Kean holds Veterans Day Ceremony
By: Gabrielle Gale Prendatt-Carter | November 15, 2015
Kean University’s Office of Veteran Student Services and the Military and Veterans Club hosted the Veterans Day Ceremony at the Miron Student Center on Kean University’s campus on November 11, 2015.
The ceremony was held outside and began promptly at 11 a.m. beginning with a Master of Ceremony lead by Elio Bustamante, United States Marine Veteran and Vice President of Kean’s Military and Veterans club. Following was a solo by Yayris Javier, who sang “Amazing Grace.”
Linden High School’s New Jersey Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (NJROTC) and Seton Hall’s ROTC did the Presentation of Colors, and Andre Ascalon, Major, Chaplain, United States Army, did the Invocation. The Pledge of Allegiance was lead by Linden High School’s NJROTC, and Yayris Javier sang the “National Anthem.” United States Army and Kean University student, Evan Ruggiero, lead a moment of silence.
The welcome was done by Dionicio Estrella, United States Army veteran, and president of Kean’s Military and Veterans club. Remarks were said by Nigel Donald, president of Kean University’s Student Organization, and Reflections were said by Amilcar Colon, Undersheriff of Union County.
There was commentary by Dr. Thomas Walsh, Middle & Secondary Education, Kean University professor, and retired veteran. The Placing of a Wreath was done by Ciro Ulinski, Kean University student and United States Army Veteran, Jesse Baiza, Kean University student and United States Army veteran, Kimmarah Casey, Kean University student and United States Army veteran, and Jarrod Young, Kean University student and United States Army veteran. Seton Hall’s ROTC program did the Lowering of the Flag, and Nicholas Igeri, Kean University student, did TAPS.
Additional Remarks were said by Dr. Shane V. Smith, School of Environmental & Life Science, and “God Bless America,” was sung by Yayris Javier. The Benediction was conducted by Father Bill Sheridan, Campus Ministry Catholic Chaplain.
The Retiring of the Colors was done by Seton Hall’s ROTC, and a violin selection was performed by Charmise Veraque, of Hearts Desire Music Studio.
According to Kean University Criminal Justice and Sociology double major Ulinski, “Joining the military is definitely one of the best things I’ve done. I’m definitely happy I did,” said Ulinski. “I have a lot more years left actually so, I’m excited to see where it takes me.”
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