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United States Navy Petty Officer Second Class Amanda Yazzie was born in Staten Island, N.Y., and currently lives in Sackets Harbor, N.Y.  In 2012, Petty Officer Yazzie enlisted in the U.S. Navy Reserves as an Electronic Technician.  Today, she proudly serves as a member of the Operational Support Team, Navy Operational Support Center, in Mattydale, N.Y.

One of Petty Officer Yazzie’s most honored duties is her role as the Funeral Honors Coordinator and Team Leader for the U.S. Navy here in Upstate New York – a territory that stretches from Pennsylvania to the Canadian border. In that role, she has overseen the Navy’s final tribute to more than 100 fallen active duty and veteran Sailors across Central and Upstate New York.

In her civilian life, Petty Officer Yazzie is an instructor for the Naval Sea Cadets, a member of the New York Naval Militia, and a volunteer with the special needs students at Sackets Harbor Central School.

Petty Officer Yazzie was joined on the field by her spouse Herberta (an Army Specialist stationed in the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, N.Y.); her son Brandon; and her daughter Jenna.

The Student Veterans Organization (SVO) of Syracuse University and the Student Veterans Association (SVA) of Le Moyne College are partnering with Clear Path for Veterans in an effort to provide meals to the veterans in our community by organizing a food drive that kicks off today and will run through January 15^th.  The donations received from the food drive will then be donated to Clear Path for Veterans for their weekly lunches as well as for their food pantry that serves needy veterans in the community.

Collection bins will be placed across the Syracuse University campus as well as at Le Moyne College in high visibility areas.  The boxes at Syracuse University will be placed in the Schine Student Center, the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), the Student Veterans Lounge, the Goldstein Center on South Campus, and at University College.  The boxes at Le Moyne College will be placed at the Student Veterans Association lounge as well as in the main dining hall.

In addition to the food drive, the Syracuse University SVO will be hosting the MLK Day Lunch of Thanks, set to take place on January 18^th from 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. at Clear Path for Veterans.  The Lunch of Thanks is intended to thank veterans and their supporters across the Syracuse University and Le Moyne College campus communities for their contributions to the United States. “By partnering with Clear Path for Veterans, we can effectively work to feed needy families over the holidays,” said Jordan Robinson, president of the Syracuse University SVO.

Fundraising for this event will come in the form of grants and scholarships, monetary donations from the wider community, and through the sale of yellow ribbon “support our troops” car magnets.  The proceeds from these donations will help fund the luncheon at Clear Path by paying for food and labor.  “We are very excited to be the recipient of such a great cause and we always appreciate when other organizations think of us as an outlet for their philanthropic efforts,” said Earl Fontenot, director of programs and services at Clear Path for Veterans.

To donate, please contact Jordan Robinson at jlrobi03@syr.edu or by phone at 864-421-5869.

The MLK Day Lunch of Thanks will be conducted by mobilizing student veterans and other college students, community members, and community organizations to observe MLK Day as a day of service and giving back.  This will effectively involve people from all over the Syracuse University campus, to include student volunteers from Hendricks Chapel, the Student Veterans Organization, the Office of Veterans and Military Affairs, as well as members of the Le Moyne College community.

The MLK Day of Service Community Partnership Project, initiated by Iowa Campus Compact, has awarded Hendricks Chapel with a mini grant intended to fund the food drive coordinator position as well as cover the costs affiliated with the organization of the event.  Through the support of Hendricks Chapel, these student veterans organizations are able to collaborate together in the spirit of charity and to give back to those in their time of need.

 

About the Student Veterans Organization of Syracuse University (SVOSU):

The Student Veterans Organization of Syracuse University is a group of student veterans, employees, dependents, and supporters committed to addressing the concerns and needs of veterans in the Syracuse University community.  Through fundraisers and events developed for the veteran community, we are dedicated to giving back in service of those who have served.  In the past, the SVO has worked in partnership with several other organizations such as the Syracuse VA Hospital and Honor Flight to fundraise and volunteer in the spirit of charity.

 

About Le Moyne College Student Veterans Association (SVA):

The purpose of the Student Veterans Association is to provide an opportunity for military veteran and non-veteran students of Le Moyne College to connect with each other, foster a sense of community, and promote leadership, teamwork, and community service.

 

About Hendricks Chapel:

Hendricks Chapel is the diverse religious, spiritual, ethical and cultural heart of Syracuse University that connects people of all faiths and no faith through active engagement, mutual dialogue, reflective spirituality, responsible leadership and a rigorous commitment to social justice.

