Boston College Veterans Remembrance will take place Nov. 10
United States Army Brigadier General Guillaume N. Beaurpere ’94, the commanding general of the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, will deliver the keynote remarks at the University’s 23rd annual Veterans Remembrance Ceremony on November 10 at 11 a.m. on the Burns Library Lawn.
The remembrance ceremony—preceded by a 9:30 a.m. Veterans Mass in St. Mary’s Chapel—includes a reading of the names of the 211 Boston College alumni veterans killed during the nation’s wars dating back to World War I, and takes place just steps from the Boston College Veterans Memorial, where those names are inscribed.
Based at Fort Liberty, NC, Beaurpere leads a center that selects and trains all Army Special Forces, Civil Affairs, and Psychological Operations soldiers and daily enrolls approximately 3,100 students in a range of courses and programs, from those for early-career service members to long-time officers and non-commissioned officers.
Beaurpere was previously the commanding general for operations of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command. His other leadership positions included deputy commanding general for support of the 4th Infantry Division, and commanding general of the Special Operations Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, the international military intervention against the Islamic State.
Leah Spencer
“Looking upon the Boston College Veterans Memorial, we are reminded of the meaning and profound importance of Veterans Day for our community,” said Associate Vice President for Alumni Relations and University Commencement Director Leah M. Spencer. “We are honored to have Brigadier General Beaurpere with us as our keynote speaker during one of our Alumni Association’s most beloved and cherished BC traditions.
“Brigadier General Beaurpere’s extraordinary career and service to our country both epitomize and exemplify the Jesuit value of being a man and woman for others,” she added.
Mike Lorenz
The ceremony is significant for the approximately 150 student veterans currently enrolled at BC and more than 80 employees who served in the armed forces, said Assistant Director for Veteran Programs and Services Mike Lorenz.
“This tradition at Boston College is essential to honor the sacrifice that so many members of our community have made for this country,” said Lorenz, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. “Joining the military is an act of service for the greater good, something that can resonate at a Jesuit institution. It’s always moving to see so many people at this event each year, and it reminds the veterans in attendance that there is support and acknowledgement of their service.”
This year, Lorenz has been working on helping veterans and non-veterans connect, particularly through improved communication. In May, he hosted the first workshop for a new initiative called “BC Battle Buddies,” a reference to the military term for someone who is there to help a soldier both on and off the battlefield.
Lorenz wants the program to give participants “a baseline understanding about how to engage with the military-connected community, and maximize the capacity of Boston College to cultivate a military-inclusive community.”
The program covers military culture, examines stereotypes and challenges faced by veterans, reviews current data and trends, and offers practical steps and actions individuals can take to create a more military-inclusive environment on campus.
Earlier this month, Lorenz brought Maine-based writer and former U.S. Army Green Beret Ryan Stovall to campus to read from his first book, Black Snowflakes Smothering a Torch: How to Talk to Your Veteran—A Primer, a collection of poetry that explores his service and his return to civilian life. Stovall discussed how soldiers, veterans, and those without military experience can better communicate with each other.
In particular, Lorenz said Stovall tries to help bridge the “conversation gap” between veterans and non-veterans around PTSD.
“It was a very moving event, talking about the lesser-discussed aspects of wartime veterans after they return from service,” Lorenz said. “Ryan touched on survivors’ guilt, the ‘what-ifs’ of battle, and shared emotional stories of battle, recovery, and moving forward.”
For more information on Boston College veteran services and programs, see bc.edu/veterans