May 24, 2013

The College of Nursing and Health Professions hosted the Memorial Day Primer on May 21, Drexel’s NAME, welcomed attendees to the event with his bagpipes. And Paul Nolan, Director of Music Therapy Programs, and his students welcomed guests into the Geary A Auditorium of the New College Building with their musical tribute: Ashokan Farewell by Jay Unger. After the presentation of the colors by Army ROTC Cadets from Task Force Dragon, Dr. Bobbie Posmontier, Assistant Professor of Graduate Nursing, sang the National Anthem. Leland “Rocky” Rockstraw, PhD, then gave a short speech about the difference between civilian and military participation in the Pledge of Allegiance.

The program also included an invocation by Drexel Veterans Task Force member Patience Ajoff-Foster, a welcome speech by Lieutenant Colonel Richard Zygadlo of the U.S. Army, and the presentation of the Chuck E. Sabin, Sr. Award to Katherine Grous, Class of 2013. Next, Christopher Diaz, U.S. Navy and Vice President of the Drexel Veterans Association, showed a tribute video honoring military medics and gave a talk titled “Remembering Our Fallen: Reflections from a Veteran Sailor” about P.O. Brian Lundy, who died on patrol in Afghanistan on September 9, 2011.

The event concluded with Rebecca Weidensaul, PhD’s reading of Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae’s poem In Flander’s Fields and a somber rendition of Taps by Army ROTC Cadet Mark-Daniel Mitchell. After the retirement of the colors, Drexel IRT staff member and U.S. Navy veteran Curt Anderson played the bagpipes while guests exited. A lunch reception, furnished by the College of Nursing and Health Professions, Center City Student Life, and Army ROTC, was held in the Geary lobby.

The purpose of the Memorial Day Primer, DU Remembers…Will You? is to educate the Drexel community about the observance of Memorial Day and to honor the service men and women who have died for our freedom. The College of Nursing and Health Professions was proud to co-present this event on our campus and pay special tribute to military medics.