Each Veterans Day, the Wisconsin Union acknowledges and thanks USA service members and veterans, especially those among our students, staff, faculty and alumni. We are grateful for all they sacrifice, from time with family and friends to, in some cases, the ultimate sacrifice of their lives. Hundreds of veterans and service members have studied and continue to study at our university. They are heroes that are among us every day.
As a memorial to service members, our Memorial Union serves as a daily reminder of these heroes and the sacrifices they make for our country. This part of the building’s identity is permanently etched across the front balustrade with the words, “Erected and dedicated to the memory of the men and women of the University of Wisconsin who served in our country’s wars”. Memorial Union is also home to the Gold Star Honor Roll on its second floor, with the names of more than 1,000 fallen alumni service members engraved in wooden scrolls and their stories included in an electronic, interactive kiosk. See more on that below.
We also host an event each year at Memorial Union in honor of our country’s veterans and service members. This year, we cannot gather together at Memorial Union as we have in the past, but we can still take time to acknowledge these heroes on campus and throughout our communities.
To our country’s service members, we are grateful for you. We are humbled to share a campus and community with people with such courage, heroism, work ethic, dedication and selflessness. We appreciate each of you today and acknowledge you for being the heroes who you truly are.