The University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg will offer a week-long series of activities designed to highlight the contributions and service of military veterans and active-duty personnel. These events are supported in part by a 2019 Pitt Seed Grant. Some of the events, where noted, are in partnership with the Pitt-Greensburg Academic Village, Millstein Library, the Pitt-Greensburg Chapter of Phi Eta Sigma Freshman Honor Society, The Veterans Breakfast Club, and Soldiers & Sailors Museum. Boy Scout Troop #457 out of New Stanton, PA, will be placing small American flags along the walkways on campus. Each flag represents a Pennsylvania veteran who lost his or her life in service to our country. The events begin Monday, November 11 and continue through Friday, November 15.
Veterans Week 2019 is a series of events aimed at building bridges, promoting understanding, and encouraging dialogue. While some of these events are open only to the campus community, there are four events that are open to the public or to veterans and their families. There is no cost to attend the events. A chronological synopsis of the events is listed below.
Monday – Friday, November 11-15
Available to the public during normal business hours
- Campus walkways lined with small American flags representing Pennsylvania veterans who lost their lives in service to our country.
- Roll of Honor displayed in Millstein Library to honor Pennsylvania soldiers who have died in service to our country since September 11, 2001.
- Uniforms displayed in Millstein Library include a WWII paratrooper uniform on loan from Soldiers & Sailors Museum (Pittsburgh) and the US Army Airborne uniform owned by Pitt-Greensburg student and US Army veteran Jacob Snyder.
- WWII Wedding Gown displayed in Millstein Library that is part of an exhibit telling the immigration story of WWII brides.
Monday, November 11: Veterans Day Wreath Ceremony
11 a.m. at the flag poles located outside of Chambers Hall
Open to the public
- Keynote speaker is Pitt-Greensburg student and veteran Jacob Snyder
- After a 20-year career, Jacob Snyder retired from the US Army in 2016 and is currently a student at Pitt-Greensburg where he is majoring in history with a minor in political science. He lives in Murrysville with his wife and five daughters. SFC Snyder enlisted in the US Army in 1996 as a Military Police officer. His assignments included Pusan, Republic of Korea; Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Fort Richardson, Alaska. In addition to his role as a military police officer, he was an instructor at the US Army’s Advanced Airborne School (Jumpmaster instructor and Jumpmaster instructor team leader) and the US Army Alaska’s Airborne Operations NCO, overseeing safe and efficient training of more than 4,000 paratroopers. He was deployed numerous times, including three combat tours in Afghanistan, one combat tour in Iraq, an operational peacekeeping deployment to Kosovo, and an assignment to Turkey. His awards and decorations include three Bronze Stars, two Meritorious Service Medals, a Joint Service Commendation Medal, and three US Army Achievement medals.
- Robert Gregerson, PhD, Pitt-Greensburg president, will provide the opening remarks
Monday, November 11: Veterans Day Luncheon
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Hempfield Room (Chambers Hall)
It is open to all area veterans and their families, as well as to all Pitt-Greensburg students who are Veterans or active military and their families.
- This luncheon is sponsored by the Phi Eta Sigma Freshman Honor Society.
- Veterans planning to attend the luncheon should follow the yellow signs on campus for parking in the Chambers Hall parking lot.
Tuesday, November 12: Military & Veteran Student Appreciation Lunch
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Hempfield Room (Chambers Hall)
This event is open ONLY to Pitt-Greensburg Military and Veteran students.
Tuesday, November 12: Screening of documentary Top Secret Rosies
7 p.m. in Village Hall 118
This event is open to the public at no cost. Light refreshments will be provided.
- Military & Veterans Services is partnering with Millstein Library and the Academic Village to present this event.
- Synopsis: In 1942, when computers were human and women were underestimated, a group of female mathematicians helped win a war and usher in the modern computer age. Sixty-five years later their story has finally been told. (from IMDB https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1587359/)
Wednesday, November 13: Try It Out & Armed Forces Birthday Cake
10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. table located in Chambers Hall (Bobcat Station)
This event is for the Pitt-Greensburg campus community
- The campus community will have the opportunity to taste real MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) and try on various types of body armor.
- The cake is in observance of all of the armed services birthdays.
Wednesday, November 13: An Evening with WWII Veteran Guy Prestia
7 p.m. in the Mary Lou Campana Chapel and Lecture Center
This event is open to the public at no cost and is presented in partnership with The Veterans Breakfast Club.
- Interviewer Todd DePastino will chat with Veteran Guy Prestia about his service in World War II, including North Africa, Sicily, the Italian Campaign, and liberating the Dachau Concentration Camp.
Friday, November 15: Campus RED OUT
All day throughout campus
Noon: photo at the Chambers Hall flag poles
- The campus community is encouraged to wear RED (Remember Everyone Deployed) in a show of support of active military deployed throughout the world. New this year is a commemorative T-shirt that is being sold on campus (visit the Registrar’s Office in Millstein Library). Proceeds from the sale of the T-shirt will be donated to the Westmoreland County Food Bank’s Military Share Program in support of the region’s veterans and their families who are experiencing food insecurity.