Alumni Announcements
The ROTC Alumni Advisory Board (RAAB) would like to thank the more than 150 people who attended the Alumni Weekend ROTC Open House. If you were not able to attend please read the short synopsis below.
On November 9th during Alumni Weekend, Xavier Army ROTC hosted an open house at the Armory. The open house consisted of two ceremonies. The first was a 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War Commemorative Pinning Ceremony. The program was signed into law in 2008 and Veterans who served between November 1, 1955 and May 15, 1975 are eligible for the lapel pin. At the event 46 Vietnam Era Veterans were welcomed home, thanked for their service, and awarded a lapel pin. The most touching part of the event was when a gentleman accompanied by his wife (who was going to take his picture) approached the podium to receive his pin. As 1967 alum and Vietnam Veteran, Paul Fellinger pinned the gentlemen, his wife mentioned that she was part of the Women’s Army Corps during the Vietnam War. At that moment Paul stopped the woman and awarded her a Commemorative Lapel Pin, too! As the couple returned to their seats the lady mentioned that she outranked her husband while they were in the Army, the gentlemen chuckled and said, “She still does!”
After the pinning ceremony was completed, the 150 people in attendance braved the near freezing temperature and moved outside of the Armory to dedicated the Armory’s Ohio Historical Marker. The dedication began with a moment of silence in remembrance of 1969 alum 1LT Robert “Bobby” Rice. LT Rice was killed in action on August 8, 1970 in the Republic of Vietnam. This year would have marked his 50th reunion. The dedication continued with a reading of a proclamation signed by Governor DeWine and Lt. Governor Husted. The marker was unveiled by 1969 graduate and Vietnam Veteran Tim Waechter and 2009 graduate and Afghanistan Veteran Michael Kulas. The Armory Historical Marker is one of only 93 markers in Hamilton County.
This link is a short video filmed during the Alumni Weekend event. It shows remarks by a previous Professor of Military Science (LTC Mike Marchetti) and an introduction to the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War Commemorative Pinning Ceremony by 1967 alum, LTC (Ret.) Paul Fellinger.