Veterans honored for service
Towson University now has an official memorial to remember and thank students, faculty and staff who have served in the armed forces.
A ceremony on Monday dedicated a plaque to be placed in the new garden located between Burdick Hall and the College of Liberal Arts building.
The dedication ceremony, memorial garden and flagpole are the work of the Student Government Association, led by Senator Kevin Miksis.
The ceremony also took time to remember Tim Coyer, a Towson University student and veteran, who died March 31. Coyer was in the U.S. Army and served two tours in Iraq.
He served in the Maryland Army National Guard and was a junior pre-business administration major.
Coyer’s Kappa Sigma brothers presented a memorial plaque to his family during the ceremony.
U.S. Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger, Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, Vice President of American Gold Star Mothers Tracy Miller, and TU military student Kellie Clark spoke at the ceremony, among others.
SGA President Matt Sikorski said Miksis worked for four or five months planning the garden and dedication ceremony.
“[Miksis] put his heart and soul into this, and it’s really starting to show in just how integrated and amazing this program is,” Sikorski said in a speech at the ceremony.
President Maravene Loeschke, who also spoke at the ceremony, said she and the SGA shared two goals when she first arrived at Towson: a space to display the flags’ of international students, and a memorial in dedication to Towson’s veterans.
Soon, she said, both of these will be a reality on campus, thanks to the SGA’s efforts.
“I’m so proud that today’s event was completely put together by students,” Loeschke said. “It tells us all once again what the Towson student is like. It’s about honoring service, and doing service, and spending your life doing something meaningful.”
Towson is also home to students beginning their military career.
Towson and Loyola University’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps prepares students to serve as commissioned officers in the Army.
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I graduated in December 1978. I went back to college at Towson State University(at that time.)on the GI Bill.(I took my last 3 years at Towson.) I am a Vietnam Era Veteran, who served in the US Air Force from 1971 to 1974. I enrolled at Towson in September 1975. Being a Veteran , I enthusiatically support this memorial/plaque. Many men and women have seved since I was in the service over 40 years ago. Service taught many of usvaluable lessons in life and changed many lives. Just take a trip to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C., especially on Veteran’s Day. Thanks to the many brave men and women who help make our nation safe. God bless America.
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