Honoring those who served and those who sacrificed, the fourth annual Veteran’s
Day Silent March will start at 12:10 p.m. Thursday outside Chase Hall.
Unlike the previous marches leading to Rockwell Hall, this march will end at the
Student Union Quad. A reception will follow in Butler Library room 210.
“We’ve added another step to the program this year. An alumni speaker will present
a scholarship to the winner,” said Jason Gilliland, coordinator for veteran and
military services.
The Military Service Scholarship is available to any student veteran or active
military member, he said.
A flyover by the 107th Airlift Wing New York Air National Guard is slated to take
place this year, after being grounded last year due to mechanical failures.
“I have to make sure there will be planes available for us this year. The hurricane
efforts take first priority,” Gilliland said.
After the flyover, Buffalo State student Julia Smith will sing the National Anthem,
and fellow student Stephen McLean will perform “Taps”.
A speech by guest speaker Major Carlos M. Benitz, retired New York Army National
Guard, will follow.
This year, the silent march takes on a somber tone, recognizing Brett E. Gornewicz,
a 2011 alum of the industrial technologies program who was killed in action last
weekend in Afghanistan.
Gornewicz was one of three soldiers killed Saturday when their armored vehicle hit
a roadside bomb, according to a Defense Department report.
“It’s difficult to hear because it immediately takes me back to my time at Dover and
bringing remains to the mortuary,” said Student Air Force Veteran Steven Lango,
president of Student Veteran of America at Buffalo State.
New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo recently released an announcement to
bring all flags to half-staff in his honor, Gilliland said.
Other active students have been called in for assistance with the recent hurricane.
Margaret Shaw-Burnett, associate vice president of continuing professional
studies and military services, said the school is required to take call to action into
consideration when it comes to activated military students.
“The college has an obligation to make sure that there is no harm done to the
veterans or the reservists on duty,” she said.
The Veteran and Military Services office works closely with the dean of students
to send out a message to both the students and the faculty, alerting them that the
students will be out of classes so their class work will not suffer when they return,
she said.
“This is the same as any deployment. If students must go then they get their
assignments and are still a part of campus, they’re simply absent for a short period
of time,” Shaw-Burnett said.
Those gathering for the walk include active military, student veterans, family of
service members and community veterans.
“It’s important for the nation to recognize those who sacrifice by being away from
their family and loved ones, and especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice,”
Lango said.
Jennifer Waters can be reached by email at waters.record@live.com.