Alfred University hosts annual Veterans Day dinner
Alfred University Thursday evening, Nov. 11, hosted its annual Veterans Day dinner, honoring military-affiliated students, staff, faculty from the Alfred University and Alfred State College campuses and the local community.
The event, held in the Knight Club, Powell Campus Center, was organized by Andrew Burlingame ’22, an Alfred University graduate and the military and academic coach in the University’s Bernstein Center for Advising.
“We are proud to host our fourth annual Veterans Day dinner,” said Burlingame, outlining some of the University’s recent initiatives aimed at serving military-affiliated members of the campus community and honoring veterans. They include creating a resource center on campus that serves as a meeting place for military affiliated students—veterans and active-duty military, dependents of veterans, and ROTC cadets—and also provides referrals for services and resources; and a recent project in which first-year student Morgan Leibham of Arkport, NY, rehabilitated and beautified the veterans memorial on campus. Morgan, the son of Amanda McMahan, administrative aide for Timothy Heckman, assistant director, Capital Projects and Facility Operations, completed the work as part of his Eagle Scout project.
Joann Bloxsom, a U.S. Army veteran, spoke on behalf of Alfred State College, where she is assistant registrar.
“I am honored to participate in this dinner to honor our veterans,” said Bloxsom, who helps coordinate services for veterans at Alfred State. She recognized representatives on hand from a number of area agencies that provide services to veterans: the Veterans Administration in Bath; Clarity Wellness Community, Ardent Solutions, and the Allegany Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse.
Mark Zupan, Alfred University president, addressed the gathering and discussed the freedoms we have as Americans that we may take for granted.
“I couldn’t help but reflect over the last couple weeks about the things we take for granted,” Zupan said, referring, for example, to our right to vote. “They don’t come without a cost.”
“We are delighted you’re here. Thank you for you service to our nation,” said Zupan, who asked for a moment of silence to honor “those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation and its ideals.”
Yuki Minami, former International Student Advisor at Alfred University, places a thank you note she wrote to veterans into a card box during Thursday’s Veteran’s Day celebration on our campus. Yuki, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, is leaving Alfred to pursue graduate studies in New Zealand.
A recently acquired builder’s plate that was mounted in the engine room of the S.S. Alfred Victory, a cargo vessel that were part of the Navy’s Merchant Marine Fleet, was displayed at the dinner. The S.S. Alfred Victory was one of 531 Victory ships built during World War II; 150 of the Victory ships were named for educational institutions. Laurie Lounsberry Meehan ’91, Alfred University archivist, worked to get the builder’s plate, one of two installed on the ship, transferred to the University.
After the dinner, those in attendance were invited to fill out a thank you note to all veterans and place it in a card collection box. Burlingame said he hopes to collect more notes at future events. The notes will remain in the box and eventually be opened and read.