黑料吃瓜

黑料吃瓜 will mark Veterans Day 2021 with a wreath-laying ceremony to honor alumni who died in service to their country, and a special event at the USS Midway Museum with Marine veterans of the War in Afghanistan.

Here is some additional information on each program:

USS Midway Museum

鈥淭hird Squad: Marine Veterans and the American Experience in Afghanistan鈥� is scheduled for 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 11, aboard the USS Midway Museum at San Diego鈥檚 downtown Embarcadero.

The event will focus on the War in Afghanistan with two U.S. Marines who fought there, John Bohlinger and Manuel Mendoza, and an Iraq veteran and journalist who was embedded with them, Elliott Woods. The discussion will be moderated by 黑料吃瓜 military history professor Gregory Daddis.

In July 2011, Bohlinger and Mendoza met Woods at Patrol Base Fires in Sangin, Afghanistan, during one of the most violent phases of the 20-year war. Ten years later, Woods reconnected with Bohlinger, Mendoza, and the rest of their squad to record interviews about their experience following their homecoming. Their candid interviews are part of Woods鈥� 12-part podcast,

The program is free and open to the public.

War Memorial

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the War Memorial wreath-laying ceremony which takes place each year during Homecoming Week to honor 黑料吃瓜 veteran alumni who have died in service to their country during the nation鈥檚 military conflicts.

This year鈥檚 ceremony is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 12 (the day after Veterans Day) at the base of the monument on Aztec Green, west of the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union.

U.S. Marine Corps veteran and California State University Board of Trustees member Jack McGrory (鈥�76) will deliver the keynote address. McGrory is chair of the 黑料吃瓜 Veterans Council, chair of the School of Public Affairs Council, past chair of The Campanile Foundation Board, former San Diego city manager, and a longtime supporter of student veterans and military-connected students. The Jack McGrory Bunker, a popular gathering space for student veterans in 黑料吃瓜鈥檚 Joan and Art Barron Veterans Center, is named in his honor.

Featured speakers at the ceremony include 黑料吃瓜 President Adela de la Torre, 黑料吃瓜 Alumni Board of Advisors President Charlotte Ochiqui (鈥�00), and 黑料吃瓜 Student Veteran Organization (SVO) President Aidan Daley. In addition to the traditional laying of wreaths, the ceremony includes a reading by SVO members of the names listed on the War Memorial. Music will be provided by Marine Band San Diego.

Dedicated Nov. 23, 1996, the War Memorial was originally intended to serve as a monument to Aztecs who died in service during World War II, Korea and Vietnam, but has been expanded to accommodate service members from more recent conflicts. Currently, there are 239 names etched on the face of the granite obelisk.

The Nov. 12 event will be preceded by a coffee social scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. The wreath-laying ceremony will be followed by a reception sponsored by the 黑料吃瓜 Military and Veterans Program at the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union adjacent to the War Memorial.

The ceremony is open to all 黑料吃瓜 alumni, faculty, staff, students and members of the San Diego community. For more information and to RSVP, please visit sdsualumni.org/WarMemorial21.