Georgia Southern Ceremony Honors Victims of 9/11

Georgia Southern University paused Thursday morning to honor the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The University’s Military Science Department hosted a ceremony at the Russell Union Rotunda to reflect on the tragedies seven years ago in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania.
More than 100 cadets from Georgia Southern’s Army ROTC Eagle Battalion stood in formation as the ROTC Battalion Commander, Cadet Lt. Col. Amy McIntyre, addressed the crowd. Special guests included several members of the Statesboro Police Department, Statesboro Fire Department and Georgia Southern University Police Department.

“The events of Sept. 11, 2001, transformed America, and the current security environment will remain ‘guarded’ for the foreseeable future,” said Lt. Col. George Fredrick, Chair of the Military Science Department. “So it is vital that communities pay the appropriate tribute.”

“It is also important that we teach our students and cadets about the impacts of this most significant event, because it is up to them to deter, prevent and possibly respond to the next 9/11,” Lt. Col. Fredrick added.

The ceremony ended with a special presentation to the Georgia Southern Museum. Lt. Col. McIntyre gave a Georgia Southern University flag in a display case to the museum’s assistant director, Debra Gleason.

The flag was flown over a patrol base in the Karbala province of Iraq this spring by Georgia Southern graduate Maj. Kevin Rice (Class of 1988). The flag will now be displayed at the Georgia Southern Museum.

“In light of the University’s recent centennial celebration, this is a wonderful way to continue preserving and interpreting Georgia Southern’s history in the making,” Gleason said. “This particular artifact is a great testimony on how Georgia Southern graduates are really helping make a difference in the world through their deeds and their sacrifices.”

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Chapman Selected as Georgia AFROTC Cadet of the Year

The Georgia Air Force Association recently selected Valdosta State University Air Force ROTC cadet Ryan Chapman as the Cadet of the Year for 2008.

Chapman, who was also chosen as VSU's Outstanding AS300 Cadet for the 2007-08 academic year, was nominated by the active duty cadre members at VSU's Detachment 172 based on his GPA, cadet ranking and his accomplishments during the year in AFROTC, VSU and community involvement.

Ranked number one in his AFROTC graduating class, Chapman is a senior studying physics and holds a 3.10 GPA. He has claimed many scholarships and awards, including the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association Scholarship, Cadet of the Semester several times, the Rising Eagle Award and Honor Flight Ribbons at field training, and Most Inspirational POC cadet, a peer-determined award given only to juniors and seniors.

He is also very involved with the university, volunteering for free tutoring, helping freshmen during move-in day and serving as a visitation day tour guide. A leader in community service, he has organized blood drives and participated in valuable causes like Valentines for Vets, neighborhood cleanups, the food bank, the Humane Society and Christmas in the Desert, a local initiative that collected money and necessities for soldiers serving overseas during the holidays.

In addition to his academic prowess and commitment to serving others, Chapman is also a respected and recognized leader in the ROTC program, and will serve over the detachment as the cadet wing commander this fall. Lt. Col. Alan Elledge, detachment commander, describes Chapman in his official nomination as the "epitome of a leader; strong convictions, high moral character" as well as a poster child for the Air Force and a true role model who is always willing to go the extra mile.

“We chose Cadet Chapman because he has an outstanding record of success both in the academic classroom and in our officer training program," Lt. Col. Elledge said. "His intellectual strength is complemented by his servant leader’s heart as demonstrated through several local community service projects and the contributions he has made through multiple VSU campus programs.”

Chapman will receive a plaque to commemorate his honor, which will improve his chances of qualifying for special Air Force programs. This is positive for the hard-working student, who plans to pursue admission into the Air Force Institute of Technology to earn a masters degree. He will also soon be featured as a Visionary on the VSU Web site.

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