President's Remarks: Veterans Day Ceremony

November 12, 2007

students with Flag

            On behalf of the college trustees, faculty, students and staff at all three of our Atlantic Cape Community College sites, I would like to thank all those who have come together today to observe Veteran’s Day at Atlantic Cape Community College. As your president, I am particularly proud to continue the Atlantic Cape Community College tradition of honoring all of the men and women, past and present, who have served to preserve the freedom of our country. Of course, today we also pay special respect to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice so that all of us, and future generations, may continue to enjoy the benefits of a free and open society.              

             I am also honored to welcome to the podium today Ben Dailey, VP for ACCC’s Student Development Association and a veteran of the war in Iraq. I would also like to extend the thanks of the college community to our guest speaker First Lieutenant Alyson L. Beausoleil-Holt of the New Jersey Army National Guard. Lieutenant Holt will be formally introduced at the end of my remarks.

             From a personal perspective, I would remind all of us that the benefits of access to higher education (like we have here at Atlantic Cape Community College) and the opportunity to engage in a higher education environment that values the open exchange of ideas, through academic freedom, just would not be possible if the basic liberties and traditions of our American democracy were not protected and sustained by those who defend us. All here today owe a great debt to those who have served to protect us and defend our liberty and our way of life.

            Before I close, I would like to share a comment on a historic parallel to our current situation.

            In 1940, during World War II, when the allies were facing the lowest point of that conflict in Europe, England stood alone against a powerful adversary led by Nazi Germany. This was before the United States entered the war in December of 1941. As in many occasions, including most recently in the Iraq conflict, it was up to a relatively small group of well trained, highly dedicated citizens to defend the homeland. In the case of England, it was the few thousand members of the Royal Air Force, the RAF. For a period of several months, RAF pilots defended the skies against the German Luftwaffa in what has come to be called the Battle of Britain. That air battle, if won by the Germans, would have been a prelude to an invasion of England.

           Well the conclusion of that battle is well known. The German air force was defeated and the invasion of England was averted. In describing this event, Winston Churchill, then the Prime Minister of England used these words to describe the importance of the sacrifice made by the Royal Air Force. He said: “Never before in the history of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”  Churchill’s comment could easily apply to the well trained, highly dedicated members of our military we honor today.

           In closing, I would like to thank Dean Carmen Royal and all Atlantic Cape Community College staff who have been involved in planning today’s event. This institution’s longstanding commitment to honor our veterans is a good example of Atlantic Cape Community College’s efforts to fulfill our legacy of truly serving as the “Community’s College”.

           I thank you.                   

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