St. John's News
Veteran's Day Remembrance Observed at St. John’s University’s Staten Island, Queens Campuses
November 09, 2007
St. John’s Office of Community Relations honored those who have
served in the United States Armed Forces with two special Veterans
Day tributes on the Staten Island Campus (November 8) and today on
the University’s Queens Campus.
Photo Gallery
A spirited crowd of veterans, community residents,
administrators and the St. John’s University’s Army ROTC Battalion
participated in this year’s special ceremonies, which mark the 25th
Anniversary of the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial.
“There is significance to why we gather today in the 11th month,
at the 11th hour and on the 11th day (which falls this year on a
Sunday) – because it marked the end of World War I in 1918,” said
Joseph Sciame, Vice President for Community Relations at St. John’s
University. “We welcome the community and our veterans to St.
John’s today to pay tribute to those who have served our country
with the utmost bravery for so many years.”
Sciame welcomed the crowd and introduced guest speakers Andrew
Lyons, Associate Director of the University Freshman Center and
Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army, who received the Bronze Star
Medal for his bravery in Iraq, and Major James Hamner, who is the
new Commanding Officer of St. John’s ROTC battalion, replacing
Lieutenant Colonel Brian N. Delaplane who passed away suddenly on
October 9.
Both spoke of their appreciation to the current men and women
who volunteer their services to make up the Armed Forces in the
U.S., serving in more than 80 countries across the globe, to the
past war veterans who paved the way for our freedom today.
“This is a day where there’s not a whole lot to say,” said
Lyons. “All you can do is remember, say thank you, pay homage and
show respect for those veterans who have fallen and those who
continue to help and serve the nation.”
For more information contact the Office of Community Relations
at (718) 990-6687. Media interested in finding out more about the
event can contact Dominic Scianna, Director of Media Relations by
calling (718) 990-6185 or e-mail inquiries to sciannad@stjohns.edu.