ASU celebrated Veterans Day with a moving ceremony on campus today, Nov. 10. Col. Ralph L. “Bo” Clayton III, a 1988 Appalachian graduate, was the speaker. His military career is most impressive and the University is extremely proud of his Appalachian roots and for the Military Science and Leadership students on campus he inspires. See the release: https://today.appstate.edu/2017/11/10/veterans-day
His Speech:
VETERAN’S DAY
Appalachian State University
10 Nov 2017
GOOD MORNING! CHANCELLOR EVERTS, THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE TO SPEAK HERE TODAY. I’M EXTREMELY HONORED TO BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY AND I AM ESPECIALLY HAPPY TO BE BACK ON FAMILIAR GROUNDS ON THIS BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS ON THE MOUNTAIN, GOD'S COUNTRY. AND AFTER A GREAT WIN LAST NIGHT.
VETERANS DAY BEGAN IN 1919 AS ARMISTICE DAY IN COMMEMORATION OF THE END OF WW I. THE ELEVENTH HOUR OF THE ELEVENTH DAY OF THE ELEVENTH MONTH. IN 1954, IT BECAME A DAY TO HONOR OUR VETERANS AND WAS RENAMED VETERANS DAY.
TODAY WE TAKE A FEW MOMENTS TO HONOR OUR VETERANS. THOSE THAT HAVE GONE BEFORE US AND THOSE THAT ARE AMONG US, WHO HAVE ANSWERED THE CALL OF THEIR NATION, WHO HAVE BRAVELY PROTECTED OUR GREAT NATION. FOR THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY THERE HAVE BEEN THOSE WILLING TO FIGHT AND IN SOME CASES, GIVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE TO KEEP OUR COUNTRY FREE AND PROVIDE THOSE RIGHTS WE ENJOY. IT IS THIS TIME WE HONOR THOSE, MANY OF WHICH WALK THE HALLS AND PATHWAYS OF THIS CAMPUS DAILY. SOME OF THOSE ARE HERE TODAY. THEY ARE NOT ONLY THE FACULTY OF THE ROTC DEPARTMENT, THEY ARE PROFESSORS, ADMINISTRATORS, STAFF, AND YES, STUDENTS, AS YOU SEE REPRESENTED IN THE STUDENT VETERANS ASSOCIATION.
AS I GATHERED MY THOUGHTS FOR TODAY I WONDERED THE TIE BETWEEN WHAT THIS UNIVERSITY DOES AND THE EXPERIENCE GAINED HERE THAT LENDS ITSELF SO WELL AMONG A POPULATION OF VETERANS. I DO BELIEVE ITS NOT BY CHANCE THIS UNIVERSITY IS SO WELL REPRESENTED BY VETERANS ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA, THE NATION AND DARE SAY ACROSS THE WORLD, I WOULD SAY ITS PART OF THE CULTURE. A CULTURE OF SERVICE. YOUR VERY PRESENCE HERE TODAY, TAKING THIS TIME TO GATHER AND HONOR OUR VETERANS SERVES AS EVIDENCE OF THAT. I LOOK BACK ON SOME OF THOSE FACULTY THAT MADE A DIFFERENCE FOR ME: DR. QUILAN, DR GEORGE MILES, DR BOND, DR MONTALDI, DR TERRY CHERRY, AND DR GERALD PARKER.
THE CORE VALUES OF THIS INSTITUTION REFLECT HOW YOU 'INSPIRE STUDENTS WITH A STRONG SERVICE ETHIC.' THIS IS MIRRORED WITH THE ARMY VALUE OF SELFLESS SERVICE. WHILE WE HAVE 7 ARMY VALUES (LOYALTY, DUTY, RESPECT, SELFLESS SERVICE, HONOR, INTEGRITY, PERSONAL COURAGE). IT IS SELFLESS SERVICE THAT EMBODIES THE VERY ESSENCE OF A VETERAN.
SOMEONE THAT IS WILLING TO PUT OTHERS BEFORE HIM OR HERSELF. THAT UNDERSTANDS THE GREATER GOOD. THAT FIGHTS AND SACRIFICES FOR THOSE BESIDE HIM. WHO WILLINGLY SHARES HIS WEIGHT OF THE CHALLENGE, AND DOES SO WITHOUT ANY INTENT FOR GLORY OR ADULATION.
VERY MUCH LIKE THE EXAMPLES OUR CADETS SEE HERE ON THIS CAMPUS, AT APPALACHIAN. I WANT TO ALSO THANK YOU, FACULTY AND STAFF OF THIS GREAT UNIVERSITY FOR YOUR CULTURE OF SERVICE. DURING MY TIME IN THE ARMY, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY OTHER APP STATE GRADS I'VE COME ACROSS. I'VE HAD OTHERS COME UP AND ASK, JUST HOW MANY APP STATE GUYS ARE OUT THERE; YOU'RE EVERYWHERE! YOU SEE, PART OF THE REASON THIS UNIVERSITY IS SO WELL REPRESENTED ACROSS THE ARMY IS BECAUSE THEY NOT ONLY WITNESS THIS CULTURE OF SERVICE AMONG THE DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY SCIENCE, THEY WITNESS IT FROM THE FACULTY, STAFF AND ADMINISTRATION THAT LIVES IT IN FRONT OF THEM AND IS COMMITTED TO "INSPIRING STUDENTS WITH STRONG SERVICE ETHIC".
NEXT YEAR WILL MARK THIRTY YEARS SINCE I STARTED MY JOURNEY HERE AT APPALACHIAN STATE AS A 17 YEAR OLD BIOLOGY STUDENT. MY PATH OF 28 YEARS IN THE ARMY STARTED RIGHT HERE IN DOUGHERTY AND RANKIN HALLS. SINCE MY FIRST DAYS AS AN ARMY R-O-T-C CADET HERE I WAS PRIVELDGED TO BE GIVEN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITIES. OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET MANY BRAVE, DISCIPLINED, AND MOTIVATED MILITARY MEMBERS, BOTH ACTIVE DUTY AND VETERANS. THEY MAKE ME PROUD TO SERVE ALONGSIDE THEM EVERY SINGLE DAY. THAT JOURNEY HAS TAKEN ME ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, OVERSEAS, AND BACK, BUT I WILL NEVER FORGET WHERE IT ALL STARTED. IT WAS HERE THAT LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR THAT SUCCESS. AND IT IS HERE THAT YOU CONTINUE TO LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS OF VETERANS AND CIVILIANS TO CONTINUE THE CULTURE OF SERVICE TO THIS GREAT NATION.
IN CLOSING, PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TOMORROW TO HONOR THOSE VETERANS THAT GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE WITH YOU HERE TODAY AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PART IN GROWING OUR FUTURE VETERANS OF TOMORROW.
MAY GOD BLESS YOU, OUR VETERANS, AND MAY GOD BLESS THESE UNITED STATES
Posted with permission.
COL Clayton Speaking at ASU Veteran's Day
COL Bo Clayton