 

About Clear Path for Veterans:

Clear Path for Veterans provides support to veterans, military members and their families through programs and services designed to facilitate self-empowerment, peer-to-peer support, and community involvement.  Additionally, Clear Path offers a weekly café offering free lunch, coffee, and beverages to all veterans in the community every Wednesday.

 

The Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (OVMA) at Syracuse University

The Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (OVMA) serves as Syracuse University’s single point of entry for all veteran and military related programs and initiatives. It collaborates and coordinates with all stakeholders to best serve veterans, military connected students, and military family members who are students or employees at Syracuse University. For more information about the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs, visit https://veterans.syracuse.edu.

 

In 2014 Chancellor Kent Syverud reaffirmed Syracuse University’s commitment to veterans and their families, making it clear that serving veterans was one of the university’s primary missions. During the 2015 Veterans Day ceremony, it was clear that Chancellor Syverud’s commitment to veterans has not wavered. The Veterans Day Ceremony took place at 11:00 am on November 11, 2015, in Hendricks Chapel. Led by Jordan Robinson, Master of Ceremonies and Syracuse University Student Veterans Organization (SVO) president, the Veterans Day Ceremony was a visible display of gratitude for our nation’s veterans.

U.S. Navy veteran and SVO Vice President, Daniel Piston, spoke on the history of Syracuse University Veterans. He reminded onlookers of the university’s proud history of serving U.S. Armed Forces veterans, beginning with Chancellor William Tolley after WWII. Piston likened Chancellor Tolley’s mission of serving veterans to that of current Chancellor Syverud.

A highlight of this year’s Veterans Day celebration were the remarks delivered by the ceremony’s keynote speaker, Brigadier General Michael Fantini, United States Air Force.

General Fantini is the principal Director for Middle East Policy, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon, Washington D.C. He is a command pilot with more than 3,200 hours in the MQ-9, F-16, T-37 and T-38. General Fantini’s awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal.

General Fantini praised Syracuse University’s commitment to veterans under Chancellor Syverud’s leadership. He told the audience that he was happy that he had made the choice to come to Syracuse University and that during his visits to the campus he felt that there was something special about this university. General Fantini stated that if he could bottle up the environment at SU and “sprinkle it across the Middle East” that there would be “a lot less problems.” This positive environment must have been a factor when his daughter, Elizabeth chose to attend Syracuse University on an Air Force ROTC scholarship.  As General Fantini closed his remarks, he spoke of another great accomplishment that he would be able to claim by the end of the day, enlisting his daughter into the United States Air Force.

Cadet Elizabeth Fantini had a part in the ceremony as well. She delivered the flag that was presented to Chancellor Syverud. This flag was later raised outside the steps of Hendricks Chapel as the audience looked on. As the ceremony concluded, a wreath was laid in front of the WWII memorial, a sign of Syracuse University’s continued support of veterans and their families.

Technical Sergeant Forrest Lee Vosler (U.S. Army Air Force) was honored at Saturday’s Syracuse University football game against Clemson. At every home game, the Syracuse University Athletics Department and the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (OVMA) honor a “Hometown Hero” and their family, recognizing their service and sacrifice to our nation and the Central New York community.

Vosler was born on July 29, 1923, in Lyndonville, NY. After graduating from Livonia High School, he enlisted in the Army Air Force where he became a radio operator. Vosler was assigned to the 358th Bombardment Squadron, 303rd Bombardment Group, 8^th Air Force, in England. He was a crewmember of a B-17 Flying Fortress called the “Jersey Bounce, Jr.”

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt awarded the Medal of Honor to Technical Sergeant Vosler in the Oval Office on August 31, 1944, for his actions over Bremen, Germany. Vosler was hit twice by 20 mm shrapnel after taking the place of one of the plane’s gunners. Despite many injuries to his legs, arms and eyes, he managed to tend to the wounded tail gunner, repair the damaged radio equipment, and send a distress signal before the aircraft crashed into the North Sea.

Vosler was discharged from the Army Air Force following numerous surgeries and extended stays in nine hospitals. He matriculated at Syracuse University in the spring of 1945. While at Syracuse, he met and married his wife, Virginia Slack, a Kappa Delta and a Liberal Arts graduate of the Class of 1945. They raised four children in Central New York; Stephen, Jeffrey, Sondra Fields-England, and Susan Snow Bass, Class of 1990.

