WKU observed Veterans Day Monday with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Guthrie Bell Tower followed by the ROTC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Diddle Arena.
The wreath-laying ceremony featured remarks from two cadets and WKU President Timothy C. Caboni. Members of the WKU band performed the “Star Spangled Banner,” and attendees participated in a moment of silence to honor all veterans who have served and continue to fight for the country.
“Today, we gather to honor the heroes who answered the call to defend our freedom,” Caboni said. “We pay tribute to the brave men and women who have served or are currently serving our nation, the United States Armed Forces, those who sacrificed so much and those who continue to sacrifice for all of us and for our nation. This day provides us with an important opportunity to reflect on the costs and the blessings of liberty, to remember that in the face of difficulty, in the face of danger, in the face of the unknown, our servicemen and women stand firm to protect our freedom.”
U.S. Army Cadet Harrison Riggs and U.S. Army Cadet Caleb Dixon spoke at the wreath-laying ceremony alongside Caboni. Both cadets have served in their position for four years.
Riggs said in an interview that he believed the community should attend Veterans Day events because they’re about giving respect to the sacrifices the Armed Forces have made for the country. Dixon agreed with Riggs, and explained to the Herald how he tries to embody the sacrifices of veterans before him in how he conducts himself as a cadet.
“I think with my service, I stand on the shoulders of the men and women that came before me, and so I try to embody their sacrifice and their way of serving,” Dixon said. “I believe that sometimes the sacrifice and the hard work that servicemen will put in doesn’t get the recognition that it needs to. So, I like Veterans Day because it does embody that sacrifice and lets people know, even in times of peace, there’s still men and women fighting overseas.”
U.S. Army Col. Gregory “Taylor” Chasteen, a 1981 WKU ROTC alumni, and U.S. Army Captain Ralph D. Shrewsbury, Jr., a 1942 WKU ROTC Alumni, were also inducted into the WKU ROTC Hall of Fame following the wreath-laying ceremony.
Col. Chasteen said in an interview that the ROTC Program is excellent and that he had never met a bad officer that had come out of the club. Chasteen said he was impressed and honored by the program for choosing him to be in the ROTC Hall of Fame.
“I am just so honored beyond belief to be in this company of Hall of Fame inductees, and I feel very humbled by the whole experience,” Chasteen said.
“Buddy” Shrewsbury, son of Capt. Ralph Shrewsbury, represented his late father at both ceremonies and hung his inductee plaque in the ROTC Hall of Fame. Buddy’s son, Kyle Shrewsbury, spoke about his grandfather’s service in the Army during the induction ceremony.
“Everything Granddad did was for his family, whether it be kids, grandkids, his own brothers, which there were a lot of, some of the brothers, and sisters and the children are here as well, but he always wanted to put them first and him last,” Kyle said.
Kevin Robinson, a 60-year-old nephew of Captain Shrewsbury, said it is important for young people to understand the sacrifice veterans make by fighting for freedom in the U.S.
“As a youngster, we sometimes take for granted what we have, and as you age and as time goes on, you realize the sacrifice that a lot of our veterans make, and it’s important that people remember those folks.”
News Reporter Abigail Vickers can be reached at [email protected].
