University of Findlay to host Veterans Day observance November 10

The University of Findlay is proud to host a Veterans Day observance at 4 p.m. Thursday, November 10.

Area residents and the UF community are invited to attend the ceremony, which will take place at the Veterans Honor Wall in the Center for Student Life and College of Business, 233 Davis Street.

“Please join us as we honor the bravery, commitment and sacrifices made by University of Findlay veterans,” said Nicole Burgy, ’99, president of the Alumni Board of Governors, which is coordinating the event.

Ryan Odendahl, ’97 and MBA ’00, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, will be the guest speaker.

Mr. Odendahl followed his father’s and brother’s footsteps into the Marines, serving as an infantry small arms specialist. Among his posts, he was appointed to the inspector-instructor staff with the Weapons Company, 1^st Battalion, 24^th Marine Regiment, and was named the regiment’s Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year.

After eight years of military service, he attended the University of Findlay, earning a bachelor’s degree in environmental and hazardous materials management and then a master’s of business administration. He currently is the president of Kwest Group, a civil construction firm.

Boy Scout Troop 319 of Findlay also will participate in the ceremony, presenting the colors. The National Anthem and “God Bless America” will be sung by UF senior Alex Miller,  and “Taps” will be performed by Mikayla Holtz, a sophomore UF Bands member. UF senior Joshua Kilgore will give the invocation and lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

The ceremony will conclude with a reading of the more than 760 names on the Veterans Honor Wall.

The Veterans Honor Wall was a gift to the University on behalf of the Class of 1966’s 50^th anniversary.

“The wall is a living tribute that serves as a constant reminder on our campus of the many sacrifices that our service men and women have made to give us the freedoms we enjoy today,” Ms. Burgy said. “We are honored to call these veterans Oilers.”