Despite being named the Army Air Force’s “Greatest Hero” of World War II, Vosler’s combat injuries to his eyes made it difficult for him to study. He had trouble reading because he could only see shapes and shades, and required additional surgeries. He persisted for 17 years, dropping in and out of school, trying to earn the Syracuse University degree he so dearly wanted, but his injuries prevented him from completing a Syracuse University degree. Vosler passed away on February 17, 1992 with an “unseen” dream not fulfilled.

Technical Sergeant Forrest Vosler’s unseen dream became a reality 70 years later.   On November 13^th, 2015, Syracuse University awarded Forest L. Vosler an Associate’s Degree of Arts, thus making him a Syracuse University alumnus, Class of 2015!

Syracuse University’s Chancellor Kent Syverud, Vice Chancellor Mike Haynie, and Syracuse University great and NFL Hall of Famer Floyd Little honored Vosler by presenting his son Steve Vosler and his wife, Karen Vosler with the game ball.

 

Vice Admiral Robert B. Murrett is a faculty member at Syracuse University, and also a military veteran. You should know his story, because it’s a Syracuse University story—one that speaks to our past, our present, and our future.

Murrett is an excellent example of our Hometown Heroes, growing up in Buffalo, NY and attending the University of Buffalo, where he received a Bachelor’s of Arts in History in 1975. Murrett’s initial tours of duty with the US Navy after commissioning included deployments to the Mediterranean, North Atlantic, and West Pacific as an afloat intelligence officer aboard the USS Kitty Hawk, USS America, and USS Independence.

Soon after his return to the US following his deployments, Murrett was assigned to the Defense Intelligence College, where he received a Master’s of Science in Strategic Intelligence. With his refined skills in data and national intelligence, Murrett was assigned to the Chief of Naval Operations Intelligence as a briefing officer. This experience was particularly valuable as Murrett soon after was assigned as an Assistant Intelligence Officer for the Commander of the US Second Navy Fleet, where he served from 1983-1985 upon the USS Mount Whitney and the USS Nassau. Following the two years at sea, Murrett served for three years on dry ground as the Assistant Naval Attaché at the US Embassy in Oslo, Norway.

After Murrett’s service in Oslo, he went back to the sea, serving first as the Operational Intelligence Officer for the Commander of the US Pacific Fleet in 1989 and then as the Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence for Commander, Carrier Group Eight aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt from 1992-1995. Murrett continued to climb the ranks of Naval intelligence, serving as the Assistant Chief of Staff , Intelligence for Commander, Second US Naval Fleet from 1995-1997 and then as the Executive Assistant to the Director of Naval Intelligence from 1997-1998.

From 1998-2000, Murrett served in elite intelligence posts for the Navy, including serving as Director of the Intelligence Directorate in the Office of Naval Intelligence from 1998-1999 and as Commander of the Atlantic Intelligence Command (AIC) in 1999. While in this post, Murrett oversaw the transition of AIC to Joint Forces Intelligence Command, which was very successful under his leadership.

Murrett later served as Director for Intelligence at the US Joint Forces Command in Norfolk, VA for two years before becoming the Director of the Office of Naval Intelligence, a post he held from 2005-2006. From here, as was typical for Murrett, he could only move upwards. He was appointed in 2006 as the 4^th Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Since his retirement in 2010, Murrett has been a Professor of Practice at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship of Public Affairs, the Deputy Director of SU’s Institute on National Security and Counter terrorism, and a member of the SU Institute for Veterans and Military Families’ Board of Directors.

Daniel J. Czajak Appointed Assistant Director for Student Veteran and Military Recruiting; Lauren Elizabeth Pyland Will Serve as Operations Coordinator

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (November 17, 2015) – Syracuse University is pleased to announce two recent personnel actions that signify the University’s continued commitment to serving college-bound veterans; expanding military recruitment; and developing educational programs and services for the veteran and military family community.

 

Daniel J. Czajak was recently hired as the Assistant Director of Admissions for Student Veteran and Military Recruiting. This role caters to the unique needs of prospective and incoming students from military backgrounds, including military family members. Czajak is charged with expanding recruitment efforts to boost veteran and military enrollment. A liaison to all colleges and academic programs, Czajak will serve as a marketing and communications adviser and contributor. He is also the dedicated admissions counselor for military-affiliated students.

Czajak, a Syracuse graduate, earned his bachelor’s degree in History and Psychology in 2004 and commissioned into the Air Force through the university’s ROTC program. Czajak began his active duty career as a management analyst and consultant determining manpower requirements. He later transferred to the Army and served as a staff officer for personnel management and administration. During that time, Czajak deployed to Iraq for a fifteen-month tour. More recently, he served in the Army Reserve, completing the Army’s chaplain training in 2013. He is in the final stages of completing a graduate theology degree from Saint Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore, MD.

