Stetson’s annual Veterans Day Commemoration will be dramatically different this year with a new location and planning that was the result of much community collaboration.

Officially known as the Stetson University and Stetson Student Veterans Organization Flagpole, Veterans Memorial Plaque, and Brick Path Dedication Ceremony, the 9 a.m. event will be held in front of the Carlton Union Building (CUB) on Wednesday, Nov. 11. The CUB is located at 131 E. Minnesota Ave., on Stetson’s DeLand campus.

Previously located in front of Elizabeth Hall on busy Woodland Avenue, the flagpole was blocked in recent years by many mature trees. It was not the most conducive location for special events nor did it allow for proper reverence to honor Old Glory.

Three years ago, with campus construction plans underway, moving the flagpole to a better location became part of that dialogue.

“We try to look 100 years out and take into consideration what the natural features on campus are going to look like,” explained Al Allen, associate vice president, Facilities Management at Stetson. “The flagpole needed to be prominent and placing it in front of the CUB makes it front and center when you walk out of that building, the predominate building on campus.”

What will be unveiled on Wednesday will be the new flagpole location as well as a beautiful plaza that honors men and women in all branches of the military.

“When I became president of the Student Veterans Organization, I inherited this project, just like my predecessor, Jenn Brann, inherited it from the group’s founder, Chris Griffin,” explained Brian Wade, Stetson business junior, Student Veterans Organization (SVO) President and 21-year military veteran. “Our original goal three years ago was to simply help fund moving the flagpole from in front of Elizabeth Hall to a more accessible and visible location. Over time, the project grew to what we have today. While the space honors all our nation’s veterans, it was the Stetson University family and the local community that made it possible.”

Wade said that design of the new flagpole and memorial site was basic, yet very respectful in terms of the needs of ROTC cadets with a place for podium, proper line-ups, electrical hook-ups for microphones and A/V equipment.

Wade met with David Rigsby, manager for Grounds and senior assistant for Special Projects, Facilities Management, to talk about possible project dimensions and layouts. Together they came up with the idea of the five brick paths that lead to the flagpole to represent the five branches of the military. These bricks may be engraved with the names of military members and can be acquired by contacting Michele Clifton, administrative assistant in Facilities Management [email protected] or 386-822-8808. Twenty-six bricks that are already engraved will be part of the Veterans Day ceremony on Wednesday.

This new area is not only respectful of the veterans but of the environment as well. Allen explained that there is a series of stormwater chambers under the new flagpole and monument area that allows rainwater to replenish the Florida aquifers.

“Dave is our campus landscape architect and we are so fortunate at Stetson because the beauty of this campus is thanks to his 35-year skillset and his passion,” added Allen. “He was able to work with students, like Brian, who have the military and ROTC ‘vision’ for what’s needed to make this project happen so well.”

“The Stetson administrators have been very supportive, including Dr. Libby, Al, Dave and so many others,” said Wade. “At Stetson, they talk about how we all should ‘dare to be significant’ and the importance of ‘community engagement,’ which could be just lip service, but not this time. They really walked the talk with this project,” he said.

“All this planning helped me do something tangible to transition from the community I knew in the military for 21 years to my new Stetson Community,” he added. “It’s a new center of gravity for me personally as well as a center of campus for generations to come.”

All veterans are encouraged to attend the ceremony regardless of Stetson affiliation, service branch, or wartime service. The event is open to the public.

Additional events scheduled to celebrate Stetson’s veterans during Homecoming Week:

PBS will air a new documentary, Debt of Honor: Disabled Veterans in American History, Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 9 p.m. The film chronicles the challenges of disabled vets and the sacrifices of military service. It was produced by Ric Burns, Ken Burns’ brother.

Max Cleland ’64, Stetson alumnus, decorated Vietnam veteran and former U.S. Senator from Georgia, is featured in the documentary. The duPont-Ball Library licensed a number of photos from Stetson Archives to the production company that have been used in the film.

On Saturday Nov. 14, at 11 a.m., just north of Griffith Hall, everyone is welcome to attend the dedication of the Vietnam Remembrance Site that honors all Stetson alumni who served in the military during the Vietnam era to show support for these veterans. Cleland will be in attendance at this dedication ceremony.

On Saturday, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 15, at 3 p.m. in the Second Stage Theatre in the Museum of Art, 600 N. Woodland Blvd., Stetson will be hosting the theatrical production, Reflections on Vietnam: An Oral History Performance, which uses letters and interviews of soldiers, nurses and families heavily involved in the Vietnam War. Tickets are free and cultural credit will be offered to undergraduate students who attend.

by Trish Wieland