KU News Release

ROTC students participate in Veterans Day vigils, campus events

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LAWRENCE — More than 90 student members of Army, Marine, Navy and Air Force ROTC units at the University of Kansas participated in Veterans Day events Nov. 9-11, including the traditional 24-hour vigils at the campus Korean and Vietnam war memorials and “A Tribute to Veterans” at the Dole Institute of Politics.

KU’s Arnold Air Society, Ennis C. Whitehead Squadron, led the ceremonies with a flag retreat Nov. 9 at Strong Hall, followed by an assembly on the meaning of Veterans Day in Budig Hall. Bernie Kish, director of facilities and lecturer in health, sport and exercise sciences, spoke. He is a retired colonel who served 29 years in the U.S. Army.

Later that evening, a lamp-lighting ceremony preceded the vigil at the war memorials from 7 p.m. Nov. 9 through 7 p.m. Nov. 10. Students from each ROTC unit took one-hour shifts standing guard outside each memorial.

On Nov. 11, the Dole Institute hosted “A Tribute to Veterans,” which included a reception and program with featured speaker former U.S. Rep. Ken Hechler, D-W.Va., a World War II veteran.

Besides KU students, the ROTC program also trains cadets, midshipmen and officer candidates at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence; Baker University in Baldwin City, the University of St. Mary in Leavenworth, Washburn University in Topeka, Mid-America Nazarene University in Olathe and Kansas City Kansas Community College. This year, Aaron Christopher Hunter of Topeka, a Washburn student and member of the Army ROTC, was a vigil participant.

More information about KU’s Memorial Drive, Korean and Vietnam war memorials and World War II Memorial Campanile is available online by visiting the Campus Buildings Directory. Although not memorials exclusively, the Kansas Union and Memorial Stadium are multiuse structures that commemorate World War I veterans with ties to KU.

KU student participants in the commemorative events are listed below by hometown, major, level in school, parents’ names, high school attended, ROTC affiliation and role in the activities.

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The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus.