University of Findlay Hosting Several Veterans Day Celebrations
Written by WKTN Staff on October 16, 2019
Veterans Day 2019 at the University of Findlay will be observed throughout the day on Monday, Nov. 11. Three celebrations will be offered for the campus and public to honor our country’s heroes, thereby providing ample opportunity to give thanks and to learn more about military might and bravery.
To prepare for these celebrations, more than 1,000 flags will be flown beginning Friday, Nov. 8. Purchased by Student Activities Board, the flags will be placed on North Main Street’s west side from the intersection of Howard Street to Trenton Avenue. They will remain flying through Veteran’s Day week.
Schedule:
12 p.m. – UF’s Campus Ministries will lead a prayer service at the flag pole in front of Old Main.
4 p.m. – The University’s traditional annual observance will be held at the Center for Student Life’s Veterans Honor Wall. The ceremony’s special guest speaker will be Kyle Dresbach, Pharm.D. ’14, U.S. Air Force Pharmacy Officer in Charge.
Tuskegee Airman and World War II veteran Lt. Col. Harold Brown (pictured above), a German POW survivor, will be honored with an honorary doctorate from the University.
The program will conclude with a reading of Veterans Honor Wall names.
7 p.m. – A screening of the four-time Emmy Award-winning and three-time Telly Award-winning documentary, “A New Leash on Life: The K-9s for Warriors Story” will be held in Winebrenner Building’s TLB Auditorium. The film is about how the Florida-based K9s for Warriors organization provides service dogs to post 9-11 military veterans. It features Cpt. Louis Belluomini and his service dog, Star; Belluomini, who a paramedic s for Hanco E.M.S. in Findlay, Ohio and Putnam County E.M.S.. Also starring in the film are veterans and their service dogs, Shilo Schluterman and K9 Javvy, and Adam LeGrand and K9 Molly.
Belluomini, Shluterman, and LeGrand will be present for the showing. Following the film, a moderated talk-back with the veterans and their significant others will be hosted by Student Activities Board with public relations Chair Haley Ganger. The K9s will then demonstrate how they provide support and service to their veterans.
Marathon Petroleum Corporation will make a special presentation during the evening’s celebration. DVDs of the film will be available for $18, cash only, at the end of the event. Cast autographed posters will be available for a cash donation throughout the evening. There will be a small live auction of local artwork with all funds raised going towards the efforts of funding a second dog through K9s for Warriors.
Belluomini, Star, and UF faculty, staff and Student Activities Board students recently helped raise $15,000 to sponsor a K9s for Warriors dog for a veteran in need. The name of the first dog is Findlay as the students wish to celebrate University of Findlay and the city of Findlay. Student Activities Board representatives had the honor of visiting K9’s For Warriors headquarter base in Florida last year. After touring the facilities and meeting veterans who work there, they decided to raise funds for a second dog. Currently 2,211.00 has been raised for the second dog. All funds raised during the screening will go towards this dog. The students have decided this dog’s name will be Hancock. Their desire is to continue to celebrate and recognize the greater community who is assisting with the fundraising efforts to “pawsitively” impact the lives of a U.S. Veteran and a K9. 90% of the dogs trained and placed with U.S. Veterans through K9’s For Warriors are rescued from kill shelters.
Evening events are being organized by UF’s Student Activities Board and will be co-hosted by the Wellness Program.
For more information about the K9s for Warriors organization, visit www.k9sforwarriors.org.
