Honoring Service and Sacrifice: Stony Brook University’s 2024 Veterans Day Ceremony

Stony Brook University's annual Veterans Day ceremony paid tribute to current and past veterans. Photos by Rachael Eyler.

Stony Brook University marked Veterans Day with a moving ceremony on November 11 in the Sidney Gelber Auditorium, in which students, faculty, and community members paid tribute to the sacrifices of military personnel.

The Spirit of Stony Brook Marching Band opened the ceremony, playing the anthems of each military branch, and Jennifer Lucas '09, retired U.S. Army, sang the National Anthem. Rabbi Joseph Topek, chaplain of Long Island State Veterans Home and Stony Brook University, delivered the invocation. Daniel Jones, a graduate student in the Department of Music, College of Arts and Sciences, played "Taps."

Victoria Ralston, a senior psychology major and co-host of the event, welcomed attendees and shared her personal connection as a military dependent. "My father is an active duty naval officer. I've lived in six different places across three countries, attending seven different schools," Ralston said, highlighting the unique struggles and rewards of growing up in a military family, and the importance of adaptability and resilience.

Despite these challenges, she expressed gratitude for her background: "The exposure to different cultures has been an incredibly enriching part of my life, and I'm deeply thankful."

The event also featured remarks from Stony Brook Interim President Richard McCormick, who emphasized the value of veterans' contributions to the Stony Brook community. "Whether you served in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Coast Guard, thank you for protecting the freedoms we enjoy today," he said, expressing deep gratitude for their impact on campus. He singled out student veteran Eric Mitchell, who works tirelessly to support other veterans as they transition to academic life.

"The Veteran Student Organization continues the honor of service and commitment synonymous with veterans," McCormick noted. He also acknowledged the Long Island State Veterans Home, where caregivers have served the region's veterans for over 30 years. "To our veterans, we are deeply grateful for your sacrifices and your service."

Jamie Ford, a senior studying marine biology and event co-host, shared how her father's military service shaped her childhood, and how she was grateful for the military community's constant support. Her experience led her to work at the Office of Military and Veteran Student Services, a role she appreciates: "Working in the office has been one of my favorite experiences at SBU. I am especially honored to represent military children and families on this Veterans Day."

Jonah Torres was one of the speakers at the Veterans Day ceremony November 11 at the Sidney Gelber Auditorium in the SAC.

Marine Corps veteran Jonah Torres, a senior majoring in electrical engineering, described his time in the Marines, beginning with basic training and leading up to his role as an instructor. "Standing on the same grounds as thousands of Marines before me was indescribable," he said of his first night at Parris Island. Torres said his military service instilled a sense of purpose and community, and after returning to Long Island, he found his academic home at Stony Brook. "Just like when I joined the Marine Corps, I want to be part of something bigger than myself," he shared, now serving on the Veterans Organization executive board and as vice president of the SBU chapter of the SALUTE Veterans National Honor Society.

Keynote speaker Richard Acritelli '00, '03, veteran of the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army, welcomed "all our veterans, specialists, and especially to Vietnam War veterans who continue the mission to help support our veterans today."

Acritelli earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in history at Stony Brook; he shared how growing up in Port Jefferson Station and having inspiring social studies teachers inspired his passion for history. "Not coming from much money," he said, "I enlisted in the United States Army Reserves. It gave me the chance to serve and use the GI Bill to support my education." Acritelli credited the GI Bill for covering his tuition, first at Suffolk Community College and then at Stony Brook.

Acritelli called his time at Stony Brook transformative. He joined the history honors program as a senior, where he worked with Department of History faculty member Michael Barnhart. "My research focused on military leadership, particularly General George S. Patton," he explained. "Professor Barnhart guided me through intense research, pushing me to produce over 165 pages on Patton's elite soldiers, battlefield strategies, and personal challenges."

Stony Brook Interim President Richard McCormick was one of several speakers at the Veterans Day ceremony.

Acritelli's passion for military history grew through this research, which took him to Stony Brook's libraries, West Point, and the National Military Archives at College Park, Maryland. "This experience ignited my lifelong dedication to uncovering and sharing the stories of veterans," he said.

One of the most memorable veterans Acritelli encountered was Martin Andrews, a B-17 bomber pilot and Port Jefferson resident. "Andrews shared incredible stories," he said, describing how Andrews narrowly avoided capture in Nazi-occupied Germany by maneuvering his plane to neutral Switzerland. "When asked by Swiss officials what he was doing in their country, Andrews replied, 'We're tourists,' a story that still brings a smile to my face."

As an educator, Acritelli has shared the stories of veterans like Andrews with his students. "Whenever my students see veterans wearing hats that mark their service, they often say how cute these men look," he recounted. "But I remind them - there's nothing cute about these citizens who saved this country and later became some of the strongest people in America."

Acritelli emphasized the continued impact and importance of veterans across the nation and in New York. "Today, there are about 18 million veterans in the United States, representing six percent of the population," he said. "Here at Stony Brook, 200 veterans are students, and the Long Island State Veterans Home on campus supports over 400 veterans and their family members. We are here today to thank our veterans - past, present, and future - for their sacrifice and service."

- Beth Squire

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