The Laboratory will honor this country's veterans at the annual veterans' breakfast and flag-raising ceremony Thursday at the Otowi Building.
The Laboratory is closed on November 12 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 and several hundred subcontract personnel who are veterans, said David Swingle of Assessments Management (CAO-AM), 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 side rooms A and B. The no-host breakfast is open to all Lab workers, retirees, and veterans from the community.
"This Veterans Day, we honor the sacrifices, perseverance and heroism of our veterans in past conflicts,” said Swingle. “In peacetime and now, in the war on terrorism, 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."
Bronze Star recipient Tod Caldwell of Condensed Matter and Thermal Physics (MPA-10) will be the guest speaker at the breakfast. Caldwell was deployed to Iraq for more than a year and has been mobilized three times since the September 11, 2001 terrorist incidents. He will begin speaking at about 7:25 a.m.
At 8 a.m., activities move outside the Otowi Building for a flag-raising ceremony conducted by members of the Protection Technology Los Alamos ceremonial force and the Los Alamos High School Junior Naval ROTC. Swingle will be 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. Deputy Laboratory Director Jan Van Prooyen is scheduled to address attendees at the flag-raising ceremony, said Swingle.
At 9 a.m. in the Physics Building Auditorium, Caldwell will speak about his experiences while deployed. Wanda Vigil of the New Mexico Department of Veterans' Services will then discuss veterans' benefits. Vigil was a soldier in the New Mexico Army National Guard, retiring from active duty as a master sergeant with more than 23 years service. 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 a.m. to reflect on the contributions of veterans and those who are currently serving in the armed services," said Swingle. “This time was chosen because World War I ended at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month with the Armistice,” Swingle explained.
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 Swingle.
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.
The first 350 people to register and complete the 1.25-mile course will receive a newly redesigned long-sleeve Lab Veterans Day T-shirt.
"This is not a race," Swingle 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."
Swingle 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. "The shirt design was competed earlier this year, and Kory Christensen of Security Plans and Programs (SEC-PPS1) submitted the winning artwork. The shirts are very distinctive this year, but there are a limited number.”
For more information, contact Swingle at 5-9305. Or the see the Veterans' Interest Group Web page online.
