The Student Veteran Organization at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University will host its first Flag Retirement Ceremony at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7, at the Prescott Campus Amphitheater, outside of the Jack R. Hunt Student Union.
An event traditionally held on Flag Day, in June, the ceremony — in which unserviceable American flags are given an honorable retirement — was rescheduled this year to coincide with Veterans Day week, and to offer additional people the opportunity to experience this very emotional event.
“We’re excited to host members of the community on campus for this special event,” said Dr. Anette M. Karlsson, Prescott Campus chancellor. “Embry-Riddle has always had strong connection to the military, and this ceremony will reinforce the sacrifices our student veterans, as well as veterans throughout the country, have made in service to American ideals.”
Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Thomas Drape, dean of the College of Business, Security and Intelligence, will serve as the master of ceremonies. The event will also be supported by the American Legion Riders/Post 6 and several local veterans, including Prescott Mayor Phill Goode; former Army sergeant John Markham; retired U.S. Navy SEAL Richard Rodriguez; retired U.S. Navy chief Ian Cunningham, and retired Army sergeant Patrick Kuykendall. Russ Miller will perform taps on bagpipes, and the campus Air Force and Army ROTC detachments will perform.
This event is a free event, and all members of the media and public are invited to attend. Unserviceable U.S. flags are also welcome to be donated for future Flag Retirement Ceremonies from the public.
To RSVP, please contact Richard Rodriguez, veteran service coordinator, at 928 777-3796 or Richard.Rodriguez4@erau.edu
24-Hour Vigil
On Saturday, Nov. 11, the Air Force ROTC (AFROTC) on campus will also host a 24-hour vigil, in which Honor Corps members will stand watch over a veteran’s memorial in downtown Prescott for 24 hours.
Organized by the Detachment 028 AFROTC Honor Corps, the event is meant to serve as a reminder of the sacrifices made by veterans of Yavapai County and the City of Prescott
“We’re honored to conduct this 24-Hour Vigil because it is one of the largest and most impactful ways we give back to our beloved Prescott, a community with one of the highest veteran populations in the U.S.,” said Col. Russ Davis, commander of Detachment 028.
For more information, contact Debbie Quillen, Air Force ROTC assistant, at 928.777.3868 or quillend@erau.edu.
About Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Reporters worldwide contact Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for content experts in all aspects of aviation, aviation business, aerospace, engineering and STEM-related fields. Our faculty experts specialize in unmanned and autonomous systems, security and intelligence, air traffic and airport management, astronomy, human factors psychology, meteorology, spaceflight operations, urban air mobility and much more. Visit the Embry-Riddle Newsroom for story ideas.
Embry-Riddle educates 31,300+ students at its residential campuses in Daytona Beach, Florida and Prescott, Arizona, at approximately 110 Worldwide Campus locations and through online degree programs. In 2023, U.S. News & World Report named Embry-Riddle Worldwide the nation’s No. 2 provider of online bachelor’s degree programs. The university has ranked either No. 1 or No. 2 in this category every year since 2016. Our residential campuses hold multiple Top 10 rankings. All of our campuses have been ranked Best for Veterans.
