Photos by Charlie Poag
When the Army football team from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point arrived on campus to take on the Syracuse University football team, they were met by a campus community celebrating Syracuse’s rich military-connected history. The day started with the 9th Annual Stars & Stripes Tailgate, a free event hosted by the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs for veterans and military families in the local community.
With construction ongoing at the John A. Lally Athletics Complex, this year, the tailgate was held outdoors next to the Women’s Building at the corner of Euclid Avenue and Comstock Avenue. Those who attended were able to participate in raffle drawings, food and a variety of traditional tailgating activities.
The following is a collection of images highlighting the events that marked the esteemed heritage the university shares with the military-connected community.
U.S. Army Veteran Eric Kessler ’20, G’22 (left), and U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Anthony Ruscitto ’22, G’23, pose for a photo at the 9th Annual Stars & Stripes Tailgate. Both Kessler and Ruscitto were active members of Syracuse University’s Student Veteran Organization and served on the organization’s executive board while enrolled as student veterans at the University.
The University’s Office of Admissions hosts multi-day introductory tours throughout the year for future transfer students from the nation’s four Military junior colleges. The students are part of the U.S. Army’s two-year early commissioning program, and some will select Syracuse University to complete their undergraduate degree requirements before serving as commissioned officers in the U.S. Army. Students from the Georgia Military College and New Mexico Military Institute were able to attend the tailgate and military appreciation game during their visit, showing them an unrivaled experience with a campus that goes the extra mile to support its military-connected community.
Syracuse University’s rich military history stretches as far back as World War I when the Student Army Training Corps (SATC) was established. The SATC was the precursor to today’s U.S. Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). More than 20 Army ROTC cadets took the field to take the Oath of Office, including two from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
Syracuse University’s military-connected community consists of many West Point alumni, including College of Law 2L candidate Lu Weierbach, a Captain in the U.S. Army and a 2023 Tillman Scholar. Syracuse University and West Point haven’t met each other on the football field since 1996, making this game particularly special for many in the local military and veteran communities who have a connection to both universities.
Among those West Point alumni was the game’s Hometown Hero, Dr. Nicholas Armstrong G’08, Ph.D. ’14. Armstrong graduated from the prestigious military academy in 2000 and was able to attend the last matchup against Syracuse University in 1996. Armstrong went on to serve in the U.S. Army prior to becoming Syracuse University’s first Post-9/11 student veteran. He earned a master’s degree in public administration and his doctoral degree in public management from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.
Before the opening kickoff of the game, Medal of Honor recipient U.S. Army Staff Sergeant David Bellavia, was welcomed onto the field during the coin toss to be recognized as the honorary game captain. The day before the game, Bellavia delivered a speech on the lessons of leadership during an afternoon session for the D’Aniello Speaker Series at the National Veterans Resource Center in the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building.
Other on-field celebrations acknowledging those who have served the nation and the campus community included the addition of Ben Schwartzwalder’s name to the Ring of Honor. Schwartzwalder served as a Captain in the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division during the historic D-Day invasion of Normandy.
Schwartzwalder famously coached the Syracuse University men’s football team through some of the school’s most iconic years in football, including the school’s 1959 National Championship season. During that time he coached iconic University football greats like Jim Brown, Floyd Little and Ernie Davis.
In honor of Schwartzwalder’s service, the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs launched a new scholarship for student veterans and announced the first student veteran to receive the scholarship, U.S. Marine Corps veteran Brian McDonald, ’25, a student veteran at Falk College of Sport & Human Dynamics.
The game concluded with an impressive 29-16 win for Syracuse, but the military-appreciation festivities would continue through the next day when West Point’s band performed during a joint concert with Syracuse University’s Wind Ensemble at Crouse College’s Setnor Auditorium. Next year, Syracuse University will travel to Michie Stadium on West Point’s campus to take on Army in the second game of a four-game slate.
For more information on the university’s celebration of its military-connected heritage, please visit the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs.
