“Veterans Day really is about families,” said Lt. Col. Alexander Zehnder at Bonaventure’s memorial service Wednesday.
Zehnder, Bonaventure’s professor of military science, explained that Veterans Day is for service members to honor and “look out for” one another and for the families of service members to pay regards to their loved ones.
Zehnder read from the president’s Veterans Day Address of 1995, commenting that ‘95 was the year he began his military service.
Quoting the address, Zehnder said, “Together on this day, we say ‘thank you’ to those who have stepped forward to safeguard our security and our ideals. Today, this day, our grateful nation is united to honor America’s veterans.”
According to Zehnder, more than 275,000 people each year complete terms of military service.
He thanked those who have completed service and said, “The strength they bring to our armed forces can and indeed must fortify our civilian economy and the fiber of civic life… So on this day, let me urge every American to recognize [soldiers’] loyalty and their commitment.”
Joseph Zimmer, Ph.D, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs, echoed Zehnder’s sentiments.
“On the 97th anniversary of the signing of the armistice of World War I, we honor the service of all men and women who have put themselves in harm’s way to protect the interests, national security, sovereignty and way of life of the American people.”
Zimmer noted that while he has not personally served in the military, many of his family members have. He noted that his maternal grandfather was a seaman in the Navy during World War I and that his father was a member of the Navy Signal Corp., serving in the Pacific Theater in World War II.
He said his family was lucky enough to have its members of the military return home from service, but that he and his family learned the importance of honoring those who have served, whether they returned home or if they died in combat.
Bradley Peterson, president of Bonaventure’s Student Veterans of America chapter, presented a new American flag for the flagpole outside of the Reilly Center. Members of ROTC raised the flag.
The flag that flew previously, donated by David Amico, class of ’85, was retired.
James Vacco, O.F.M., priest of St. Bonaventure Church in Allegany, offered both an opening invocation and a closing benediction.
In his benedictory prayer, Vacco asked God to keep watch over the men and women who serve the nation and defend our freedom.
mcelfrdh14@bonaventure.edu
