College of Law to Honor Veterans Nov. 9

On Tuesday, Nov. 9, at noon, the Syracuse University College of Law and members of the greater Syracuse legal community will gather in Dineen Hall’s Melanie Gray Ceremonial Courtroom to celebrate the College of Law’s fourth annual Veterans Day Ceremony.

The ceremony honors and celebrates those who uphold and defend the Constitution, including those who have served in the military and those who serve today. The ceremony will also be held virtually and is free for the campus community and alumni. Event details and the Zoom link can be found on the University events calendar.

Ryan Marquette L’22, president of the student organization Operation Veteran Advocacy, will host the event, with remarks by College of Law Dean Craig Boise and Institute for Security Policy and Law Director the Hon. James E. Baker. The guest speaker will be the 45th Judge Advocate General of the U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Darse E. “Del” Crandall. Crandall will share his perspectives on the origin of Veterans Day and why our nation celebrates veterans and their service.

Crandall is the principal military legal counsel to the secretary of the Navy and chief of naval operations. He also leads the 2,300 attorneys, enlisted legalmen and civilian employees of the worldwide Navy JAG Corps community. He was commissioned in 1984 through the Naval Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program at Northwestern University, where he received a bachelor of arts in economics. In 1992, he graduated from Georgetown University Law Center, cum laude. In 1999, he received a master of law degree in international law from The George Washington University, with highest honors.

Crandall has completed several assignments within Naval Legal Service Command (NLSC) and the Office of the Judge Advocate General (OJAG). NLSC assignments include defense counsel, prosecutor and civil law department head at Naval Legal Service Office (NLSO) Northwest Pacific and commanding officer of NLSO Central, Pensacola, Florida. OJAG assignments include administrative law attorney and deputy executive assistant to the Judge Advocate General. He also served one year in the dual role of Assistant Judge Advocate General (operations and management)/chief of staff, Region Legal Service Offices.

The fourth annual Veterans Day Celebration is presented by the Institute for Security Policy and Law, the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic and two College of Law student organizations, the National Security Student Association and Operation Veteran Advocacy. The Syracuse University ROTC Joint Color Guard will present the colors and the Weedsport High School chorus will sing the national anthem. Students, local attorneys, veterans, and members of the 10th Mountain Division Office of the Staff Judge Advocate will attend the ceremony.