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In honor of the men and women who have fought for the United States of America, especially those who are UConn students and alumni, "The Ultimate Sacrifice" Memorial was dedicated Monday morning in an hour-long ceremony led by Myles Martel, chair of the Veterans Memorial committee.
A sitting and standing audience gathered around the memorial which is located on the Great Lawn across from Wilbur Cross. The crowd was silent as soldiers marched forward and the UConn marching band played a series of patriotic songs. As the band completed its songs, two Connecticut National Guard helicopters flew overhead.
The color guard then entered with the U.S. and Connecticut flags, followed by the singing of the National Anthem.
The ceremony officially began with a prayer reading by Martel, who graduated UConn in 1965, discussed the importance of the Ultimate Sacrifice, giving one's life for his country. Martel referenced Nathan Hale, who when captured and about to be hanged by the British, famously said, "I only regret that I have but one life to give my country."
Martel stressed the importance of remembering all of those who gave their lives for our country, and not just on Veterans' Day, but every day.
Martel was originally inspired to create a memorial for these veterans after driving on campus with former university president, Philip Austin. According to Martel, he noticed the flags on the Great Lawn were at half staff, and Austin explained to him it was because another UConn student had lost his life in Iraq.
Along with the UConn Alumni Association, the Veterans Memorial committee, memorial designers and contributors, Martel created the Ultimate Sacrifice Memorial. According to the Alumni Association's Web site, the memorial is made of the same marble used in Arlington National Ceremony and the Lincoln Memorial. Engraved in the marble is "The Ultimate Sacrifice," and the UConn crest. Below the marble is a statue of eternal flame which is lit at night to honor those who have fallen for the country. The Marble is surrounded by brick, and the lower portion of the brick has a marble plaque that reads, "In honor of our alumni who have fallen while serving in the armed forces of our nation."
The masonry materials and labor to create the memorial were donated by Bruce Dexter, II, Inc. According to Dexter, his company has designed several other buildings on the UConn campus. Martel approached Dexter for a price estimate in the spring of this year, but after Dexter viewed a sketch of the memorial he decided to donate the materials and labor free of charge.
"When I thought of veterans, I thought of elderly people; grandfathers and uncles, but there are so many young veterans too," said Dexter after the ceremony.
After Martel thanked everyone involved with the creation of the memorial, he introduced Captain Patrick Miller, the commander of the helicopter field at Bradley airport, a 2002 UConn graduate and was responsible for the helicopters who flew over before the ceremony began.
"All who served and sacrificed deserve our respect today, on what we call Veteran's Day," Miller said. His speech was followed by a salute to service played by the marching band.
John Driscoll, president of the UConn Alumni Association, then took the podium to thank Martel for all his hard work.
"We all have miles of debt and gratitude that he is too modest too accept," said Driscoll as he shook Martel's hand.
Two trumpets on opposite sides of the audience played taps before the memorial was presented to President Michael Hogan as a gift to the university. Hogan expressed his gratitude to everyone who contributed to the memorial. He discussed the importance of remembering UConn students and alumni who served in the military every day, not just on Veteran's Day. "It will remind me, as it should, of those who walk silently among us," Hogan said, referring to all of UConn's veterans who have lost their lives.
The ceremony concluded on what Martel referred to as "a sunny note," when the audience was invited to sing the UConn anthem along with the marching band.
The dedication of the memorial is over, the work is not, Martel said. The Alumni Association and the Dodd Center are working to find the names and stories of every student who ever attended UConn and lost their lives for the country since the university opened in 1881.
"Our vision is to create a role of honor in the Alumni Center and on our Web Site ... to replace the coldness of a number, with a name face and story of everyone who lost their lives," he said.
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