BOONE, N.C.—A crowd of approximately 150 gathered beside the B.B. Dougherty Administration Building on the Appalachian State University campus, Friday, Nov. 10, for a Veterans Day ceremony.
A brisk wind unfurled the flag as three cadets from the Military Science and Leadership program completed the presentation of the colors. A cadre of 29 cadets stood at salute while bugler Brent Bingham ’85 played the national anthem.
Coordinator of Veteran Services Eric Gormly gave the opening remarks. Chancellor Everts welcomed those gathered and introduced speaker Col. Ralph L. “Bo” Clayton III, a 1988 Appalachian graduate.
“This day honors and recognizes those who have served our country in the armed services,” Everts said. “Our campus has a powerful and long-standing commitment to veterans and their families,” noting that the Major General Edward M. Reeder Jr. Student Veteran Resource Center was celebrating its first anniversary. Three hundred and two veterans and active-duty military personnel are currently on campus.
Everts said as commander of the 733rd Mission Support Group, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, Clayton leads 615 personnel in two squadrons and one division. “Colonel Clayton,” she said, “provides deployment operations, construction, security, facility maintenance, supply and transportation for a base community totaling over 7,780 acres and hosting 23,000 active-duty, Guard and Reserve, and Department of Defense civilians and retired personnel.
In his remarks, Clayton said, “The core values of this institution reflect how you inspire students with a strong service ethic … mirrored by the Army values of selfless service.” He recognized a number of faculty by name who “made a difference for him” and shaped the course of his career. “I cannot tell you how many App State grads I’ve come across [in my years of service]. Students [at Appalachian] not only witness this culture of service among the Department of Military Service,” he said, “they witness it from the faculty, the staff, and the administration who are committed to inspiring students with a strong service ethic.”
About Col. Ralph L. ‘Bo’ Clayton III
Colonel Ralph L. (Bo) Clayton III is the Commander, 733d Mission Support Group, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA. He leads 615 personnel in two squadrons and one division who provide wartime and peacetime mission support and quality of life for the 633d Air Base Wing, Headquarters United States Army Training and Doctrine Command, four United States Army brigades, Headquarters Joint Task Force Civil Support, and numerous other associate units and mission partners. Colonel Clayton provides deployment operations, construction, security, facility maintenance, supply and transportation for a base community totaling over 7,780 acres and hosting 23,000 active duty, Guard and Reserve, Department of Defense civilians, and retired personnel.
Colonel Clayton assumed his duties on June 28, 2016. He entered active duty in the US Army Field Artillery Corps in 1989. In 1999 he entered Special Operations as a Psychological Operations officer and has since supported or deployed in support of every major contingency operation.
Colonel Clayton received a bachelor of science in biology from Appalachian State University in 1988.
Open one year, Student Veteran Resource Center provides key services and important connections
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About Appalachian State University
As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.
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Col. Clayton's speech
Good morning!
Chancellor Everts, thank you for the privilege to speak here today. I’m extremely honored to be here with you today and I am especially happy to be back on familiar grounds, on this beautiful campus on the mountain, God's country. And after a great win last night.
Veterans Day began in 1919 as Armistice Day in commemoration of the end of WWI — the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. In 1954, it became a day to honor our veterans and was renamed Veterans Day.
Today, we take a few moments to honor our veterans. Those that have gone before us and those that are among us; who have answered the call of their nation; who have bravely protected our great nation. For throughout our history, there have been those willing to fight and, in some cases, give the ultimate sacrifice to keep our country free and provide those rights we enjoy. It is this time we honor those, many of which walk the halls and pathways of this campus daily. Some of those are here today. They are not only the faculty of the ROTC department, they are professors, administrators, staff, and yes, students, as you see represented in the student veterans association.
As I gathered my thoughts for today, I wondered the tie between what this university does and the experience gained here that lends itself so well among a population of veterans. I do believe it’s not by chance this university is so well represented by veterans across North Carolina, the nation, and dare [I] say, across the world. I would say it’s part of the culture. A culture of service. Your very presence here today, taking this time to gather and honor our veterans, serves as evidence of that. I look back on some of those faculty that made a difference for me: Dr. Quilan, Dr. George Miles, Dr. Bond, Dr. Montaldi, Dr. Terry Cherry and Dr. Gerald Parker.
The core values of this institution reflect how you “inspire students with a strong service ethic.” This is mirrored with the Army value of selfless service, while we have seven Army values (loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, personal courage). It is selfless service that embodies the very essence of a veteran. Someone that is willing to put others before him or herself; that understands the greater good; that fights and sacrifices for those beside him. Who willingly shares his weight of the challenge and does so without any intent for glory or adulation. Very much like the examples our cadets see here on this campus, at Appalachian.
I want to also thank you, faculty and staff of this great university, for your culture of service. During my time in the Army, I can't tell you how many other App State grads I've come across. I've had others come up and ask, “Just how many App State guys are out there? You're everywhere!”
You see, part of the reason this university is so well represented across the Army is because they not only witness this culture of service among the Department of Military Science [and Leadership], they witness it from the faculty, staff and administration that live it in front of them and is committed to “inspiring students with a strong service ethic.”
Next year will mark 30 years since I started my journey here at Appalachian State as a 17-year-old biology student. My path of 28 years in the Army started right here in Dougherty and Rankin halls.
Since my first days as an Army ROTC cadet here, I was privileged to be given incredible opportunities. Opportunities to meet many brave, disciplined and motivated military members, both active-duty and veterans. They make me proud to serve alongside them every single day.
That journey has taken me across the United States, overseas and back, but I will never forget where it all started. It was here that laid the foundation for that success. And it is here that you continue to lay the foundation for future generations of veterans and civilians to continue the culture of service to this great nation.
In closing, please take a moment tomorrow to honor those veterans that gave the ultimate sacrifice. Thank you for the opportunity to be with you here today and thank you for your part in growing our future veterans of tomorrow.
May God bless you, our veterans, and may God bless these United States.
— Col. Ralph L. “Bo” Clayton III
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