ASU ROTC to Honor Veterans

Angelo State University’s Air Force ROTC Detachment 847 will recognize Veterans Day and honor the nation’s military veterans with a flag retreat ceremony and candlelight vigil Wednesday, Nov. 13, at the ASU flagpole and Memorial Oak Grove.

Activities will begin at 4 p.m. Nov. 13 with the flag retreat ceremony at the flagpole, with opening remarks by detachment Commander Lt. Col. Pedro E. Matos, then move to the Memorial Oak Grove for the candlelight vigil.  Arnold Air Society Commandeer Cadet Lt. Col. Joshua Draper will make opening remarks, followed by this year’s special guest speaker, Dr. Robert Ehlers, ASU professor of security studies and a retired U.S. Air Force colonel.

Previously a professor of airpower history at the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama, Ehlers was the director for the launch of the Center for Security Studies at Angelo State.  He served as an associate professor of history at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado before earning his doctorate in military history from Ohio State University.  During his more than 23 years in the Air Force, he served in various intelligence operations and planning at a number of U.S. bases, including as deputy commander of the 17th Training Wing at Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo.  His book, Targeting the Third Reich: Air Intelligence and the Allied Bombing Campaigns, won the 2010 Best Air Power History Award from the U.S. Air Force Historical Foundation.

 Following Ehlers’ speech, ROTC cadets will begin reading short biographies of ASU alumni veterans.  After the first reading, attendees will be invited to the Mayer Administration Building for a reception provided by the ASU West Texas Collection and the Friends of the (ASU) Porter Henderson Library.  The vigil and readings will run until midnight.

The evening’s activities are open free to the public and are sponsored by ASU’s Carr Squadron of the Arnold Air Society, the Silver Wings professional student organization and ROTC Detachment 847.  The ASU flagpole and Memorial Oak Grove are located in front of the Mayer Administration Building, 2601 W. Avenue N.

Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP by Friday, Nov. 8, by e-mail to [email protected] or by phone to 817-929-4941.