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Duke in Pictures: Veterans Day

Duke ceremony honored veterans and their families

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Under a bright blue sky, a crowd of about 100 faculty, staff and community members gathered Friday in front of Duke Chapel for Duke's Veterans Day ceremony.

At 11 a.m., as the sound of the Chapel chimes faded, eight cadets and midshipmen from Army, Air Force and Naval ROTC units at Duke and North Carolina Central University presented the colors for the national anthem.

Guest speaker Phail Wynn, Jr., vice president of the Office of Durham and Regional Affairs and a veteran of the Vietnam War, offered his and Duke's thanks to the veterans who have served in the active military, reserves and national guard. He also thanked the families.

"The families are the unsung heroes, not only sharing in the sacrifices, but providing that invaluable support system that helps maintain morale and commitment to the cause," Wynn said.

Approximately 30 ROTC students in full uniform attended the ceremony, standing in ranks on the side of the Chapel lawn.

Pam Bhullar, a cadet colonel in the Air Force ROTC and a Duke senior, said she was glad people at Duke took time to honor veterans. For Cadet 4th Class Jowan Councio, a freshman at NCCU, this was his first Veterans Day ceremony in uniform.

"It was good to see a mixed crowd of people, not just vets," he said. "It felt like a special event."

Additional photos from the Duke Veterans Day ceremony are available on the Working@Duke Flickr page.