A 24-hour vigil will begin late Saturday afternoon, Nov. 10, at the University of St. Thomas to honor Veterans Day and Americans who are, or were, prisoners of war or missing in action.
The 26th annual vigil has been a tradition since 1987 for the university, its Air Force ROTC Detachment 410, and the campus chapter of Arnold Air Society, a professional and service organization.
This year’s vigil begins with an opening ceremony at 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, near the flagpole in the center of the recently enlarged quadrangle on St. Thomas’ St. Paul campus. For the next 24 hours, ROTC cadets will slowly and silently march past the flagpole in remembrance of those who have served and those who never came home.
The ceremony will include remarks by Major Gregory Voth, commandant of cadets for Detachment 410; raising of the U.S. and POW/MIA flags; and a performance by the detachment’s Black Knight Rifle Drill Team.
A closing ceremony will be held at 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11, which is Veterans Day. All are welcome at the opening and closing ceremonies.
St. Thomas has had an Air Force ROTC detachment since 1948; the year after the Air Force was created.
The vigil is sponsored by the St. Thomas-based Richard E. Fleming Squadron of the Arnold Air Society.
