Veterans Day Recognition Breakfast

media release: The University Veteran Services and Wisconsin Union teams at the University of Wisconsin-Madison invite the public to recognize veterans and service members during the free Veterans Day Recognition Breakfast on Nov. 10 at 9 a.m. in the Main Lounge at Memorial Union.

            Following the event, the UW–Madison chapter of Student Veterans of America will provide free miniature United States flags for members of the public to place on Bascom Hill in honor of veterans. The student organization will make flags available through 4 p.m. or while supplies last.

The Veterans Day Recognition Breakfast will include free light refreshments, live music by the Wisconsin Brass Quintet, a presentation of the United States and Wisconsin flags by students in the Army ROTC Badger Battalion Color Guard and remarks by:

• Dr. Lori Reesor, UW–Madison vice chancellor for Student Affairs
• Joe Rassmussen, director of University Veteran Services and United States Marine Corps veteran
• Natalie Isensee ‘00, the 2022 Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs Woman Veteran of the Year and a former United States Marine Corps captain

“Veterans Day brings an opportunity each year to acknowledge those alongside us, who served our country, sacrificing time with friends and family, putting other parts of life on hold and putting their lives on the line for us,” said Mark Guthier, Wisconsin Union director and UW–Madison associate vice chancellor for Student Affairs. “It’s also a solemn reminder of those who did not return home from service and gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country.”

This event is part of year-round efforts by the Wisconsin Union to honor service members and veterans and by University Veteran Services to support UW–Madison service members and veterans. The Wisconsin Union and the University Veteran Services teams have hosted a Veterans Day event since 2018, and recognizing service members has been part of the Wisconsin Union’s history since its building Memorial Union opened in 1928.

University Veterans Services supports service member and veteran UW–Madison students with advising, benefits consultation, connections to a community of support and peer support programs.

Memorial Union opened in 1928 with the words “Erected and Dedicated to the Memory of the Men and Women of the University of Wisconsin Who Served in our Country’s Wars” in its south side stone. The building has also long had wooden plaques listing the names of fallen UW–Madison service members.

Memorial Union also includes an electronic memorial that debuted in 2019 called the Gold Star Honor Roll, which includes the names of more than 900 fallen Badger service members. The Union’s electronic Gold Star Honor Roll can be viewed in Memorial Hall at Memorial Union, the Hamel Family Browsing Library at Memorial Union and online. Fallen UW–Madison alumni service members, who died of service-related causes, can be submitted to the Gold Star Honor Roll here.

The recognition breakfast is made possible with support from the Wisconsin Union and the National Veterans Leadership Foundation.

Guests can learn more about the Veterans Day Recognition Breakfast and other campus Veterans Day events here.