Duty and service were the key themes of the 2022 Veterans Day Observance ceremony featuring guest speaker U.S. Air Force Major General Christopher E. Craige.
Elon University paid tribute to the millions who have served in the United States armed forces with its annual Veterans Day Observance ceremony in the LaRose Digital Theater at the Ernest A. Koury, Sr. Business Center on Friday, Nov. 11.
“Those of us who have served took an oath. Among the things that we swore were to defend and support the Constitution of the United States and to well and faithfully execute the duties of the office that we represented,” said Matt Valle, professor of management and a U.S. Air Force veteran. “Those were and continue to be solemn words. And the distinction they make clear is that in the contest between want and need, military service members commit to rendering want subservient to need.”
Valle highlighted Paul Cheek, the late professor emeritus of chemistry, Bill Loy, longtime Elon benefactor, and current Elon staff and faculty members Mary Kay Hannah and Chris Turner as just a few examples of those who fulfilled their duties.
Another example of someone who made that sacrifice for the greater good is retired U.S. Air Force Major General Christopher E. Craige, the ceremony’s guest speaker. Craige was commissioned in 1991 as a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and has more than 3,900 hours as a command pilot of various aircraft.
Craige held a multitude of positions during his four decades of service, including experience at the U.S. Joint Forces Command; experience as Commander of the 39th Air Base Wing, Incirlik Air Base; and Commanding General of the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing, Kabul Afghanistan. During his remarks, Craige spoke about how honored he is to have spent his life serving the American people.
“We hear a lot as veterans, ‘Thank you for your service.’ It probably feels as awkward to you as it does to me. I feel it’s an honor and privilege to serve. But the other thing I’d like to highlight is my personal opinion that service comes in all forms,” he said.
“I have watched service throughout our communities, whether it be first responders, local leaders, and here at Elon University, … service is baked into the code, ethics and curriculum at this university,” Craige added.
The ceremony included a posting of the colors by the Western Alamance High School Naval Junior ROTC Color Guard and a roll call of veterans and families members of veterans.
“Thank you all for being here and thanks for remembering our veterans, our families and for all the service you do in the community,” Craige said.