Honoring Our Veterans

Dear Orange Community:

Last month, I had the honor of joining two of our student veterans in laying a wreath—on behalf of Syracuse University—upon the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. I’ve been to Arlington before, but standing there as chancellor, with two of our own students beside me, was different. As a veteran, I found it deeply personal to represent this community in paying tribute to those who gave everything in service to our country.

The tomb honors an American soldier “known but to God.” What many in our community may not know is that this sacred place was designed by a Syracuse graduate, School of Architecture alumnus Lorimer Rich 1914, H’40. His collection is housed in Syracuse University Libraries’ Special Collections Research Center and offers a remarkable window into how one of our own helped shape one of America’s most hallowed places.

Our connection to Arlington goes beyond its design. While there, our students also placed flowers at the grave of alumnus Forrest Vosler, a U.S. Army Air Forces radio operator and World War II Medal of Honor recipient. In 1943, Vosler’s plane came under attack over Germany. Despite significant injuries, he protected his crew, repaired a damaged radio and sent out the distress call as the plane went down. Those injuries kept him from finishing his bachelor’s degree at Syracuse but, in 2015, the University awarded him an associate degree posthumously.

Lorimer Rich and Forrest Vosler are two names among the many veterans who have helped author the Syracuse story, a story that continues today in the students who stood beside me at Arlington. At a moment when many Americans are asking whether higher education still delivers on its promise, this university’s commitment to veterans is one of our best answers. It shows what’s possible when education is accessible to people who are ready for it, and what a campus gains when it is ready for them.

At Arlington, I was reminded that remembering is something we do on purpose, one conversation at a time. Today, let’s do it here, for the veterans who study, teach and work alongside us. The soldier at the tomb is “known but to God.” The veterans among us are known to us, if we take the time to ask. If you cross paths with a veteran in a classroom, an office or your neighborhood, thank them. Then ask where they served and listen to their story. Some will be glad to tell you. Some won’t, and that’s fine too.

To every veteran in this community: thank you.

Happy Veterans Day.
J. Michael Haynie
Chancellor and President