Monday, Oct 20, 2014
Rider University Veterans Association plans to place nearly 10,000 American flags on campus mall
by Kristine A. Brown
For the second year in a row, the Rider University Veterans Association (RUVA) is planning to memorialize and celebrate veterans — both living and deceased — with an American flag display on the Campus Mall. This year, the memorial is planned to be even more impressive, and will include placement of nearly 10,000 flags across the mall.
“In recognition of our 150th anniversary, it is our goal to recognize the veterans who served in every military conflict since the Civil War — the time that Rider University was founded,” Andrew Kim, a junior history major and president of RUVA, says.
But this is no small task, and Kim says they are seeking as many volunteers as possible to help place the flags on the mall.
“We plan to begin installing the flags at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 9,” he says. “We hope that students, groups, clubs, teams, and Greek organizations, as well as faculty and staff, will volunteer a few hours of time to help us complete this impressive display. Last year we installed about 7,000 flags and it took a small group of us 10 hours to complete. We have more flags this year, and the more hands we have, the faster the work can be done.”
Any student or group who would like to volunteer should email [email protected] and indicate their name, phone number, email address and the approximate time they can volunteer. Once complete, the flags will remain on display for approximately one week.
“We hope that Rider students come out to support us and all veterans, by lending a hand with our display,” Kim says. “It is going to be a very moving tribute. Every flag we place is really a symbol of those veterans who have served our country for the past 150 years.”