Veterans are honored at HPU Veterans Day Celebration
Fraternity members from HPU’s Kappa Alpha Order gifted Steve Slate, a local U.S. Army veteran, with an all-terrain track chair.
Photo by highpoint.edu
By Emma Ralls
A&E Editor
On Nov. 8, High Point University welcomed more than 1,000 veterans to its campus for its 9th annual Veterans Day celebration. Arriving at the Millis Athletic Convocation Center, buses of veterans from all over the Triad were greeted by the smiling faces of HPU students celebrating the veterans’ service and welcoming them to a ceremony in their honor.
Some were dressed in military garb while others were smiling proudly in red, white and blue clothing. They were met with cheers and given “High Point University Loves Our Veterans” pins.
In an Interview with Katie Hamlin, reporting for HPU News, President Nido Qubein said, “High Point University is a God, family, country school. We shout it from the mountain tops. It has nothing to do with your political persuasion or who you voted for; it has everything to do with being thankful that you live in
the land of the free and the home of the brave. That is why we have this Veterans Day. That is why we embrace them, honor them, respect them and thank them.”
Throughout the ceremony, veterans enjoyed performances by the North Carolina Brass Band and chamber singers and listened to an abundance of speakers. Col. Leon Ellis, a U.S. Air Force Veteran who served for 25 years and was a prisoner of war in Hanoi, gave special remarks.
“There is so much we can learn from our veterans,” Col. Ellis said. “Over and over they have had to come together. They have learned that in their unit we do not leave our men behind. We stay connected, we take care of each other, we have a bond. And one of the things as a soldier, as a combat veteran, that I have had to learn is to connect with my own heart. Help each other; do that, and be resilient. Our country needs resilience.”
Other speakers, like Matthew Sayger, 1st Lt. Executive Officer in the U.S. Army, President Qubein and Rev. Frank Thomas, a retired U.S. Army 1st Sg. also gave passionate speeches to honor veterans. There were many other special guests in attendance, including Miss U.S.A., Cheslie Christ, with whom guests were able to take a picture post-ceremony, and HPU’s feathered friend, Clark the eagle, who soared above the crowd and was also available for photos post-ceremony. Veterans took home complimentary blankets and T-shirts from HPU volunteers.
Whether it was by greeting people as they arrived or handing out gifts to the veterans, HPU staff and volunteers were eager to support the veterans and remind them how much their service is appreciated.
In addition to HPU donating 100 American flags to the High Point community this year, its Kappa Alpha Order gave a new, all-terrain wheelchair to local veteran, Steve Slate, allowing him the freedom of doing things he loves again.
Slate’s son, Kody, said the gift “gave him some of his pride back.”
HPU hosts Veteran’s Day celebrations every year, and will be doing more to help out veterans next year.