St. John’s Pays Tribute to Service at Annual Veterans Day Ceremony

St. John’s University proudly honored members of the veteran community on Thursday, November 6, celebrating the courage, service, and sacrifice of those who currently wear or have worn a US Armed Forces uniform. 

The annual Veterans Day Luncheon brought together area veterans, student veterans, alumni, faculty, and guests for an afternoon of reflection, gratitude, and community on the Queens, NY, campus. 

Karen Moritz Simons, Director, Office of Parent and Family Connections and the Veterans Success Center, welcomed veterans and active-duty military from all branches of service. She noted that St. John’s 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. The Veterans Success Center also provides mental, spiritual, and financial resources while fostering a sense of camaraderie among former service members. 

St. John’s also has been recognized as a Military Friendly® School by Military Friendly, a Pennsylvania-based company that connects newly separated veterans with professional and educational opportunities. “I am privileged to work with heroes every day,” Ms. Simons said. “Thank you for your service and the sacrifices you have made so every American can enjoy the blessings of our democracy.”

American flags lined pathways across the campus, each paired with a QR code linking to stories about St. John’s student and alumni veterans. The Office of Alumni Relations also announced plans to create a dedicated page on St. John’s website—stjohns.edu—for veteran alumni, providing a digital space where they can connect, share resources, and communicate. 

A proclamation from Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. saluted St. John’s veteran community and recognized the University’s continuing efforts to support those who have served.

The luncheon’s honored guest—former Technician Third Class Sey Schwartz, 99, a World War II US Army veteran—served in the Pacific Theater, fighting in the historic battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Mr. Schwartz, who currently serves as the Second Vice Chair of Queens Community Board 8 and Chair of Area 2 in Briarwood, delivered a powerful reflection on the meaning of Veterans Day.

“Veterans Day is not about hot dogs, hamburgers, John Wayne, and the Andrews Sisters,” Mr. Schwartz said. “It is about sending young boys to die and watch their buddies bleed out on the beaches. Many died that way. Those who came home often came home in bad shape. People often do not appreciate or understand that. But serving in World War II was a privilege; there is nothing more noble than service.” 

Mr. Schwartz recalled meeting a young Japanese boy amid the rubble of the Nagasaki, Japan, atomic bomb site, who invited him to share some tea. “The lesson is that while leaders start wars, the young fight them,” he said.      

The University welcomed a dozen visiting students from Middle School 217Q, the Robert A. Van Wyck School, who celebrated with the veterans and shared a personal audience with Mr. Schwartz.

Among those alumni in attendance was Second Lt. Mikolaj Radaszkiewicz ’25CCPS, who commissioned into the Military Intelligence Corps after graduation and now serves as a Gold Bar Recruiter, helping others pursue military service. “I wanted to give back to the program and to the school that supported me,” Lt. Radaszkiewicz said. “At the luncheon, I thanked a Vietnam veteran for his service, and he replied, ‘No, thank you.’ My journey has only begun, so hearing that from someone with so much experience was inspiring.”

For Lt. Radaszkiewicz, the luncheon offered more than recognition. It was an opportunity for connection. “Being able to meet people, hear their stories, learn from their experiences, and reflect is what I love about being here today,” he said.

Watch a video from the Veterans Day Luncheon.