UI Veterans Association marks day with ceremony, flag display, and march for suicide awareness

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Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Written by: Hayley Bruce, Tim Schoon, and Justin Torner
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On Veterans Day, members of the University of Iowa Veterans Association (UIVA), Iowa Army ROTC, and the UI community gathered on the west lawn of the Pentacrest to honor Iowa's veterans with an opening ceremony featuring reveille, the national anthem, and remarks from LTC Steven C. Fredericks, a former professor of military science at the University of Iowa.

Throughout the week, members of the UIVA and local volunteers have also been ruck marching over 280 miles—from TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis to Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City—to raise awareness for veteran suicide. 

Because ruck marching involves walking at a fast clip with a weighted backpack, the participants are carrying 22-pound rucksacks to symbolize the 22 veterans who take their own lives by suicide each day. The 22 pounds is made up of personal mementos of each volunteer that either honor their military service or represents the service of a loved one. 

The Game Ball Ruck is set to culminate on the west lawn of the Pentacrest—near the Veterans Day flag display—on Saturday, Nov. 14, when participants will complete the last leg of their journey together, ending at Kinnick Stadium for the Veterans Appreciation football game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. 

More information about Veterans Day events on campus are available on the UIVA's website. 

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Iowa Army ROTC Cadet Isaac Anderson plays reveille as part of the University of Iowa Veterans Association's opening ceremony on Veterans Day.
For the third year, the UIVA placed roughly 5,500 American flags on the west lawn of the Pentacrest to honor veterans associated with the UI and surrounding community.
Bob Eubanks, of Solon, Iowa, looks over the UIVA's Veterans Day Flag Display on Wednesday, Nov. 11. Eubanks, who also works in IT on campus, has five family members honored in this year's display.
University of Iowa graduate and veteran Randy Miller (right), rucks alongside USAF veteran Patty Considine, and Iowa National Guardsman Jimmy Luu on Tuesday, Nov. 10 as part of the UIVA's Game Ball Ruck for veteran suicide awareness.
Participants of the UIVA's Game Ball Ruck march along Highway 12 in Minnesota on Tuesday, Nov. 10. UI Veterans and local volunteers will march 280 miles from Minneapolis to Kinnick Stadium throughout the week to raise awareness for veteran suicide.
Those who participated in the UIVA's Game Ball Ruck March carried 22 pounds on their back to symbolize the 22 veterans who take their own lives each day.
As part of the UIVA's Game Ball Ruck, veterans and local volunteers will march approximately 280 miles from TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis to Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City to raise awareness for veteran suicide.
The UIVA's Veterans Day Flag Display is seen from above. The Game Ball Ruck will culminate at the display on Saturday, Nov. 14, just before the Veteran's Appreciation Game at Kinnick Stadium.