November 1, 2012
 WHERE: Temple University Ambler, 580 Meetinghouse Road, Learning Center Auditorium
WHEN: Friday, November 9, Ceremony begins at 11 a.m. (A luncheon for veterans or those currently serving in the armed forces, will be held immediately following the ceremony in the campus Dining Center)
The men and women of the United States Armed Forces have risked their lives to protect the freedom of our country since its infancy. They have fought on foreign shores, far from family and loved ones, to ensure that the red, white, and blue would continue to fly high.
Many are still diligently doing their duty for the country to this day. Others have returned to continue the dreams that the freedoms they have fought for provide.
None of them should ever be forgotten.
On Friday, November 9, Temple University Ambler will honor our veteran alumni, current students, faculty and staff who have served or are serving in the armed forces during Military Appreciation Day. The event will begin at 11 a.m. in the Learning Center Auditorium. To become an event speaker, contact 267-468-8425, 215-204-6130 or lared@temple.edu.
“We want to take this time to honor our students, faculty, staff, and alumni who have served their country in every branch of the armed forces,” said Dr. Wanda Lewis-Campbell, Assistant Dean for Student Life. “It is true that freedom isn’t free — our students and alumni have risked, and are currently risking, their lives to ensure that freedom will endure. During this event some of our students and staff who have served will share their stories and their experiences.”
 Military Appreciation Day, sponsored and supported by Sodexo Dining Services and a variety of Temple departments, is a University-wide event to honor veterans of all wars — World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan, according to Laura Reddick, Associate Director for Adult and Veteran Student Recruitment at Temple. In addition to veteran speakers, the event will include a singing of the National Anthem, and a color guard representing all branches of military service.
A luncheon provided by Sodexo will be held for all veterans or those currently serving in the military in the campus Dining Center immediately following the ceremony. Veterans who will be attending the luncheon are asked to RSVP at the Temple University Veterans Affairs website at www.temple.edu/veterans.
Military Appreciation Day is the centerpiece to a special extended celebration of active duty and veteran students, faculty and staff at Temple — Military Pride Month, said Reddick.
“During the University-wide Military Pride Month, all departments at Temple University are asked to show their support of all of our veteran students, faculty and staff who have served or are serving in the armed forces,” she said. “Offer coffee and donuts, provide pretzels, anything you like! And be sure to decorate your offices thanking and saluting our veterans and active duty University community members.”
 Many Temple students continue to diligently do their duty for the country serving as active military while taking classes. Others have completed their service and have returned to continue the dreams that the freedoms they have fought for provide. Many have chosen to pursue higher education — the number of students attending Temple with financial support from the post-9/11 federal GI Bill has more than doubled in the last two years — and have become an integral part of the fabric of the University.
“Temple has been able to substantially extend our outreach to veterans. The Temple Veteran Affairs website (www.temple.edu/veterans) was re-created from the ground up, providing a multimedia experience and comprehensive online resource for veterans,” Reddick said. “Everything that we are undertaking is to ensure that veteran students can make a smooth transition into the classroom. The bottom line is to make the college experience a great experience so that our veterans can be as successful as possible to support their academic and career goals.”
Temple University has been designated a “military-friendly school” by G.I. Jobs Magazine for four years in a row from 2010 to 2013 — this designation is given to just 20 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools nationwide. Monthly information sessions for veterans are held at Temple University Center City with periodic sessions held at the Main and Ambler campuses. Online information sessions are additionally held to connect with veterans all over the world. For upcoming events, visit www.temple.edu/veterans/newNoteworthy/events.asp
“I’ve spoken to veterans and active service members serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, South Korea, Latin American and throughout the United States. They are very excited to talk to an actual person and they are able to receive a lot of information and ask important questions in a short amount of time,” Reddick said. “They put their lives on the line to serve our country. We want to empower them with information so that they can make informed decisions with the most up-to-date information available.”
For more information about Military Appreciation Day at Temple, visit www.temple.edu/veterans or contact Laura Reddick at 267-468-8102 or the Ambler Campus Office of Student Life at 267-468-8425 (Ambler Campus Program) or Dolores Abbonizo at 215-204-6773 (Main Campus Program).
For information about the Temple Veterans Association visit www.temple.edu/students/veterans.
CONTACT: James Duffy, 267-468-8108, duffyj@temple.edu release available by e-mail |
