Veterans Day is Monday, Nov. 11, and Dartmouth invites the community to its annual series of events beginning this week to honor all who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, including staff, faculty, graduate and professional school students, and undergraduate veterans.
“Veterans Day is a time for me and other veteran students to not only share our experiences with other students and faculty, as we usually do, but to have more in-depth conversations and reflections regarding our service,” says Jackson Donavon ’25, a government major and president of the Dartmouth Undergraduate Veterans Association.
Donavon was a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army, where he served as an intelligence analyst. He deployed to Kunar Province, Afghanistan, in 2015, and to Bemowo Piskie, Poland, in 2017.
“Veterans Day for me is an opportunity to connect with the rest of campus,” says Leland Hemgren ’25, a government and Russian double major from Boonton Township, N.J., who served five years in the Army Reserves as a sergeant, twice deploying to Afghanistan. “As student veterans, we have unique experiences and a lot of lessons learned that we learned in the military, while the majority of Dartmouth students who went straight from high school into college may not have interacted much with members of the military. So Veterans Day is a good opportunity for us to demystify what the military is.”
Among the events planned to honor veterans:
- At 5 p.m. on Nov. 7 in Stell Hall, the Tuck Veterans Club is hosting Microbrews and the Military, an open and informal discussion—over snacks and local craft beers—with Tuck School of Business veterans and members of the Tuck community. The event is part of the regular Tuck Tails series.
- At 6 p.m. on Nov. 10, the Dartmouth Skiway will be screening Mission: Mt. Mangart, a documentary about the World War II-era 10th Mountain Division, which included many soldiers from Dartmouth and the Upper Valley. Admission is free; doors open at 5.
- At 7:45 a.m. on Nov. 11, the annual Veterans Day Remembrance Breakfast will be held in the Class of 1953 Commons North Dining Hall. Sponsored by the Office of Human Resources, the event is open to Dartmouth community veterans, families, faculty, and staff, and will feature a photo slideshow honoring the courage, sacrifice, and dedication of Dartmouth veterans. Registration for the breakfast is required.
- At 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, the Baker Bells will sound the Bells of Peace, commemorating the official armistice that ended World War I with military hymns representing the branches of the armed forces.
- At 5 p.m. on Nov. 11, Dartmouth ROTC will conduct a formal Drill and Retreat Ceremony on the Green.
- At 6 p.m. on Nov. 11, in Haldeman 31, members of the Dartmouth veterans community will host Continuing Service: Navigating Leadership and Mission after Military Service, a Q&A with a panel of undergraduates, MBA candidates, and staff who have transitioned from military service to civilian life as students and professionals. The panel will be moderated by Jason Mosel, a Marine veteran who is now a network engineer for Information, Technology, and Consulting.
Hemgren is helping to organize the Monday evening panel on the transition from military to civilian life.
“Odds are if you go through Dartmouth, you’re going to end up with at least one veteran in one of your classes, though you may not know them as a veteran, and they may not speak much about their experience,” Hemgren says. “Hopefully this panel gives people the opportunity to ask questions specifically about leadership and changing mission related to the transition from military to civilian life, but also to really get to know the veterans that exist around them and their experiences.”
“Our undergraduate veterans bring important lived experiences to campus,” says Morgan Ogreen, assistant dean of undergraduate student veterans, who herself served as an active duty Navy helicopter pilot. “I often hear from faculty and traditional students about the depth and breadth they add not just to class, but to the entire campus. It’s important to recognize all they have sacrificed and how it has shaped them into the people they are today. Ask them about their time in service and why they chose to be part of the Dartmouth community—you will not be disappointed.”
Donavon adds, “If you want to learn more about us and our experiences, ask! We’re students just like everyone else.”
In addition, throughout the week, Dartmouth Library’s Baker-Berry Library will display a Slideshow of Remembrance for those who have served. For members of the community who want to show their support, free Veterans Day buttons will be available at all events and at the Human Resources front desk. Tuck and undergraduate veterans are also planning visits to Hanover High School on Thursday, Nov. 7, and Friday, Nov. 8, to speak with students about their service.