcorps@gonzaga.edu.
• Thank you cards are available in the TVRAS for the campus community to share with veterans. The TVRAS team will deliver these to the Veterans Home in the Valley at the end of the week.
• Weeklong celebrations honoring student veterans in their office have taken place with food, social events, and games.
• In partnership with Foley Library, a display of military uniforms is available for viewing in the library lobby.

November 11 serves as a day to honor our Veterans for their love of our nation and willingness to sacrifice in service to the common good. There are many community events happening this coming Friday to celebrate and honor our Veterans:

• The Gonzaga/Whitworth Bulldog Battalion ROTC is honoring fallen soldiers Mat Fazzari (’10) and Forrest Ewens (’04) and their families with a commemorative run at Whitworth University. All are invited to join (meet behind the Whitworth Graves Gym on Whitworth’s campus adjacent to the running track at 6 a.m.).
• At 8 a.m., TVRAS is hosting a breakfast for all Gonzaga Veterans – staff, faculty, admin, and students.
• The Daily Mass will include a Prayer of Faithful Intention around veterans and Veterans Day at 12pm in the Student Chapel.
• At 12 p.m., Veterans will be honored at the President’s Veterans Day Luncheon in the Volkar Center for Athletic Achievement.

Finally, next April the Gonzaga University Office of Alumni Relations, in collaboration with the GU Army ROTC department, will launch its first ever Military Service Community. The Gonzaga University Military Service Community is the second addition to its new, affinity community program and will be a place of connection to honor all those who’ve served in the Armed Forces and are part of the Gonzaga community. This year the GU Army ROTC Program celebrates its 75th Anniversary with the launch of this new community taking place at next year’s Military Ball on April 28. To read more stories about our incredible veteran community, please visit www.gonzaga.edu/veterans.

To all of our veterans and members of our military community, thank you for your service. Please know how grateful we are for the sacrifices and the contributions you have made to our nation and to the world.

Sincerely yours,

Thayne M. McCulloh, D. Phil
President