(Flags honor the fallen during a pre-Memorial Day ceremony on the Auburn University campus. Photos/Troy Turner)
Story, photos by Troy Turner
AUBURN – The Auburn University Veterans Resource Center hosted a pre-Memorial Day ceremony today to honor U.S. service members who lost their lives in military service to the United States.
Auburn University President Christopher Roberts, Auburn Mayor Ron Anders, and dozens of senior military officers, enlisted personnel and students were among the nearly 200 who attended the midday event on Cater Lawn at the center of Auburn’s campus.
Col. Chris Richie, a decorated Marine Corps officer (retired), director of Human Resources development and a leadership instructor at Auburn’s Harbert College of Business gave an emotional keynote address reminding the audience of the solemn meaning of Memorial Day and its tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice serving the nation.
Attendees were encouraged to plant a small American flag in honor of friends or loved ones who died in the various wars and conflicts fought.
The meaning is much deeper
Curtis Pippin, program coordinator at the Auburn University Veterans Resource Center, was one of the organizers of the event.
“Memorial Day deserves a place of dignity on campus. For many, it can become easy to see the day only as the beginning of summer or a long weekend,” he said, referring to the official Memorial Day holiday on Monday, May 25.
“For Gold Star families and those who served alongside the fallen, the meaning is much deeper. It is personal. It carries names, faces, stories, and an absence, or void, that stays,” Pippin said.
The event also recognized the family of Sgt. 1st Class Allen C. Johnson, U.S. Army, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2005 while serving during Operation Enduring Freedom. His daughter, Naomi Johnson, is an Auburn student pursuing her degree in Horticulture.
Allen C. Johnson (Courtesy photo)
“Having her with us makes the day deeply personal and reminds everyone present that Gold Star families carry the cost of service long after the final note of Taps,” Pippin said.
Auburn University President Chris Roberts, right, speaks with members of the Johnson family.
‘Purchased at a great price’
Richie’s keynote comments will reflected a similar tone.
“Memorial Day is not simply a long weekend or a celebration—it is a day of remembrance. It asks something of us. It asks us to pause, reflect, and recognize that the freedoms we enjoy today were secured through sacrifice,” he said.
“For today’s students, this matters because the future of our republic rests in their hands. As Benjamin Franklin warned at our founding, the success of this nation depends on the character and commitment of its people,” Richie said. “Memorial Day connects us to that responsibility.
“It reminds us that we are beneficiaries of a gift purchased at a great price, and challenges us to live lives worthy of that sacrifice.”
USMC Col. Chris Richie (R)
The Veterans Resource Center supports Auburn’s military-affiliated students, including veterans, current-serving military personnel, National Guard and Reserve members, dependents and survivors.
“Any request to speak is a great honor,” Richie said, “and I can think of no greater honor than speaking on behalf of our fallen American patriots who gave their lives in service to our nation.”
Troy Turner is the founder, editor and senior consultant for AlaDefense.com. He can be reached at [email protected]. His bio can be found here.
Photos from the event:
Photos by Troy Turner/AlaDefense.com
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