OXFORD — Miami University’s new Alumni Veterans Tribute was unveiled Sunday, Nov. 11. The project honors Miami alumni who have served, are currently serving and will serve in the armed forces.
The project has two parts, one physical and one virtual.
The physical tribute includes a memorial with the names of those who were killed in action or missing in action.
The virtual part is a website with a searchable database of Miamians who have served or are serving.
The idea for the project came from Dave Miller (Miami ’60, MBA ’69) and David Lawrence (Miami ’64) five years ago. It was guided by a committee of alumni veterans and funded through private support from alumni and friends.
“For more than two centuries, more than 8,000 alumni of Miami University have served in our country’s armed forces,” Lawrence said. “This spawned the idea of creating a physical site on campus to acknowledge the breadth of Miami’s alumni involvement in the military.”
During the ceremony, he added, “While continuously displaying the flag that unites all military branches, this Alumni Veterans Tribute now provides a site for accommodating both special events and a place for personal reflection.”
For Miami student and military veteran Emma Wott, this Tribute is more than a physical monument. It is an active reminder of support.
“Action was taken by those affiliated with the military and those who were not. They with a means to help shed light on Veterans who feel forgotten. Instead of us having to keep looking for something, someone is instead holding their hand out already,” she said.
President Gregory Crawford said, “This tribute will be a constant reminder of the debt of gratitude we owe to our veterans. It will remind us to honor service, to keep alive the memory of sacrifices, and to emulate those who have demonstrated these core values.”
