Photos and story by Monty Siekerman
Keith Harman, immediate past national commander of the VFW, spoke at Ohio Northern Veterans Day ceremonies on Monday morning. The ONU Veterans Day ceremonies marked not only the annual day set aside to honor and memorialize service men and women past and present but also marked the 100th anniversary of the World War I armistice.
Harman said it was appropriate that the occasion was held near the statue of Dr. Henry Solomon Lehr, the founder of the university and a Civil War veteran. He noted that seven percent of the U.S. population has served in the military, protecting our safety, security, and wellbeing.
ONU President Dan DiBiasio pointed out that the university had a military department as early as 1890, followed by a military band shortly thereafter. ONU had a National Guard unit as early as 1917 and an ROTC program by 1919. Currently, there are 10 students in the Army and Air Force ROTC programs.
Todd McAlpine played a piece on the bagpipe. The speaker was introduced by Andrew Munshower, a political science major from Delphos which is the hometown of the speaker.
President DiBiasio and Mayor Dave Retterer laid memorial wreaths near the Lehr statue. The local VFW posted the colors. The University Singers performed the National Anthem and Battle Hymn of the Republic. After a moment of silence, two students played Taps and Chaplain MacDonald gave a closing prayer.
