Hall of Honor

WPI’s Army ROTC honors eight.
September 25, 2013

WPI’s Army ROTC boasts a deep and storied military tradition, and that legacy will be recognized in a special ceremony honoring eight brave patriots who graduated from the ROTC program before leaving to serve their country.

On September 28 beginning at 10 am, WPI’s Army ROTC, also known as the Bay State Battalion AROTC, will induct its inaugural class of Hall of Honor members in the green zone on the second floor of the Recreation Center overlooking the Quad. Says assistant professor of military science Lt. Carson Riley Williams, the Hall of Honor is reserved for “graduates who have a history of excellence and have performed exemplary deeds of service in the military and civilian sector.”

This year, the Hall of Honor Induction Committee is inducting eight individuals. The honorees include Lt. Ryan Patrick Jones ’05, who was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2007, and Lt. Gen. David Heebner ’67,  retired Assistant Vice Chief of Staff at the Pentagon and currently EVP of Information Systems and Technology and member of the WPI Board of Trustees. Other inductees include Brig. Gen. Edward M. Harrington, Lt. Gen. Kevin T. Campbell, Brig. Gen. Frederick A. Henry, Brig. Gen. Paul G. Smith, Brig. Gen. James A. Cerrone, and Maj. Gen. John DeFreitas III.

DEPARTMENT(S)
Military Science
Through its September 28 Hall of Honor ceremony, the battalion accomplishes the critical mission of saying “Thank you.

The formal ceremony will be highlighted by the unveiling of each member’s plaque set against a wooden background and surrounded by reminders of national service and courage, such as The Soldier’s Creed and a detailed list of Army Values. The plaques will contain pictures and biographies of all the inductees. The Bay State Battalion will open the ceremony with the Presentation of Colors and retire them once President Philip Ryan and Professor of Military Science Lt. Col. Ciro Stefano have recognized and congratulated all of the inductees.

WPI’s Army ROTC consists of members from Fitchburg State, UMass Lowell, and schools in the Worcester Consortium. Currently there are close to 100 cadets enrolled in the program. The BSB has thrived for six decades and produced over 60 commissioning classes. After assuming command of the Bay State Battalion in 2011, LTC Stefano began an initiative to integrate Alumni with Cadets. After over a year of preparation and dedicated work, the Bay State Battalion will celebrate the exceptional achievements of eight men who vowed to defend their country at all costs, and honor the memory of one who made the ultimate sacrifice. Through its September 28 Hall of Honor ceremony, the battalion accomplishes the critical mission of saying “Thank you.”

If any student, faculty member, or member of the community would like to attend, please visit the Event Website to register.



– Kelsey Keogh

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