UHCL Veterans Day Celebration

The Veterans Day celebration at UHCL.

Courtney Brodbeck

The Signal Staff

It was a day of thanks, admiration and acknowledgment at the University of Houston-Clear Lake, honoring veterans from all branches of the military at its seventh annual Veterans Day celebration Nov. 11 at Liberty Park.

“We really want to recognize, honor and most of all thank the veterans for their service,” said William Staples, president of UHCL.

The program’s keynote speaker was, Walt Cunningham, a retired U.S. Marine Corps colonel, a fighter pilot, NASA’s second civilian astronaut, physicist, entrepreneur, venture capitalist, lecturer, author of The All-American Boys and host of Lift-off to Logic, a radio talk show.

“Our soldiers and airmen today are ladies and gentlemen of the highest caliber,” Cunningham said. “They are the very best troops we have ever had; they are well informed and have given selfless devotion to the cause of freedom. Our country had a great beginning and we have enjoyed a unique and gratifying history.”

Veterans Day, formally Armistice Day, signified the end of World War I. On Nov. 11, 1918, the Allies and the Germans signed the truce for all firing to cease. However, it was not until 1938 that President Franklin D. Roosevelt made Armistice Day a legal holiday in the District of Columbia by signing a bill.

The Veterans Day celebration at UHCL has grown since it was first held in 2003. The idea of a celebration on campus was suggested by Jim Benson, associate professor of legal studies at UHCL, and Esther Anderson, an alumna of UHCL and 2003 president of the UHCL Alumni Association.

This year the Liberty Park Gazebo was unveiled on campus, its purpose is to honor the sacrifices made by family members of veterans and active duty personnel. The gazebo was based on the architectural plan of Dan Wilson, director of UHCL facilities and Navy veteran.

The concept of Liberty Park was announced at the 2003 Veterans Day celebration as a permanent place on campus to host the event and honor veterans. Ever since then, the park has added new features such as: flag poles, park benches, trees, a pond and a gazebo.

The university also has a veteran’s bell on display in the Office of University Advancement, room 1604 in the Bayou Building. The bell recognizes all veterans for their service and sacrifice in protecting Americans liberties. The stand was made by the late Tom Smith, U.S. Air Force veteran and former UHCL employee.

“Today almost no military history is taught on campuses, with some universities being the cradle of hostility,” Cunningham said. “I’m so pleased and proud to be here at the University of Houston-Clear Lake where the military is actually celebrated.”

In 2002, UHCL established the Veterans Scholarship Endowment, which provides funding to undergraduate students who are active or reserve duty personnel or honorably discharged veterans who exhibit financial need.

To make a contribution to this endowment, visit the site http://giving.uh.edu/clake/. For more information on this event and the UHCL Veterans Scholarship Endowment, contact the Office of University of Advancement at 281-283-2021.