2008 Woodie Awards
Community honors veterans
Tracey Brown, Staff Writer
Issue date: 11/14/06
Last Updated: 12/26/07
Approximately 75 members of the Whitworth community honored America's veterans at the fifteenth annual Veterans Day memorial service in Centennial Plaza last week.
Last Friday's ceremony was held in remembrance of all veterans, but especially 1st Lt. Forrest Ewen.
Ewen, a 2004 Whitworth graduate, died last June while leading his soldiers on a combat mission in Afghanistan. He was a Purple Heart and Bronze Star recipient. Ewens was honored in a memorial ceremony at Whitworth earlier this year.
U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Blake Wallick, an '06 alumnus, attended the ceremony.
"I came here today to honor all the veterans, but especially First Lieutenant Forrest Ewens, who was both a friend and mentor to me," Wallick said.
Ray Kuhn, who worked in Whitworth's facilities services department from 1994-2002, served as a second-generation submarine sailor in the Navy for 28 years.
"If I had it to do all over again, I would in a second," Kuhn said.
Kuhn said Veterans Day is significant to him because, "freedom isn't free."
In addition to being a veteran himself, Kuhn's grandfather, father and two uncles were all war veterans.
The Veterans Day program at Whitworth was started by Dan Nevdahl, a Vietnam veteran who has been working in the custodial department on campus for 22 years.
Patty Nevdahl said her husband started the service simply because he wanted to honor veterans.
"He is a Vietnam serviceman himself and he appreciates what service people have done. He likes to see people get recognized," Patty Nevdahl said.
The U.S. Air Force Honor Guard performed the presentation of colors, a 21-gun-salute and Taps.
The 30-minute service also included patriotic songs, a placing of the wreath ceremony, prayers and a key-note speaker.
The speaker, Keith Thompson, a retired U.S. Air Force Master Sgt., said America is what it is today because of the brave Americans who answered the call of duty to serve.
"No matter what branch of service, rank or job, all veterans deserve to be honored because we have freedom," Thompson said.
Last Friday's ceremony was held in remembrance of all veterans, but especially 1st Lt. Forrest Ewen.
Ewen, a 2004 Whitworth graduate, died last June while leading his soldiers on a combat mission in Afghanistan. He was a Purple Heart and Bronze Star recipient. Ewens was honored in a memorial ceremony at Whitworth earlier this year.
U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Blake Wallick, an '06 alumnus, attended the ceremony.
"I came here today to honor all the veterans, but especially First Lieutenant Forrest Ewens, who was both a friend and mentor to me," Wallick said.
Ray Kuhn, who worked in Whitworth's facilities services department from 1994-2002, served as a second-generation submarine sailor in the Navy for 28 years.
"If I had it to do all over again, I would in a second," Kuhn said.
Kuhn said Veterans Day is significant to him because, "freedom isn't free."
In addition to being a veteran himself, Kuhn's grandfather, father and two uncles were all war veterans.
The Veterans Day program at Whitworth was started by Dan Nevdahl, a Vietnam veteran who has been working in the custodial department on campus for 22 years.
Patty Nevdahl said her husband started the service simply because he wanted to honor veterans.
"He is a Vietnam serviceman himself and he appreciates what service people have done. He likes to see people get recognized," Patty Nevdahl said.
The U.S. Air Force Honor Guard performed the presentation of colors, a 21-gun-salute and Taps.
The 30-minute service also included patriotic songs, a placing of the wreath ceremony, prayers and a key-note speaker.
The speaker, Keith Thompson, a retired U.S. Air Force Master Sgt., said America is what it is today because of the brave Americans who answered the call of duty to serve.
"No matter what branch of service, rank or job, all veterans deserve to be honored because we have freedom," Thompson said.
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