November 13, 2023
St. John’s University celebrated the Queens, NY-area veteran population in several events across campus on November 9, highlighted by the annual Veterans Day Ceremony in the D’Angelo Center ballroom. Close to 100 guests, including veterans and active members of the US Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, joined ROTC students, friends, and family to honor the bravery of those who served.
Joseph Sciame ’71Ed, Vice President for Community Relations, opened the ceremony with a welcome address that included a look at the University’s history of honoring military heroes. Looking back, Mr. Sciame noted that St. John’s first held such a reception in 1999, making the 2023 celebration the 25th.
An active part of St. John’s community for 61 years, first as a student and then as an administrator, Mr. Sciame said he considers Veterans Day “a core part of the University’s calendar of celebrations.”
Among the guests was Arthur Grabiner, 97, of north Flushing, NY. The World War II Navy veteran saw combat during the Battle of Okinawa, the last major battle of WWII, in 1945.
“St. John’s does a wonderful job and makes you proud that you were in the service,” Mr. Grabiner said. “Events like these bring back the good memories that I had during the war. It is amazing that it is nearly 80 years since the Allied victory.”
Rev. Hugo Medellín, C.M. ’05C, University Chaplain, Campus Ministry, led an introductory prayer, recognizing the selflessness and courage of those who served and their enduring contributions to the St. John’s community. “We thank these brave men and women, who God protected, for one of the greatest gifts to us—our freedom,” Rev. Medellín said.
Vietnam veteran and Purple Heart recipient John Devine ’75SVC, from Massapequa, NY, served in a Marine Corps reconnaissance battalion. Wounded one month into his tour of duty in 1968, he spent a year in the hospital rehabilitating from the loss of a leg.
“St. John’s has always made a commitment to veterans, and that’s nice because at many colleges, veterans aren’t as accepted or respected,” he said. “St. John’s is not afraid to recognize us.”
The event was brought together by Sharod L. Tomlinson ’21Ed.D., Associate Dean, Student Success and Engagement, who credited the University’s Veterans Success Center (VSC) for offering networking and community-service opportunities to those transitioning from military service, including mentoring, tutoring, housing assistance, and career services. The University offers potential academic credit for military experience, scholarship and financial aid opportunities, and participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which provides financial assistance to veterans for tuition and fees not covered by the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
To Dr. Tomlinson, veteran students and alumni are ”an important part of the fabric of St. John’s University.”
A musical tribute by singer-songwriter Theresa Sareo honored active-duty members of the military, as well as veterans from all branches of service. Evoking the Vincentian tradition of helping others, she said how valuable it is for people suffering from trauma or loss to connect with each other and to build supportive networks to facilitate recovery.
Close to 150 veterans are enrolled at St. John’s. The University has provided three million dollars in aid to those students, while the US Department of Veterans Affairs has contributed another five million dollars in assistance.
In October, St. John’s was honored as a Military Friendly® School by the veterans’ support group VIQTORY. It was the third consecutive year the University was recognized by the Pennsylvania-based nonprofit, which honors institutions that demonstrate the best in military and veterans educational support while cultivating employment and educational outcomes for veterans and their families.
Col. Cole M. Therkildsen, Professor, Military Science, said the veterans in attendance “paved the way for current and future military members, for future officers, and future leaders like our ROTC cadets right here at St. John’s University. You created and established a foundation, leaving behind a legacy.”
Among the other Veterans Day events on campus was a guest lecture by Capt. Robin Bartlett. An Army veteran of Vietnam and recipient of two Purple Hearts, Capt. Bartlett is the father of Jason T. Bartlett, Ph.D., Director of Residence Life, and author of a book about his combat experiences. In Vietnam Combat: Firefights and Writing History, Capt. Bartlett addresses students on the Vietnam War from the perspective of an American combat soldier.
“Thank you for your service’ is almost the phrase du jour for veterans,” Capt. Bartlett said. “But for a Vietnam veteran, the code words are ‘Welcome home,’ because we never were welcomed. ‘Welcome home’ brings a tear to our eyes.”