Tennessee veterans who have died in the line of duty since the 9/11 terrorist attacks will be honored when UT participates in its fourth annual National Day of Remembrance and Roll Call on Tuesday, November 11.
The event, which is open to the public, will begin at 10:00 a.m. and run until 2:00 p.m. in Circle Park. Faculty, staff, and student volunteers will read aloud the names of the 141 fallen Tennessee veterans and some of the other 6,830 servicemen and -women who have died in the line of duty since September 11, 2001.
Air Force veteran Ingrid Ruffin, who is a student success librarian for first year programs, will serve as the emcee of the campus event. Retired Army Lt. Col. Gary Petree, a doctoral student in higher education administration, will speak at 1:50 p.m. The program will conclude with Lance Cpl. Jordan Henderson, a student veteran, playing “Taps” and the campus community observing the national moment of silence at 2:00 p.m.
The university also will create a flag memorial in Circle Park to honor the fallen Tennessee veterans. Small flags will be available at the site so those attending the event can add them in honor or memory of other veterans.
The events are being organized by UT’s Office of Veterans Affairs within the Office of the University Registrar; members of VOLFighters, a student veterans group; and members of SALUTE, a student veterans honor society.
“National Roll Call is an important event for us,” said Jayetta Rogers, UT veterans affairs coordinator. “This event gives the campus community an opportunity to remember the fallen soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. It is also a way of bringing our students, faculty, and staff together to show support for our servicemen and -women. Anyone is welcome to come to the event.”
There are about 900 registered student veterans and veteran dependents on the UT campus.
UT is one of fifty-five schools in thirty-one states plus the District of Columbia that will be participating in this year’s Roll Call. For more information about the national event, visit the website.
The National Remembrance Day Roll Call began in 2011 to annually honor and recognize the sacrifice of veterans through a simultaneous reading of the names of those who died in military operations since September 11, 2001.
—
C O N T A C T:
Amy Blakely (865-974-5034, ablakely@utk.edu)