2015 National Remembrance Day Roll Call

PITTSBURGH—United States military service members from Pennsylvania who lost their lives during U.S. operations in Afghanistan and Iraq will be honored during the University of Pittsburgh’s observance of the National Remembrance Day Roll Call. The free public event will take place at 1 p.m. Nov. 10 in Pitt’s Heinz Memorial Chapel, Fifth and Bellefield Avenues, Oakland.

Annually, officials at colleges and universities across the nation simultaneously read the names of service members from their states who died in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom. The national reading of names will be followed by a nationwide minute of silence at 2 p.m. This is the fifth consecutive year that Pitt has participated in the National Remembrance Day Roll Call.

The keynote speaker will be Kevin Carmichael, who served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army and is currently a student in Pitt’s School of Social Work. While in the army, he served as a squad leader in the Second Infantry Division and was awarded a Global War on Terrorism eExpeditionary Medal and a National Defense Service Medal. Carmichael’s other military honors include the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon.

“Pitt joins this nationwide observance in recognizing the sacrifices of men and women who gave their lives for the freedoms that our nation has cherished since its birth,” said Ryan Ahl, director of Pitt’s Office of Veteran Services, the University organization that sponsors Pitt’s participation. Ahl, who served tours of duty in the Iraqi cities of Taji and Tikrit, also said, “Bettering the lives of our nation’s veterans is a cause that the University of Pittsburgh champions through the Office of Veterans Services and other campus organizations. Through special events—such as the National Remembrance Day Roll Call—as well as our many programs and services, we show our appreciation for their military service and display our commitment to helping student veterans reach their goals outside of the military.”

Throughout the event, volunteers will provide information on local nonprofit organizations that assist veterans and their families, including Pitt’s Student Veterans Association and the Wounded Warriors and Veterans Educational Assistance Fund. Additionally, attendees will be given an opportunity to write personalized thank-you notes to active-duty service members overseas.

Pitt’s Office of Veterans Services—housed within the University’s College of General Studies—supports student veterans by offering programs and services designed to ease the transition from military service to academic life. Currently, there are more than 500 veteran and military-affiliated students attending Pitt. For more information, contact Veterans Services at www.veterans.pitt.edu or 412-624-3213.

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