Veterans and students battled the bitter winds while showing their support at the first annual Veteran’s Day Honoring Ceremony held at University of Wisconsin-Superior.

The ceremony began at noon at the flagpole on Catlin Ave. with the singing of the National Anthem led by UW-Superior student David Greenberg, who was joined by the onlookers as the flag was raised. 

After the song, Interim Chancellor Chris Markwood welcomed the crowd with hopes of many more Veteran’s Day ceremonies in the coming years. Two UW-Superior student veterans spoke about Veteran’s Day and their terms of service:  Mark Brookmole, UW-Superior student and retired chief boatswains mate for the US Coast Guard and Aimee Bandelin, a student who served as a Sergeant in the Army. 

Mark Brookmole gave a short speech that centered on the hope he felt at Veteran’s Day Honoring Ceremony. 

Lee Parker, Assistant Director of Admissions, commented on the events,

“I thought it was a very nice service.  I thought Mark did a great job talking about what Veteran’s Day means. I think hope is a great way to look at it for all those folks who served we just appreciate it so much, having come from a long line of family members who have gone on and served in the army or the marines.  It’s kind of special to me that they are honored because a lot of people don’t know what they’ve gone through.”

Aimee Bandelin, an Elementary Education Major, also commented on the hope she felt in her speech.

“I was in army for 8 years total 4 years active. I was stationed in Europe: Germany and Italy.  After that I was in Iraq for a year.  The experiences are memorable. I was a Sergeant in charge of installing fiber optic cable for the communications branch so that each base can have satellite, internet, TV, and communications capability,” Bandelin explains of her time in the army.

Students attending the ceremony were very pleased with the events. 

“I have an extreme respect for the people who have sacrificed their lives for what they believe and defend their country,” said freshman Ayoub Dib.

Many Veteran’s attended the event like Will Janssen, a UW-Superior veteran majoring in Biology, who served in the Air Force.

“I was stationed in North Carolina at Seymour Johnson. I did three terms in Iraq and one in Kuwait so it was six months each time,” Janssen explained.

The ceremony ended with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Lucas Ruff, president of the UW-Superior Veterans Club, who served as a Specialist in the Army.  Veterans also received gifts from the campus for their service. 

After the event, cookies and hot apple cider were served in the Yellowjacket Union.  A table was set up in the YU for students to send letters of gratitude to veterans and soldiers in the community.