Spring Break
ROTC holds Veterans Day ceremony
University President Emeritus Fr. Theodore Hesburgh expresses gratitude to armed forces
Kaitlynn Riely
Issue date: 11/12/08 Section: News
On a rainy Veterans Day at Notre Dame, University President Emeritus Fr. Theodore Hesburgh told a standing room only crowd in the auditorium of the library that bears his name that he stands "in awe, respect and gratitude to our armed forces."
"Because if we stand high in the councils of the world today," he said, "it's because we've had the kind of people who could stand behind our flag and out in front of our nation, giving us stability, order and a sense of heroic dedication even at a time of much self-indulgence."
Hesburgh, who was president of Notre Dame for 35 years, was the guest speaker Tuesday at the Notre Dame ROTC Tri-Military Veterans Day Ceremony. The commemoration of those who have fought in the armed services of the United States, an annual event, began at Notre Dame a day earlier. Starting Monday at 4:30 p.m., alternating members of the Notre Dame ROTC programs stood watch in dress uniforms at the Clarke Memorial Fountain, more commonly known as Stonehenge. They stood sentry over a 24-hour period when temperatures hovered at and around freezing and rain and ice fell intermittently.
Hesburgh praised the tradition of ROTC at Notre Dame, a tradition he said goes all the way back to Notre Dame founder Father Edward Sorin.
When Hesburgh began teaching at the University after World War II, he said the school was "practically a navy camp," with the large influx of Navy veterans into the student body.
During his time as president of the University, Hesburgh said there were, at times, feelings of anti-military sentiment in the country. Hesburgh said he never shared those feelings. And when other colleges dropped their ROTC programs, Notre Dame kept theirs.
Hesburgh said he is proud of the men and women in Notre Dames' ROTC program.
"You represent the best of the Notre Dame tradition and the best of the American tradition," he said.
Hesburgh told the ROTC members sitting or standing in the auditorium, clad in their dress uniforms, that he prayed for them every day.
"Because if we stand high in the councils of the world today," he said, "it's because we've had the kind of people who could stand behind our flag and out in front of our nation, giving us stability, order and a sense of heroic dedication even at a time of much self-indulgence."
Hesburgh, who was president of Notre Dame for 35 years, was the guest speaker Tuesday at the Notre Dame ROTC Tri-Military Veterans Day Ceremony. The commemoration of those who have fought in the armed services of the United States, an annual event, began at Notre Dame a day earlier. Starting Monday at 4:30 p.m., alternating members of the Notre Dame ROTC programs stood watch in dress uniforms at the Clarke Memorial Fountain, more commonly known as Stonehenge. They stood sentry over a 24-hour period when temperatures hovered at and around freezing and rain and ice fell intermittently.
Hesburgh praised the tradition of ROTC at Notre Dame, a tradition he said goes all the way back to Notre Dame founder Father Edward Sorin.
When Hesburgh began teaching at the University after World War II, he said the school was "practically a navy camp," with the large influx of Navy veterans into the student body.
During his time as president of the University, Hesburgh said there were, at times, feelings of anti-military sentiment in the country. Hesburgh said he never shared those feelings. And when other colleges dropped their ROTC programs, Notre Dame kept theirs.
Hesburgh said he is proud of the men and women in Notre Dames' ROTC program.
"You represent the best of the Notre Dame tradition and the best of the American tradition," he said.
Hesburgh told the ROTC members sitting or standing in the auditorium, clad in their dress uniforms, that he prayed for them every day.