Northern Kentucky University will be honoring those who served our country, both on and off campus, with the Veterans Day 2010 ceremonies Nov. 11.

The Veterans Day celebration is a way of reaching out to our veterans. Chairman of the Veterans Advocacy Committee Dave Merriss says, “Student veterans are the heart and soul of all of this.”

On Nov. 11, activities will begin with a Flag Raising Ceremony outside Founders Hall and Steely Library at 11:45 a.m. The members of the student veteran organization, Veterans for Education and Transition Support (V.E.T.S.), will lead the simple and straightforward ceremony.

Senior Criminal Justice major and ROTC member, Ian Kirst will be narrating the ceremony. “It’s important remember our veterans,” Kirst says, “because everything we can do today is because of what they do (for us).”

The Veterans Recognition Luncheon will follow the flag raising in the Student Union Ballroom at 12:15 p.m. former Army Ranger and Congressman Geoff Davis will be the keynote speaker. Davis is a friend to veterans, Merriss says, and students actively sought to bring Davis to NKU.

The USMC Holmes High School Junior ROTC, a close affiliate with NKU, will provide the colorguard at the luncheon. The NKU Jazz Arts Trio will also be providing the music.

To end the Veterans Day ceremonies, NKU is presenting “Covering the World in a Dangerous Age,” a part of the Six@Six Lecture Series, at 6 p.m at the Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center in Cincinnati. Senior managing editor for the Associated Press, John Daniszewski, will be speaking on the relationship between the military and the media and the current war coverage in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Although the number is growing, there are about 400 veterans on campus at NKU. Bill Schwartz, President of NKU V.E.T.S is one of the 400.

Schwartz retired from the military and decided to go back to school to begin a second career. He says he always loved teaching, so his secondary education in history and social studies major was a “natural pick.”

The transition from the military to college is very difficult and Schwartz hopes NKU V.E.T.S will continue to help veterans shift from the military lifestyle to a college one. “We’re like a support group,” he said. The organization helped Schwartz interact in the community and become a part of the university.

Celebrating Veterans Day is important to Schwartz, “we owe them to at least remember,” he said about how much veterans have sacrificed to serve our country.

The ceremonies begin at 11:45 a.m. and last throughout the day on Veterans Day, Nov. 11.

If you would like to attend the luncheon, there is no cost, but space is limited. RSVP’s will be accepted until Nov. 4. Contact Julie Bridewell at 859-572-5147 or bridewellj@nku.edu for more information.

Tickets for the Six@Six lecture are required. Order tickets by phone at 859-572-1448 or online at six@six.nku.edu. At the door, students can attend for free with a valid student ID.

Story by Claire Higgins