SIU to hold annual Veterans Day vigil

October 28, 2024

by Tim Crosby

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois University Carbondale will publicly commemorate Veterans Day with the annual vigil at the flagpole on the corner of South Normal Avenue and West Grand Avenue, near the center of the SIU campus.

This year's Nov. 11 Veterans Day event marks the 43rd anniversary of the flagpole vigil, which began in 1981. The event honors SIU and Southern Illinois veterans who served their country in the U.S. armed forces.

SIU Air Force and Army ROTC programs, in partnership with SIU Veterans Services, are coordinating this year's vigil, which begins at 6 a.m. at the Old Main Flagpole, just south of Woody Hall. ROTC cadets will stand silent vigil throughout the day, changing shifts every 15 minutes, until noon.

At 11 a.m., members will hold a wreath-laying ceremony at the flagpole. The ceremony will include a proclamation from Carbondale's Mayor Carolin Harvey and remarks by Martin Parsons, a veteran and SIU alumnus. The ceremony closes with the playing of taps by the SIU Trumpet Studio, under the leadership of Ricky Spears, assistant professor of trumpet and assistant director of athletic bands.

For more information, or to receive accommodations, contact Paul Copeland, coordinator at the SIU Veterans Services office, at 618-453-1317 or [email protected]