welcome to the
KU Veterans Alumni Network
The KU Veterans Alumni Network connects current and former military, spouses, dependents and allies through resources and events, with the aim of supporting the KU Military-Affiliated community.
Veterans Week Nov. 6-14, 2021
In honor of Veterans Day, the University of Kansas will host/participate in a variety of events Nov. 6-14. Events are open to the public, unless otherwise noted.
“This series of events is one of the many ways KU embraces our military-affiliated community,” said April Blackmon Strange, KU Military-Affiliated Student Center director. “We hope KU and community members will join us in one or more of these activities as we recognize and honor those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.”
Marine Corps Birthday Cake
2-3 p.m.
Wescoe Beach
KU Student Veterans of America will celebrate the Marine Corps birthday with free cake for all, while supplies last.
ROTCs’ 24-hour Vigil
6 p.m.
KU ROTC cadets and midshipmen will be posted in uniform at KU’s war memorial sites along Memorial Drive.
KU military-affiliated and nontraditional student breakfast
8:30-10:30 a.m.
Forums, Burge Union
This free event, in partnership with the Student Involvement Leadership Center as part of Nontraditional Student Week, is open to all KU students and their families and will include a spotlight on campus services and resources. Students are welcome to come and go as they please.
KU-Leavenworth will march in the Leavenworth Veterans Day parade
10:30 a.m.
All KU students and their families are invited to participate and should meet at TownePlace Suites at 9 a.m. For more details, contact Beth Tucker, Leavenworth student and program coordinator, at btucker@ku.edu or 913-897-8596.
Veterans Day Wreath Laying Ceremony
11 a.m.
Campanile
Join the KU community for a traditional wreath laying ceremony to recognize the sacrifices made by those who have served in the Armed Forces.
Kansas Veterans Virtual Memory Wall Veterans Day open house
12-4 p.m.
Dole Institute of Politics
Join the Dole Institute for a public open house debut of the Kansas Veterans Virtual Memory Wall. Guests will have opportunities to interact with the virtual exhibit, submit new veteran profiles, and enjoy music while honoring Kansas veterans and their families.
Kansas Basketball Salute to Service
7 p.m.
Kansas Basketball opens the 2021-22 regular season by hosting Tarleton State in Allen Fieldhouse. The game will be the team’s annual Salute to Service night. Tickets are available for $10 each to veterans, active duty and reserve military personnel by clicking here.
Ninth annual KU Vets Day 5K
9 a.m.
David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium
Commemorating the 30th anniversary of the end of Desert Storm. A virtual run option is available for anyone who is unable to make it to campus. The first 600 participants to register will receive a shirt and finisher’s medal. Pre-registration is encouraged; arrive by 8 a.m. for on-site registration. Volunteers are needed for the event as well and can sign up through the 5K website’s “volunteer” section. Sign up for the race today!
Thank you to our KU Vets Day 5k title sponsors Integrated Benefits, Inc and T-Mobile.
Resources
KU Vets Day 5K
Challenge Coin
Honorary coins are awarded annually to individuals who have made contributions to the veterans community. Click here to view the list of recipients.
Salute to Service
Kansas Veterans Virtual Memory Wall
Lt. Gen. William K. Jones Military-Affiliated Student Center
Student Veterans of America
KU WAR MEMORIALS
Warren Corman, e’50, shares the stories behind the six war memorials on the University of Kansas campus. Corman served 13 years as KU’s university architect and is a member of the KU Veterans Alumni Network executive committee. He served in the United States Navy.
The Kansas Memorial Union is a memorial for the 129 KU students and alumni who died during the World War I. The building was completed in 1938.
Memorial Stadium was officially dedicated on November 11, 1922. Along with the Kansas Union, it is an official memorial to the KU men and women who lost their lives during World War I.
The Victory Eagle is a Kansas treasure that honors veterans and casualties of World War I from Douglas County, some of whom were KU students.
On May 27, 1951, the Memorial Carillon and Campanile, dedicated May 27, 1951, honors the 277 KU men and women who gave their lives in World War II.
A seven-foot sculpture called “Korean Cranes Rising,” created by artist Jon Havener, honors the 60 KU students, faculty, staff and alumni who died in the Korean War.
On May 25, 1986, the KU Vietnam Memorial became the nation’s first on-campus commemorative honoring those who died in America’s longest war, including 59 KU students and alumni.
Events
Plan Ahead!
Veterans Alumni Network Leaders
Kelsey Galle
KU Alumni Liaison
c'12
Randy Masten
Executive Committee
g'03 PhD'19
Army Ret.
Sean Navarro
Executive Committee
Air National Guard
Sarah Weygand
Executive Committee
Coast Guard
LTC Trent Williams
Executive Committee
Air Force Ret.
CAPT Todd Copeland
Ex Officio
Navy, Commander NROTC
LTC Charles Dorssom
Ex Officio
Air Force, Commander AFROTC
Drew Beets
SVA Advisor
USMC
Jim Pottorff
Ad Hoc
l'84
Army Ret.
Ashley Urban
Ad Hoc
EdD'20
Political Science
Brien Stonebreaker
SVA President
Veterans Alumni Network Leaders
LTC Trent Williams
Executive Committee
Air Force Ret.
LTC Robert Kudelko
Ex Officio
c'95
USMC
D.C. Chapter Liaisons Officer
CAPT James Miller
Ex Officio
Navy, Commander NROTC
LTC Charles Dorssom
Ex Officio
Air Force, Commander AFROTC
Stewart Burns
SVA President
Veterans Alumni Network Leaders
President
COL Mike Denning, c’83 USMC Ret.
gmjdenning@ku.edu
Vice President
COL Greg Freix, g’99 USAF Ret.
gfreix@ku.edu
Secretary
MASC Director
SVA Advisor
Newsletter Editor
April Blackmon Strange
ablackmon@ku.edu
MASC Assistant Director
CAPT Sean Navarro, Air National Guard
timothy.hornik@gmail.com
Executive Committee
MSGT Chris Campbell, USMC Ret.
ChristopherCampbell@ku.edu
Executive Committee
CAPT James Cooper, c’74 Navy Ret.
jscooper@kumc.edu
Executive Committee
Warren Corman, e’50 Navy
Executive Committee
Andrew Foster, c’12
fostera@ku.edu
Executive Committee
COL Bernie Kish, PhD’98 Army Ret.
bkish@ku.edu
Executive Committee
AMB David Lambertson, Dept. of State Ret.
dflambertson@gmail.com
Executive Committee
COL Steven Leonard, Army Ret.
steven.leonard@ku.edu
Executive Committee
Prof. Adrian Lewis, Army Ret.
arl0008@ku.edu
Executive Committee
Lt Col Jeffrey Long, ’85 USAF Ret.
jefflong@ku.edu
Executive Committee
BG Michael Rounds, Army Ret.
Executive Committee
LTC Trent Williams, Air Force Ret.
m528r913@ku.edu
Ex Officio
LTC Robert Kudelko, c’95 USMC
KUAA D.C. Network Liaison Officer
Ex Officio
CAPT James Miller, Navy, Commander NROTC
trenton.lennard@ku.edu
Ex Officio
LTC J.D. Finch, Army Commander AROTC
jd.finch@ku.edu
Ex Officio
LTC Charles Dorssom, Air Force, Commander AFROTC
nicolephelan@ku.edu
SVA President
Kendall Exferd, SVA President
thomasangel21@ku.edu
Senior Director of Alumni Programs & Hospitality, KU Alumni Association
Michelle Lang, b’01
michellem@kualumni.org
Contact the KU Veterans Alumni Network
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