Czajak assumed his role on Monday, August 31.

 

Lauren Elizabeth Pyland is the new Operations Coordinator in the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (OVMA).  In this position, Pyland will address the growing needs of the veteran and military family community at Syracuse University.

Pyland is a Syracuse University graduate, receiving her Bachelor of Arts in History in 2012.  She received her commission into the U.S. Army Reserves from Syracuse University Army ROTC.

“Lauren Pyland is the ideal selection for this position” states Ron Novack, executive director of the university’s Office of Veteran and Military Affairs. Being a Syracuse University, U.S. Army ROTC graduate, and from an Army Veteran family, she thoroughly understands veterans and military families from end to end as well as the Syracuse University campus.”

Pyland currently serves in the U.S. Army Reserves as a Disbursing Officer for the 374^th Financial Management Support Unit. She possesses a thorough understanding of the unique needs of veterans, specifically in transition and higher education, and the ability to work collaboratively across the University, as well as leverage existing services to achieve end goals.

Pyland assumed her new role on Monday, November 2.

 

 

About Syracuse University’s Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (OVMA)

The Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (OVMA) serves as Syracuse University’s single point of entry for all veteran and military related programs and initiatives. It collaborates and coordinates with all stakeholders to best serve veterans, military connected students, and military family members who are students or employees at Syracuse University. For more information about the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs, visit https://veterans.syracuse.edu.

 

Associate of Arts Degree is presented to Technical Sergeant Forrest L. Vosler

Chancellor Kent Syverud; Dr. Karin Ruhlandt, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; and Dr. Mike Haynie, Vice Chancellor for Veteran and Military Affairs recognized the accomplishments of Forrest L. Vosler by posthumously awarding him an Associate of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts at a special Degree Conferral Ceremony held today on campus.  Forrest’s son, Steve Vosler (and his wife, Karen Vosler) represented the family and accepted the degree on behalf of his father.

During WWII, Technical Sergeant Forrest L. Vosler (U.S. Army Air Force radio operator) sustained serious injuries to his eyes, legs, and arms when the plane he was in was shot down and crashed in the North Sea.  For his heroic actions, he received the Medal of Honor from President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Vosler was unable to complete his baccalaureate degree due to his combat injuries. He had, however, completed all of the requirements for the Associate of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts.  Today, Syracuse University posthumously awarded Forrest L. Vosler an Associate’s Degree of Arts, thus making him a Syracuse University alumnus, Class of 2015.

 

More About Forrest L. Vosler:

Technical Sergeant Forrest Lee Vosler was born on July 29, 1923, in Lyndonville, New York. After graduating from Livonia High School, he enlisted in the Army Air Force where he became a radio operator. Vosler was assigned to the 358th Bombardment Squadron, 303rd Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force, in England. He was a crewmember of a B-17 Flying Fortress called the “Jersey Bounce, Jr.”

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt awarded the Medal of Honor to Technical Sergeant Vosler in the Oval Office on August 31, 1944, for his actions over Bremen, Germany. Vosler was hit twice by 20 mm shrapnel after taking the place of one of the plane’s gunners. Despite many injuries to his legs, arms and eyes, he managed to tend to the wounded tail gunner, repair the damaged radio equipment, and send a distress signal before the aircraft crashed into the North Sea.

Vosler was discharged from the Army Air Force following numerous surgeries and extended stays in nine hospitals.  He matriculated at Syracuse University in the Spring of 1945.  While at Syracuse, he met and married his wife, Virginia Slack—a Kappa Delta and a Liberal Arts graduate of the Class of 1945. They raised four children in Central New York: two sons—Stephen and Jeffrey, and two daughters—Sondra Fields-England and Susan Snow Bass, Class of 1990.

Despite being named the Army Air Force’s “Greatest Hero” of World War II, Vosler’s combat injuries to his eyes made it difficult for him to study. He had trouble reading because he could only see shapes and shades, and required additional surgeries. He persisted for 17 years, dropping in and out of school, trying to earn the Syracuse University degree he so dearly wanted, but his injuries prevented him from completing a Syracuse University degree.  Vosler passed away on February 17, 1992 with an “unseen” dream not fulfilled.

Technical Sergeant Forrest Vosler’s unseen dream became a reality 70 years later!   On November 13, 2015, Syracuse University awarded Forest L. Vosler an Associate’s Degree of Arts, thus making him a Syracuse University alumnus, Class of 2015!