Fun run/walk to be held at noon
The Laboratory will honor this country's veterans at the annual veterans' breakfast and flag-raising ceremony November 8 at the Otowi Building at Technical Area 3.
The Laboratory is closed on November 10 in observance of Veterans Day.
The scheduled activities are sponsored by the Lab's Veterans’ Interest Group and the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity (HR-OEOD).
There are approximately 950 Lab employees who are veterans, in addition to several hundred subcontract personnel who also are veterans, said Allyn Pratt of Advanced Nuclear Technology (N-2), chairman of the Veterans’ Interest Group.
The Lab's Veterans Day commemoration begins at 6:45 a.m., with a breakfast in the Otowi Building cafeteria. The no-host breakfast is open to all Lab workers, retirees, and veterans from the community.
Lieutenant Commander James Jenista is the guest speaker at the breakfast. Jenista works for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).
At 8 a.m., activities move outside the Otowi Building, where a flag-raising ceremony will be conducted by members of the Protection Technology Los Alamos ceremonial force; the Los Alamos High School Naval Junior ROTC; and cadets of the Los Alamos chapter of the Civil Air Patrol. David Swingle of Assessment Management (CAO- AM) is the master of ceremonies at the presentation of colors.
Mary Beth Stevens of the Ombuds Program Office will sing the National Anthem and Debbi Wersonick of the Community Programs (CPO) Office will lead the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. Jenista is scheduled to make a short comment at the flag-raising ceremony, said Pratt.
At 9 a.m. in the Physics Building Auditorium at TA-3, Michael Pacheco of the New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services will discuss veterans’ benefits. The talk will be followed by a question and answer period and will cover both state and federal benefits. The talk is open to the Laboratory work force.
At 11 a.m., Lab employees are asked to take a moment of silence to remember veterans. “Lab employees are asked to take a moment at 11 to reflect on the contributions of veterans and those who are currently serving in the armed services,” said Pratt. This time was chosen because the number eleven has historical significance because World War I was said to have ended at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, Pratt explained.
"This Veterans Day we honor the sacrifices, perseverance and heroism of our veterans in past conflicts; in peacetime; and now, in the war on terrorism," said Pratt. "As the stars and stripes rise to wave proudly over its citizens, please offer your gesture of respect and allegiance to America, and honor our freedoms and our veterans."
Veterans Day activities also include the annual fun run/walk. Registration for this event begins at 11:30 a.m. and the event itself begins at noon, said Pratt.
The route for the fun run and walk is in Los Alamos Canyon near the ice rink. Participants are asked to find parking nearby and walk into the canyon because parking near the ice rink is sparse, said Pratt.
The first 400 people to register and complete the 1.25-mile course will receive a long-sleeve Lab Veterans Day T-shirt.
"This is not a race," Pratt said. "We want employees to come show their support for all of our veterans by joining in the fun run/walk. It is a great way to get some exercise as well. The key is to get there, register, get a fun-run ticket and complete the course at your own pace."
Pratt explained that the ticket will be punched at the halfway point on the course. The punched ticket can be exchanged for an official fun-run T-shirt available at the registration station.
For more information, contact Pratt at 7-4308. Or the see the Veterans' Interest Group Web page at http://www.lanl.gov/orgs/oeo/vets/Committee.htm online.
