Ohio University to host VAU Fallen Heroes Memorial Oct. 25-26

Ohio University will host the VAU Fallen Heroes Memorial on the Athens Campus on Oct. 25-26. All members of the OHIO community are invited to see the Memorial and take part in special events.

The VAU Fallen Heroes Memorial features a 28-foot wide by 6-foot-tall American flag, symbolizing the shape of the flag when draped over the casket of a fallen service member.

The Memorial is composed of more than 7,000 dog tags, each representing a service member who has fallen in the War on Terror. The dog tags are arranged in alphabetical order from Sept. 11, 2001, to December 31, 2017, with tags thereafter in chronological order of those Killed in Action (KIA).

In addition, the 50 gold stars on the flag honor Gold Star families nationwide. Displayed in front of the flag is a battlefield cross sculpture carved from mahogany wood by veteran artist Alicia Dietz.

Friday Oct. 25 events

The VAU Fallen Heroes Memorial will be on display in the main lobby of the Convocation Center from 9:00 a.m. until 8 p.m. All students, faculty, staff and community members are invited to see the memorial.

An opening ceremony for the memorial will begin at 9 a.m. in the Convocation Center. All members of the OHIO community are invited to the ceremony, which will feature Albany VFW Post 9893 Honor Guard and Athens Mayor Steve Patterson.

The Memorial and the ceremony are being sponsored by the Ohio University Student Veterans of America and the Ohio University Veterans and Military Student Services Center.

Saturday, Oct. 26 Military Appreciation Game

On Saturday, the Memorial will be relocated to Bobcat Boulevard in front of Peden Stadium for the OHIO Football game against Buffalo. All members of the OHIO community are invited to see the Memorial on Bobcat Boulevard.

The game has been designated as a Military Appreciation Game, and all veteran and military-connected students will be able to get in to the game for free with their mobile student tickets. The game begins at noon in Peden Stadium and has also been designated as Frank Solich Day.

If veterans or military-connected students need additional tickets for family members, complimentary tickets are available (while supplies last) at the Veterans Center (Baker 350), Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Ohio University faculty and staff who are Veterans (or currently serving) and would like to attend the game can also pick up complimentary tickets at the Veterans Center (Baker 350), while supplies last.