Veterans Day Celebration to be held in Ann Arbor on November 11, 2009
Concordia University will host a Veterans Day Celebration on November 11, 2009. Veterans in attendance will receive $5,000 scholarships toward a traditional undergraduate education. Event includes chapel service, flag dedication, and flyover.

ANN ARBOR, MI, October 23, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Concordia University Ann Arbor (CUAA) will host a Veterans Day Celebration on November 11, 2009 (full event schedule listed below). Armed service veterans, their families, and currently serving military members will be our guests of honor at this special event. CUAA will honor the veterans and servicemembers of the community by presenting them with a commemorative gift and a $5,000 scholarship certificate issued in their name. The designee may use the scholarship, confer it to another veteran, or present it to one of their dependents. The general public is invited to participate in an 11:30 a.m. flag ceremony, and to meet veterans and servicemembers at an informal reception following the ceremony.

CUAA would also like to invite veterans, active servicemembers and their families to a complimentary lunch served in the university's cafeteria. Veterans, active servicemembers and their families should RSVP for the event with Shannon MacLellan at (734) 995-4892 or macles@cuaa.edu before Oct. 24.

Concordia University will host a number of servicemembers from all branches of the military. Confirmed attendee notices have arrived from the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti VFW posts, United States Coast Guard Search and Rescue, Ann Arbor American Legion, Ypsilanti Medical National Guard Unit, Ann Arbor's Army Reserve Training Center, and the Army, Navy and Marine Corps Recruiters.

If you are interested in donating to or sponsoring this event, please contact the CUAA Office of Development at (734) 995-7317.

Distinguished Participants:

The University of Michigan ROTC program's Joint Forces ROTC Honor Guard, composed of seven cadets from the Army, Air Force, and Navy ROTCs, will participate in flag ceremonies. During the chapel service, the ROTC Honor Guard will receive an American flag that was flown at the State of Michigan Capitol Building, which will then be transported to the flag pole. The Honor Guard will lower the old flag, fold it and present it to a representative of the VFW American Legion Post # 46. (The old flag will be retired in a private ceremony by the VFW American Legion at a later date). The Honor Guard will then raise the flag from the Capitol Building in honor of Michigan's veterans and servicemembers.

The 338th U.S. Army Field Band, a group stationed at the 83rd Infantry Division Memorial US Army Reserve Center, Whitehall, Ohio (a suburb of Columbus) and in Livonia, Michigan, will have 20 members play with the Concordia University Wind Ensemble. The bands will assemble at the flagpole in preparation for the music performed for the flag raising ceremony.

Miss Michigan 2009, Nicole Blaszczyk, will deliver an address to those in attendance.


The Event Schedule:

10:15 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. -- Welcome, Assembly, Light Refreshments
10:15 - Meet and Greet
10:35 - "Concordially Yours" performs You're a Grand 'Ole Flag
10:40 - Welcome by Concordia
10:50 - Move to Chapel of the Holy Trinity

11:00 a.m. - 11:25 a.m. -- Chapel Service with Flag Presentation
Opening Hymn - God Bless Our Native Land
Introduction by DCE Robert McKinney
Presentation of US Flag to ROTC Honor Guard
11:25 - Honor Guard Leads Processional to flagpole

11:25 a.m. - Noon -- Flag Dedication (Public Invited to Attend)
11:25 - Prelude - American's We
11:30 - Processional - Grand 'Ole Flag
11:35 - Master of Ceremonies Introduction
11:40 - Choir - Eternal Father, Strong to Save
11:41 - Guest Speaker - Nicole Blaszczyk (Miss Michigan 2009)
Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm may also speak
11:51 - ROTC Honor Guard Position at Flag Pole
11:52 - Bugle sounds retreat while flag is lowered
11:54 - Stars and Stripes
11:59 - National Anthem - The Star Spangled Banner
Performed by the 338th Army Band, Concordia Choir & Wind Ensemble
Noon - Flyover - 127th Fighter Squadron, USANG or elements of the Michigan Army National Guard
Post-Flyover - Postlude by the 338th U.S. Army Field Band

Post Flyover - 12:01 p.m. -- Complimentary Lunch Reception for Veterans and Their Families - RSVP required (734)995-4892

Post Flyover - 12:01 p.m. -- Informal Reception
The Public is invited and encouraged to visit the static displays provided by Michigan's Joint Forces National Guard Chief of Staff and by the US Army Recruiting Command and then to meet veterans, servicemembers and their families right after they finish lunch around 1:00 p.m.

Press Release Contact Information:

Seth Hinz
Concordia University Ann Arbor
Media Relations Manager
4090 Geddes Road
Ann Arbor, MI
United States 48105
Voice: 734-995-7320
Website: Visit Our Website