Eastern holds annual Veterans Day ceremony

Eastern holds annual Veterans Day ceremony

Community shows gratitude for those who serve

Willimantic, CT (11/11/2025) - Eastern Connecticut State University hosted its annual Veterans Day Ceremony on Nov. 11 in the Student Center. The event featured keynote speaker Major Daniel DePasquale '11, an Eastern alumnus and decorated servicemember, who guided the campus community in reflections on those who serve in the United States Armed Forces.

The event commenced with remarks from Angela Bazin, director of wellness education outreach and veteran care. "Today, our campus community comes together to support our veterans who have served our country with dedication and courage," she said.

Specialist Sean Weingartner, a veteran and student at Eastern, served as master of ceremonies. "We are all thankful for those who have served or are serving in all branches of the armed forces," he said.

Father Laurence A.M. LaPointe, campus minister, then led reflections. "It's amazing how quickly we forget the names, effort, and people involved in the things we take for granted," he said.

"On this day, and on every day, let us pause to remember with gratitude those who have set aside their personal needs to make our freedom a reality."

Eastern President Karim Ismaili's remarks continued the grateful spirit of the ceremony. "Today is a day of recommitment to remembering those who have worn the uniform," he said. "We are stronger as a community because of their leadership and sense of purpose."

Ismaili praised the Veterans Education and Transition Services Center on campus and the families of the veterans in the campus community for supporting them. "Your support makes their service possible," he said.

The ceremony's distinguished guest was Major Daniel DePasquale '11. Following his enlistment in 2012, Major DePasquale was commissioned as a military police officer in August 2013. He currently serves as company Commander for the Recruiting and Retention Battalion of the Connecticut Army National Guard and holds both military police and logistics branch qualifications.

A 2011 Eastern graduate in sport management, DePasquale earned his master's degree in counterterrorism from Nichols College in 2022. He has earned numerous military awards and decorations, including the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Army Overseas Service Ribbon, and others.

DePasquale reflected on the "ordinary Americans doing extraordinary things" through their military service. The armed forces consist of "so many personalities, but everybody comes together for one purpose: to serve," he said.

Having been deployed overseas, DePasquale realized that "people are our greatest asset" as a nation, he said.

He reflected on his service in the "small but mighty" Connecticut Army National Guard. DePasquale shared that in 2005, his first-year resident assistant at Mead Hall was deployed to Louisiana to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Referring to those who serve in the Guard as "citizen soldiers," DePasquale said, "Citizen soldiers can serve in uniform on the weekend and serve the community every other day of the week."

In this spirit of service, DePasquale challenged Eastern students: whether in uniform or not, "find your way to serve through your leadership and scholarship; use those talents."

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