SMWC honors the fallen

For a second year, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) has joined the National Roll Call project to honor American servicemen and -women by hosting simultaneous ceremonies across the nation. On Monday, Nov. 12, 2012, the names of more than 6,600 fallen soldiers will be read aloud by students, faculty, staff and volunteers on the front lawn of SMWC’s Rooney Library from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

More than 93 colleges and universities in 37 states across the country will read the names of those who fell in service to the nation. All participating campuses will observe a simultaneous nationwide minute of silence at 11 a.m.

The Veterans Knowledge Community of NASPA Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education sponsors the Remembrance Day National Roll Call. NASPA is a 12,000-member association for the advancement, health and sustainability of the student affairs professionals. The Veterans Knowledge Community’s (VKC) mission is to advocate for best practices to help student veterans transition to college and succeed.

Lt. Col. (Ret) Brett Morris, the National Roll Call coordinator, said, “We want to rally campus communities across the nation to send a message to the troops currently serving – that we, as a national body of students, have not forgotten their sacrifices, or those of their fallen brethren.”

In conjunction with the roll call, SMWC will also host other activities to connect, support and honor service members and their families. These will include a Fallen Soldiers Table to acknowledge the inability of the service members to be present, a station to create handmade rosaries and opportunities to become involved with the Student Veterans Organization.

• For more information regarding academic success of veterans at SMWC, visit the College’s Military Benefits page or email Kim LaComba.