Homecoming Dedication, November 14, 2015

On Homecoming Saturday, November 14, 2015, forty years after the end of the Vietnam war for Americans, Stetson University dedicated a campus space honoring alumni and students who served there or during that era (1964-1975). View the dedication program and bookmark, and read remarks made at the dedication.

The site was announced in the summer of 2015 and plans for the site moved forward quickly under the leadership of alumnus Jay Mechling ’67, Ph.D. (Mechling, center, is pictured along with the other members of the planning committee: left to right, Grady Ballenger, Professor of English; Richard Swartz ’68; Sue Ryan, Dean of the Library; and Kate Pearce, Assistant VP of Development and Alumni Engagement.) With the blessing of President Wendy Libby, a group of administrators, faculty, staff and alumni selected a pleasant and readily accessible outdoor site that encourages meditation on national service during a time of war that tested our campus and America.

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Homecoming Gathering, November 5, 2016

About 30 Vietnam veterans, family members, and friends gathered at Stetson’s Vietnam Era Remembrance Site on Saturday morning during Homecoming to honor and remember our veterans. After being welcomed by Dr. Grady Ballenger, alumnus and veteran Richard Swartz (’68) read the names of 21 alumni for whom a commemorative brick had been added to the site.  A number of attendees then spent some time in the library’s T. Wayne Bailey Politicos Room where they viewed some of the Archive’s Vietnam memorabilia and had an opportunity to chat with old and new friends.  We hope that this gathering will be an annual Homecoming tradition.

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