Veterans Day Celebration at Concordia University

Veterans Day Celebration at Concordia University – November 11, 2009

ANN ARBOR, Mich., October 6, 2009 – Concordia University Ann Arbor (CUAA) will host a Veterans Day Celebration on November 11, 2009. Armed service veterans, their families, and currently serving military members will be our guests of honor at this special event. CUAA will honor the veterans and servicemembers of the community by presenting them with a commemorative gift and a $5,000 scholarship certificate issued in their name. The designee may use the scholarship, confer it to another veteran, or present it to one of their dependents. The general public is invited to participate in an 11:30 a.m. flag ceremony, and to meet veterans and servicemembers at an informal reception following the ceremony.

CUAA would also like to invite veterans, active servicemembers and their families to a complimentary lunch served in the university’s cafeteria. Veterans, active servicemembers and their families should RSVP for the event with Shannon MacLellan at (734) 995-4892 or macles@cuaa.edu before Oct. 24.

Concordia University will host a number of servicemembers from all branches of the military. Confirmed attendee notices have arrived from the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti VFW posts, United States Coast Guard Search and Rescue, Ann Arbor American Legion, Ypsilanti Medical National Guard Unit, Ann Arbor’s Army Reserve Training Center, and the Army, Navy and Marine Corps Recruiters.

Distinguish Participants:
The University of Michigan ROTC program’s Joint Forces ROTC Honor Guard, composed of seven cadets from the Army, Air Force, and Navy ROTCs, will participate in flag ceremonies. During the chapel service, the ROTC Honor Guard will receive an American flag that was flown at the State of Michigan Capitol Building, which will then be transported to the flag pole. The Honor Guard will lower the old flag, fold it and present it to a representative of the VFW. (The old flag will be retired in a private ceremony by the VFW at a later date). The Honor Guard will then raise the flag from the capitol building in honor of Michigan’s veterans and servicemembers.

The 338th U.S. Army Field Band a group stationed at the 83rd Infantry Division Memorial US Army Reserve Center, Whitehall, Ohio (a suburb of Columbus) and in Livonia, Michigan, will have 20 members play with the Concordia University Wind Ensemble. The bands will assemble at the flagpole in preparation for the music performed for the flag raising ceremony.

The Event Schedule:
10:15 to 11:00 Welcome, Assembly, Light Refreshments
• 10:15 – Meet and Greet
• 10:35 – “Concordially Yours” performs You’re a Grand ‘Ole Flag
• 10:40 – Welcome by Concordia
• 10:50 – Move to Chapel of the Holy Trinity
11:00 to 11:25 Chapel service
• Opening Hymn – God Bless Out Native Land
• Introduction by DCE Robert McKinney
• Presentation of US Flag to ROTC Honor Guard
• 11:25 – Honor Guard Leads Processional

11:25 to noon Flag ceremonies
• 11:25 – Prelude – American’s We
• 11:30 – Processional – Grand ‘Ole Flag
• 11:35 – Master of Ceremonies Introduction
• 11:40 – Choir – Eternal Father, Strong to Save
• 11:41 – Guest Speaker – The Honorable Jennifer Granholm or Nicole Blaszczyk (Miss Michigan 2009)
• 11:51 – ROTC Honor Guard Position at Flag Pole
• 11:52 – Bugle sounds retreat while flag is lowered
• 11:54 – Stars and Stripes
• 11:59 – National Anthem – The Star Spangled Banner
Performed by the 338th Army Band, Concordia Choir, Wind Ensemble
• Noon – Flyover – 127th Fighter Squadron, USANG or elements of the Michigan National Guard
• Post-Flyover – Postlude by the 338th U.S. Army Field Band

Noon to 2:00 Informal Reception
• The Public is invited and encouraged to visit the static displays provided by Michigan’s Joint Forces National Guard Chief of Staff and by the US Army Recruiting Command and then to meet veterans, servicemembers and their families right after they finish lunch.

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About Concordia:

Concordia University Ann Arbor (CUAA) is a veteran-friendly university and employer with students, faculty, and staff that have been supporting armed forces members since the beginning of the engagement in Afghanistan. CUAA is a private, Christian liberal arts institution of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, member of the Servicemember Opportunity Consortium (SOC), SOCGuard and the Yellow Ribbon Program. CUAA is also a member of the US Army’s Concurrent Application Program (ConAp). CUAA offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in an environment focused on the development of the whole student through significant individual attention. CUAA is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA) and by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Concordia’s Family Life Program is approved by the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR). The athletics program has helped Concordia receive the recognition of a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Champions of Character institution. Concordia is located at 4090 Geddes Road in Ann Arbor, MI. For more information, visit: www.cuaa.edu.