UW ROTC cadets host Memorial Day celebration
May 28, 2002
For many people, Memorial Day is seen as just another break from work, but the holiday means much more to the U.S. military veterans and ROTC cadets who gathered in Red Square on Friday.
"A university is a place where many different political viewpoints come together," said Jack Farris, vice president of community relations.
"But Memorial Day is something that transcends politics. This is a day to remember the people who made the ultimate sacrifice in order to preserve our freedom. It's also a day to remember those who currently serve and are prepared to make the same efforts and sacrifices as those soldiers who came before them."
Gov. Gary Locke commended the volunteers and military personnel who worked to protect and comfort the people of the nation following Sept. 11.
Locke also spoke in remembrance of local soldiers who have died in recent offensive missions overseas -- Nathan Chapman, a Puyallup native and the first U.S. serviceman to be killed by enemy fire in Afghanistan, Nathan Hays, a mechanic from Lincoln who was aboard the military refueling plane that crashed in Pakistan on Jan. 9, and Thomas Allison, an army sergeant from Roy who was lost at sea while pursuing Muslim separatists off the coast of the Philippines.
Locke's speech was followed by a performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" and an exhibition drill conducted by rifle-toting Air Force ROTC cadets. The Navy ROTC's Blue Dragon Drill Team took to Red Square in a similar exhibition.
A performance of "Taps" and a moment of silence on the behalf of deceased American soldiers closed the ceremony and the ROTC cadets filed into Kane Hall for the Joint Service Review where the three ROTC branches as well as local veterans' associations bestowed various honors on chosen cadets.
The ROTC cadets at the gathering were pleased with the large turnout at the gathering and the support shown by the governor and Washington's local veterans.
"It was very nice, very informative," said Angela Asemota, a 2nd-class midshipman with the Navy ROTC.
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