News & Events

On Thursday, November 13th , the Florence Campus held a special ceremony in observance of Veterans Day.  In addition to recognizing the campus’s students, faculty, and staff veterans, the event had also long been planned as an opportunity to dedicate the new 80’ flagpole, large U.S. flag, and veterans memorial recently added to the campus grounds.  As fate would have it, however, the day also served to honor a special member of the National College family who gave his life in defense of our freedom.

The noon ceremony began under cloudy skies and threat of rain, as Campus Director Carole Reed-Mahoney welcomed the assembled students, employees, and invited guests.  Carole then led a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance as a Kentucky Army National Guard color guard posted the American and Kentucky flags.  After an invocation from Pastor Dave Shockey of Hebron Lutheran Church, Staff Sergeant Anthony McGraw of the Ohio Army National Guard delivered a moving address.  Gifts from the college were then presented to the student and staff veterans in attendance as a token of our appreciation for their military service.

As reported recently in the National News, Florence Campus graduate Sergeant Daniel Wallace of the Kentucky National Guard was killed in action in Afghanistan in a Taliban ambush.  The campus was honored to have members of the Wallace family present on campus for the ceremony, including Daniel’s parents.  His brother and fellow Guardsman, Specialist Alex Wallace, spoke eloquently and reverently about Daniel and his sacrifice.  Fittingly, as Alex spoke, the skies cleared and the sun came out; as “Taps” was played at the conclusion of the ceremony, there were few dry eyes among the crowd in attendance.

Even though the flags and banners have been put away until next year’s Veterans Day, let us never forget the brave men and women like Sergeant Daniel Wallace who defend our freedoms every day, especially those who give their lives so that the rest of us may live in peace and prosperity.