http://2cccd5dfe1965e26adf6-26c50ce30a6867b5a67335a93e186605.r53.cf1.rackcdn.com/Vet Wrap Web.mp3
The names of United States servicemen and women who died in Iraq and Afghanistan were read aloud Monday on the University of Pittsburgh campus as part of the school's Veterans Day celebration. This is the second time the university has participated in the Remembrance Day National Roll Call.
More than 100 universities around the country are holding similar events, according to Renny Clark, Pitt’s Vice Chancellor of Community Initiatives, who read the names of some of the 6,632 people who’ve made what he calls the ultimate sacrifice.
"It comes a week after our country went to the polls and in a very heated election, we civilly found a way to elect--re-elect in this case--a president, and we moved forward as a country. Without the sacrifices of these individuals, I'm not so sure we would have this kind of freedom--and all those who died in many of the battles before this time," said Clark.
Clark said Pitt has more 500 veterans at its 5 campuses who have returned after their service to pursue their educational goals. He said they are well served by the university’s Office of Veterans Services, which tries to help in any way possible.
Money was collected during the all-day event for the Wounded Warriors and Veterans Education Assistance Fund for the educational needs of veterans and their families not covered by other programs.
To honor veterans of all wars, the Department of Theatre Arts is presenting a free reading of the play “Spark” at 7 p.m. Monday in the Henry Heymann Theatre at the Stephen Foster Memorial, Forbes Avenue and Bigelow Blvd. On Sunday, November 18, the Pitt Repertory Theatre will present a staged reading of “Elliott: A Soldier’s Fugue”.
