Former College President James Wright, himself a former Marine, has been chosen to speak at the annual Veterans' Day ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The ceremony is meant to honor and celebrate all men and women who have served in the armed forces, Lisa Gough, director of communications at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, told The Dartmouth.
Wright was chosen after representatives from the Vietnam Memorial Fund heard the former College president speak at a meeting of the Rotary Club in McLean, Va., and were impressed by his speech and current involvement with veterans, according to Holly Rotondi, vice president of the memorial fund.
"They thought he was a powerful speaker and would be a great addition to our ceremony, and we agreed," Rotondi said.
In an interview with The Dartmouth on Tuesday, Wright said he was "surprised and touched" by the invitation, calling the chance to be part of the ceremony an "honor."
While serving as College president, Wright sought to aid injured veterans in securing higher education opportunities, helping to create a program that helps wounded veterans and their families plan for their future educations and careers. The program, "Severely Injured Military Veterans: Fulfilling their Dreams," provides injured soldiers with academic advisors, who assist them in reaching their educational goals, and campus advocates, who help the veterans adjust to campus life and academics.
Wright also worked to incorporate educational benefits for veterans into the 2008 G.I. Bill, pushing for the creation of the Yellow Ribbon Program.
While earlier versions of the bill provided veterans with funds for tuition up to the cost of their most expensive in-state public school, the Yellow Ribbon Program offers colleges and universities the opportunity to create partnerships with Veterans Affairs to fund tuition expenses at private schools, or for out of state undergraduates.
The institution can waive up to half of the expenses that exceed the tuition of the most expensive in-state public school, and Veterans Affairs will match the amount waived by the institution.
In April 2008, Wright was awarded the Semper Fidelis Award from the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation in recognition of his work.
Wright, who served in the Marines for three years before attending Wisconsin State University, said he sees events like the Veterans' Day ceremony as an important way to commemorate men and women who have served in the armed forces and to ensure that the public does not forget their contributions.
"I think that the act of coming together as a community and remembering those who have made the ultimate sacrifice is important," Wright said. "I thinks it's a way to remind ourselves and to remind others about the cost of war."
Wright said that he will speak about the importance of remembering those who died in the armed forces as individuals not as just names on a wall.
Rotondi said she expects about 3000 people to attend the ceremony, which is open to the public. Many of the people who attend the event are themselves veterans, she said.
Gough said she believes it is particularly significant to hold the event at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, given that many of the men and women who served in Vietnam were not thanked properly upon returning home.
"When these folks came home, they were caught up in the middle of this political firestorm," Gough said.
"We want to make sure that doesn't happen again, that men and women are honored for their service. That's what makes it particularly fitting to have this ceremony at the [memorial]."
The event will begin at 1 p.m. on Wednesday.
