America’s Veterans Honored at UAF

Submitted by Chris Bennett
Phone: (907) 474-7112
11/06/03

The University of Alaska Fairbanks will honor America’s servicemen and servicewomen during a special Veterans Day program Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 9 a.m. in the UA Museum lobby. The ceremony, traditionally held at 11 a.m., was moved to the earlier time to allow guests to attend the community ceremony at the Pioneer Park Alaska Centennial Center for the Arts.

The university has a history of supporting the United States military. In 1939, the same year the Nazis invaded Poland, a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) was established on the UAF campus. Military training was mandatory at all land-grant colleges in the U.S. until the late 1950s. During World War II enrollment dropped from 310 to 63 students within three years.

Tanana Valley Campus Director Jake Poole, a retired army officer, and Professor of Military Science Lt. Col. Cameron Carlson will speak at Tuesday’s program, which will include a posting of the colors by UAF Army ROTC members and the singing of the national anthem by UAF student Crystal Kleinleder.

CONTACT: Chris Bennett, Office of the Chancellor, at (907) 474-7112 or chris.bennett@uaf.edu, or Tori Tragis, University Relations, at (907) 474-6438 or tori.tragis@uaf.edu.