UVa-Wise dedicates plaque to student veterans

Joel Williamson ’06, a sergeant in the Army National Guard; Dean Schwartz ‘08; Chancellor Emeritus Joseph C. Smiddy; Gary W. Juhan, Vice Chancellor for Administration; and Chancellor David J. Prior.

In observance of Veterans Day 2006, The University of Virginia’s College at Wise dedicated a bronze plaque recognizing all students who have served and continue to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces, including the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Navy. The plaque, a gift of the UVa-Wise Class of 2006, hangs in the atrium of the C. Bascom Slemp Student Center.

The Nov. 10, 2006, dedication ceremony included comments from two students who are veterans of the war in Iraq and Chancellor Emeritus Joseph C. Smiddy, who served in World War II.

 “One of the Army’s values is selfless service and putting the ultimate goal before yourself,” said Dean Schwartz ‘08, a student who lost his leg to a rocket-propelled grenade in 2004 while serving in Iraq with the 189th Engineer Company, a unit of the Virginia National Guard. “We put our lives on hold for the good of the country. That’s true for any veteran.”

 “I just want to say ‘thank you’ for this plaque to my fellow students, my fellow soldiers and the faculty and staff.”

Schwartz’s unit in Iraq included UVa-Wise students Andy Corbett ’07, T.J. Richey ’07, and Joel Williamson ’06, the College’s coordinator of outdoor recreation.

Veterans have been important members of the student body since the College’s earliest days. When the College opened in 1954, 70 of the first 109 full-time students were veterans of the Korean War.

Posted March 21, 2007