The university welcomed more than 1,500 veterans and their families for the celebration. This year’s featured speaker was Afghanistan war veteran Redmond Ramos.
HIGH POINT, N.C., Nov. 11, 2022 – High Point University welcomed more than 1,500 people to the Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena and Conference Center today for the 12th Annual Veterans Day Celebration, honoring veterans who have served our nation.
HPU President Dr. Nido Qubein led today’s event, where he reminded the audience that HPU is a God, family and country institution.
”On a morning like today and every morning of our lives, we ought to express our gratitude for veterans who made it possible for us to live in a free land, for those who suffered with them and those who are not with us anymore,” said Qubein.
Patriotic Appreciation Abounds
The event was filled with patriotic speakers and moments to show appreciation for veterans, who were welcomed to a free breakfast and a red carpet surrounded with cheering HPU students. Nearly 100 student volunteers greeted and assisted veterans throughout the event. The North Carolina Brass Band provided patriotic music along with the HPU Chamber Singers.
Afghanistan war veteran Redmond Ramos served as the special guest speaker and delivered a message of resiliency as he spoke to the audience that included veterans from all military branches. Ramos ended his deployment in Afghanistan as a Navy Corpsman attached to 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, after he stepped on an IED while providing cover and support for another injured team member. He was forced to amputate his leg in order to be able to run again. This incident changed his entire life, and he now lives by a philosophy of “Success through Struggle.” His ultimate goal is to help and inspire others.
”I had just been given a second chance,” Ramos said as he recalled Marines wrapping a second tourniquet on his leg. “I swore on that day that I would say yes to every single opportunity that came by me, that I would never take this life for granted again and that I would preach positivity to the world.”
Ramos shared three simple rules “to live like you almost died:”
- Create laughter.
- Find opportunity hidden in every obstacle.
- Don’t be afraid to fail and look for something new to fail at every day.
Dean Cain, star of “The New Adventures of Superman” and HPU’s Actor in Residence, was also a special featured speaker at today’s event.
The program included Clark, a bald eagle that soared above the audience as the HPU Chamber Singers sang “America the Beautiful.” It was a tough act to follow the bald eagle, Cain said before thanking veterans for their service and sacrifice.
“When you’re an actor and you play a character like Superman, it’s almost embarrassing to be in a room with real heroes,” Cain said. “So thank you for your service.”
Attendees enjoyed a free photo opportunity with both Cain and the eagle after the event.
The event also included the Star of Service and Sacrifice for veterans to sign. The star will be displayed on HPU’s campus as a reminder for students of the sacrifices that have been made for our freedom.
“I think it’s awesome to be honored,” said Tim Gulledge, a U.S. Marine veteran who served from 1977-97 during Desert Storm. “It really moved me to see some of these older veterans. I saw a man sign World War II on the star, and it brought chills for me.”
Luquer Lloyd, who served in the Air Force from 1976-93, considered it a privilege and an honor to attend the Veterans Day event and to sign the star alongside other veterans, young and old. Lacy Barnes, an Army veteran who began his service in 1956, simply said the experience was indescribable.
“As a God, family and country university, it’s so important that students get involved and join the honoring of veterans,” said Lizzie Eisenhardt, HPU’s Student Government Association president. “I think having HPU holding this event annually sets an example to students to recognize the people who are serving us daily. It is such a huge role they take on, and we need to honor them daily.”
Recently, the university installed 3,000 pounds of steel from the remains of New York City’s Twin Towers forged into lettering underneath the 30-foot-wide American Flag display. Veterans reacted with visible emotion as they viewed this patriotic display, among many others in the facility that celebrate HPU’s God, family and country values.
“Not only is my grandfather a first responder who was one of the 343 firemen who perished on that day, he was also a U.S. Navy veteran, so it’s really clear that the university not only honors this day but every day,” said Colleen Stack, an HPU senior strategic communication major from Long Island, New York. “It’s important that God, family and country is represented all over campus. It makes me feel so welcome that they value what I value.”
HPU Students Spark National Veterans Initiative
The event also included the donation of two track chairs to wounded veterans thanks to Operation K.A.R.E. (Knowledge. Awareness. Results. Empowerment.), an initiative HPU students and Kappa Alpha members started in 2016 to support catastrophically wounded veterans. Hearing directly from a veteran about how a track chair would drastically improve his mobility and allow him to play with his children in the backyard made KA members realize the impact of their gift, said Michael Esposito, a 2017 graduate and member of the KA order. The fraternity brothers, who were also of military age, took on this mission and partnered with The Independence Fund to express their gratitude to those who served our country.
“Then, in 2019, I began working with alumni and undergraduate brothers from our chapter to help The Independence Fund bring the Operation K.A.R.E. initiative to other KA chapters on other college campuses around the country by replicating the same fundraising methods and approach we championed here at High Point University,” said Esposito. “Our initiative has grown to include the participation of over 55 other KA chapters across the country. From Old Miss to Kennesaw State and Auburn to UT (University of Texas) Austin, this initiative has empowered thousands of brothers to lead and deliver results to make a meaningful impact in the lives of others.”
Operation K.A.R.E. has now raised and donated more than $1 million nationally to provide track chairs and support The Independence Fund’s programs that help veterans overcome physical and psychological wounds of war.
One of the track chairs went home with veteran Stephen Smerek, who is wheelchair-bound as a result of losing both legs while he served the U.S. Army as a combat engineer from 1965-68 in Vietnam. The all-terrain track chair will allow Smerek to better enjoy the outdoors and navigate his 10-acre property in Manitou Beach, Michigan. Smerek recalled playing traditional sports like football and baseball but said it all came to a stop as a result of his injuries.
“This track chair opens up all of the outdoors,” said Smerek, noting the Veterans Day event touched his heart.
Kris Lindsay, who was wounded in Southeast Asia while serving the Army from 1991 to 2015 as an engineer and other duties including presidential support, was unable to attend because of a recent surgery. He was represented by his wife Kellie. The all-terrain track chair will allow him to embrace his love of the outdoors, alongside his wife and children.
As is tradition at the annual event, HPU will donate approximately 100 American flags to local nonprofits, schools and government buildings.
HPU’s Annual Veterans Day Celebration is supported by the Sheriff Family Veterans Awareness Endowment, the MJ Hall and Jay Stobbs Leadership in Military and Veterans Awareness Endowment, D.H. Griffin Construction and River Landing at Sandy Ridge.