“We are Safe and Secure Because of You” RIT’s 2021 Veterans Day Breakfast |
RIT’s 10th annual Veterans Day Breakfast had the feel of a family reunion. More than 350 area veterans, their families and friends filled Gordon Field House last month happy to see one another. Covid-19 restrictions forced a cancellation last year.
The breakfast also brought back many familiar faces on the RIT campus.
Dr. Albert Simone, the 8th president of RIT presented the Lifetime Service Award to Dr. Barry Culhane, a veteran, former executive assistant to the president and founder of the breakfast.
Dr. Simone called Culhane “the epitome of a servant leader.” Culhane said “I am an advocate for veterans because they deserve it as do their families” and hopes the breakfast continues another ten years.
Also back on campus, RIT graduate and veteran Thomas Peeples Jr. who delivered the keynote address. He was commissioned an Ensign in the U.S. Navy while at RIT and continues to serve in uniform today as the Operations Officer of the Ohio Navy. After his remarks, RIT President David Munson presented him with thank you gift.
ROTC cadets showed their leadership in all aspects of this year’s breakfast and the POW/MIA ceremony.
The Service after Service Award was presented to Eric Wheeler, assistant director of Veteran Services at Monroe Community College. Miranda Gray, a Veterans Upward Bound graduate and veteran of the Iraq War, received the VUB Student Award.
And a special shout-out to Air Force ROTC Detachment 538 at RIT. Just a few days after the breakfast, it was announced it has been named the “Right of Line Medium-Size Detachment of the Year.” This is the highest recognition given to an AFROTC detachment.