UNA Pressroom

Una Honors Those Who Have Served Both Past And Present

Nov. 04, 2015



Michelle Eubanks, UNA, at media@una.edu, 256.765.4392 or 256.606.2033

Wayne P. Bergeron, LTC (ret), Criminal Justice, Security and Emergency Management

FLORENCE, Ala. - The University of North Alabama is set to honor those who have stepped up and served our country both past and present with the annual Veteran's Day Commemoration Ceremony, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2015 at 11:00 a.m., at the UNA Memorial Amphitheater (GUC Performance Center in case of inclement weather).

The event is co-sponsored by the UNA Student Government Association and the UNA Military and Veteran Alliance and honors student, alumni, faculty, staff, and community Veterans from all branches of the military and uniformed services. Katherine Canlas Richey, UNA Alumnus and U.S. Army Staff Sergeant (Retired) will be the featured speaker for the ceremony which will also include performances from the Pride of Dixie band on the University Chorale. The entire Shoals community is invited to attend.

"Living in an uncertain world with constantly emerging and ever increasing threats, makes it important that as a nation we remember and honor the less than 1% of our nation's citizens who serve to defend it and all those who have given of themselves in sacrifice, it is the very least we can do" said Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Wayne P. Bergeron, the faculty advisor for the UNA Military and Veteran Alliance and an Instructor in Criminal Justice and Security and Emergency Management.at UNA. "This event is simply about remembering and recognizing the sacrifice of those great Americans among us."

UNA has a long history and affiliation with military service having commissioned 1153 Second Lieutenants from its Army ROTC program and with its students, alumni, and faculty and staff having served in every US conflict and in all branches of the military since the US Civil War.

The Shoals community is invited to join UNA in honoring its Veterans and each year the UNA MVA tries to sponsor a special activity in addition to the ceremony. This year, the MVA and the UNA Army ROTC Lion Battalion are sponsoring an "Honor Walk 22" to recognize and increase awareness of the approximately 22 military and Veteran suicides daily in the United States. The walk will begin at McFarland Park at 6:00am and will end at the Harrison Plaza Fountain at UNA - everyone is invited to attend and participants are encouraged (but not required) to carry at least 22 lbs in recognition of the challenges and burdens our returning military and Veterans face daily.

For information about the UNA Veteran's Day Commemoration Ceremony events or supporting the UNA Military and Veteran Alliance: Wayne P. Bergeron, advisor for the MVA at wpbergeron@una.edu.