The University Memorial Center, the State of Colorado's official memorial to veterans of war, will host a Veterans Day ceremony on Friday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. in the UMC room 235.
The ceremony, featuring University of Colorado President Hank Brown, the University of Colorado Navy ROTC Color Guard and the University of Colorado Air Force ROTC choir, will last 30 minutes and will be followed by a reception. Other guest speakers will include UMC Director Carlos Garcia and CU student and UMC Board Chair Paul Pukurdpol.
President Brown, a former U.S. Senator, served in the U.S. Navy from 1962 to 1966, volunteered for service in Vietnam and was decorated for his combat service as a forward air controller. As a lieutenant he received five commendations, including the Air Medal with two gold stars. Brown also earned his bachelor's and law degrees from CU-Boulder.
In 1947, more than half of all college students were WWII veterans. When funding began that year for the new student union building on the CU-Boulder campus, the building was designated by CU students and the citizens of Colorado to serve as a living memorial to Coloradoans who had served in World War I and World War II.
Then Colorado Gov. Lee Knous issued a proclamation stating, "The Memorial Center at the University of Colorado shall be the official state memorial to those who served and to those who died in these great wars to preserve our democratic freedom."
The UMC and its administration also serve as custodian of artifacts from the U.S.S. Colorado, a battleship active during 1942-1945. The ship's wheel and bell and a cast-iron scaled model of the battleship are on permanent display in the UMC Veterans Lounge, along with the 48-star American flag that flew on the ship during World War II.