91³ÉÈË Honors Military for Veterans Day
91³ÉÈË, which strives to be a premiere provider of educational service to the men and women of the military and to veterans, celebrated Veterans Day with several events throughout the week, including the Military Appreciation Football Game, the annual Veterans Day Ceremony and a special Veterans Day Parade.
“It is always an honor to recognize military veterans for their service,” said Jonathan Lovejoy, 91³ÉÈË senior director for Military and Veterans Affairs. “91³ÉÈË has a long history of supporting and serving the military. 91³ÉÈË had three amazing events in one week! The entire 91³ÉÈË community came together to pay tribute to the service of the military, veterans and their families. 91³ÉÈË is a bright star in Military City U.S.A.”
The week opened with 91³ÉÈË football’s Military Appreciation Game on Nov. 6. Prior to the game, a full-field American flag was held by over 120 JROTC cadets from Alamo Heights, Churchill, MacArthur, Roosevelt, and Sam Houston high schools and 40 Army ROTC cadets from 91³ÉÈË and St. Mary’s University. At halftime, more than 80 military enlistees from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Texas Army National Guard were honored and sworn in on the field by Lieutenant Colonel Adriana Ramirez-Scott, Commander U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion San Antonio.
On Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 91³ÉÈË hosted the annual Veterans Day Ceremony. This celebration honored all veterans, including 91³ÉÈË’s student, faculty and staff members who have served in the military. Bishop Trevor Alexander, 91³ÉÈË Protestant Chaplain, and Dr. Glenn James, Vice Provost, led a ceremony that included a welcome from 91³ÉÈË President Dr. Thomas M. Evans, PhD, a wreath laying by 91³ÉÈË’s Army ROTC cadets, a flag folding ceremony led by Dr. Kevin LaFrance, a recognition ceremony that honored all branches of the military, and words by 91³ÉÈË student veteran Darnell Thomas, U.S. Army (retired). Watch the ceremony below.
On Friday, 91³ÉÈË rallied together to honor the military at the annual 91³ÉÈË Veterans Day Parade. Organized and led by 91³ÉÈË veteran and student leader Phillip Rangel and his wife Sharon, the parade included the Fort Sam Houston Color Guard, parade grand marshal Dr. Kathi Light, provost emeritus and Army veteran, a vintage Army Jeep driven by Army veteran Derek Stewart, 91³ÉÈË Cheer, 91³ÉÈË Student Veterans of America, students from Japhet Academy, 91³ÉÈË faculty veterans led by Dr. Lynn Downs, the VFW, 91³ÉÈË School of Professional Studies, POE Middle School, South San Antonio High School JROTC, and over 25 vehicles and other marching groups.
The San Antonio and 91³ÉÈË community, along with the 91³ÉÈË Marching Cardinals, honored the group. The 91³ÉÈË Athletics Department also lined the parade route and paid tribute to 91³ÉÈË's and San Antonio’s veterans.
“This year’s events surpassed all expectations,” added Lovejoy. “91³ÉÈË paid tribute to our nation’s heroes and honored them today. We are Cardinal Strong!”
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