Paying Tribute to Our Community’s Veterans

Dear Colleagues,

Veterans Day is a special time to honor those who have served our country with pride. Our campus and health system are home to many students, faculty and staff who are veterans or serving in an active-duty capacity. It was a privilege to take part in two events last week that showcased not only veterans here at MU, but also in our community.

Dozens of faculty and staff gathered at the Patient-Centered Care Learning Center to honor our current and former military service men and women.

On Nov. 9, I was able to serve as emcee of our annual military celebration recognizing those who are serving or have served in the military. Since I first joined the MU School of Medicine, I have committed to hosting an annual reception for current students and our veterans to celebrate their service and to give us a chance to thank them. This annual occasion is a celebration and a reminder to us all for what our military members sacrifice to keep us safe and free.

The MU Joint ROTC Color Guard led us in a flag ceremony and did a great job paying respect to our great flag and great nation. It is always humbling and inspiring to pause and reflect on the symbolism of our flag.

It was great to meet members of our health system while attending the Avenue of Flags event in Centralia. Pictured, from left to right: Natalie Fitzsimmons, director of government reimbursement and relations; myself; Melissa Rish, manager of managed care reimbursement; and Alyssia Hawkins, senior business data analyst.

While we reflected on the sacrifices made during our military celebration, those in nearby communities were also paying tribute to current and former service men and women. I was able to attend for the first time the Veterans Day Run at the Avenue of Flags in Centralia. The Avenue of Flags is a breathtaking display of nearly 600 U.S. flags lining the rows of the City of Centralia Cemetery. Each flag represents a deceased veteran in a humbling display of patriotism. In fact, the Avenue of Flags has been known to stop traffic on nearby Highway 22.

I have shared in the past about my military service, and I always enjoy meeting those who have served our country. During the Avenue of Flags event, I was able to meet several veterans, such as Adam Stites, who served in the Navy, as well as the former mayor of Centralia, Lieutenant Colonel Tim Grenke, who served in the Marines and currently serves with the Missouri National Guard.

We are the health system for mid-Missouri, so it is always a pleasure to meet members of our local communities. Here I am chatting with veterans from Centralia VFW Post 6276.

It is an honor to host our military celebration and to take part in area events to honor our veterans. Thank you, all, to our local veterans for your service and sacrifice.

Sincerely,