Volunteerism, Prayer Service and Campus Tributes Honor Veterans

In the community and on campus in November, The University of Scranton honors veterans in word and deed.

On Veterans Day, University of Scranton student groups and their moderators will host an Interfaith Veterans Day Prayer Service to honor those who have dedicated their lives in service to their country.

The University community is invited to attend on Monday, Nov. 11 at noon in the Veterans and ROTC Lounge, Hyland Hall, first floor.

This annual collaboration with Campus Ministry, ROTC and the Student Veterans Organization celebrating veterans will feature a reflection from Dr. Mary Troy, Counseling and Human Services Faculty at Scranton. Afterward, all are invited for pizza and desserts. Contact [email protected] with questions.

"The event on Nov. 11 is meant to honor all who have answered the call to defend freedom. This event brings community together to thank and pray for the people currently serving, who have served and that willing be joining the ranks," said sophomore Brianna Cahoon, an active member of the National Guard and part of the University's ROTC Program as a non-contracted cadet.

This past Saturday, Cahoon, a member of the Student Veterans Organization (SVO), helped organize volunteer efforts for a Nov. 2 initiative to prepare meals for veterans through the We Care program. Members of the University community spent the day assembling and delivering meals to local veterans of the St. Francis Commons and Community Intervention Center.

Organized through the University's Center for Service and Social Justice (CSSJ) and the Arrupe House, the We Care program regularly invites University students to prepare 100 meals weekly for donation to those most in need in the Scranton area.

Cahoon had participated as a volunteer previously, and was inspired to increased her level of involvement this year with a leadership role.

"I volunteered for the We Care Meals last year and was very impressed with how it helped the veterans of the community. I had always loved volunteering before coming to the University, so I knew I wanted to volunteer here," said Cahoon.

"As a member of the National Guard, I find it very important to honor those who have come before me in service, so this event stuck with me. I then became more comfortable with both ROTC and SVO programs, which inspired me to ask for a bigger role in leading this event,"

Cahoon organized communications for the Nov. 2 event, and enlisted volunteers to create greeting cards for the veterans and bake desserts to accompany the meals. Chloe Furlong '27 also led the event planning.

"ROTC cadets stepped up and baked desserts and crafted cards for the event. There was a lot of double checking to make sure all time slots for volunteering were filled. ROTC passed the sign-up sheets to its cadets, who happily volunteered to help!"

University of Scranton students prepared 60 meals for St. Francis Commons and the Community Intervention Center on Nov. 2 as volunteers with the We Care Meal Program. Shown are participants from the University's ROTC Program: Tim Davila '25, Connor Bender '28 and Xavier Long '25.

"When we were prepping meals, there was a sense of community, because we were all around a big table where conversation flowed easily and new volunteers were accepted. ... It made me realize that a service event can help in more than one way, by giving back to the community and by building ties in the community," said Cahoon.

"We were not only helping the veterans, but also helping the volunteers to build a sense of community."

PATRIOTISM IN VIEW

• On campus next week, Scranton's ROTC cadets will assemble a "Field of Flags" on Founders Green near the Commons Flag Terrace to honor our nation's fallen veterans.
  
  
• The University will display the American flag on the Class of 2020 Gateway Sunday through Tuesday, Nov. 10, 11 and 12, in observance of Veterans Day.