Skip to main content
Appalachian Today
News and events at Appalachian State University
  • For the media
  • COVID updates
  • Contact
  • Events
  • Webcams
  • Galleries
  • In the Media
  • Grants
  • Speakers
  • All Posts
  • Topics
  • Accolades
  • Alumni
  • Arts and Humanities
  • Athletics
  • Awards and Honors
  • Community Engagement
  • Diversity
  • Events
  • Faculty and Staff
  • Gifts and Grants
  • Global
  • Health and Wellness
  • Publications
  • Research
  • Safety
  • Scholarships
  • Students
  • Sustainability
☰ Menu
  • Events
  • Webcams
  • Galleries
  • In the Media
  • Grants
  • Speakers
  • All Posts
  • Topics
  • For the media
  • COVID updates
  • Contact
View larger image

App State’s Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) presents the colors to begin the Veterans Day Ceremony on Friday, Nov. 11. Photo by Chase Reynolds

App State observes Veterans Day 2022 with ceremony on campus

Student veteran Morgan Gibbard ’22 featured as this year’s speaker

“My heart is filled that I was even considered to be able to represent the veteran community. No matter what uniform we wear — or don’t wear — we all have a human responsibility to show up for each other and support each other in any way that we can.”

App State graduate student and U.S. Army Reserve veteran Morgan Gibbard ’22

By Brian Miller
Posted Nov. 11, 2022 at 11:49 a.m.

BOONE, N.C. — App State held its Veterans Day Ceremony on Friday, Nov. 11, in the B.B. Dougherty Administration Building, with remarks from App State graduate student and U.S. Army veteran Morgan Gibbard ’22.

“My heart is filled that I was even considered to be able to represent the veteran community. No matter what uniform we wear — or don’t wear — we all have a human responsibility to show up for each other and support each other in any way that we can.”

App State graduate student and U.S. Army Reserve veteran Morgan Gibbard ’22

The ceremony opened with App State’s Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) presenting the colors, and Brent Bingham ’85 ’93 — former arts production specialist and lecturer in the App State Hayes School of Music — performing the national anthem.

View larger image

App State’s Veterans Day Ceremony was moved indoors at the B.B. Dougherty Administration Building due to heavy rain. Photo by Kyla Willoughby

“For more than 100 years, this day has been set aside to honor and commend those who have served our country in the armed services. At App State, we commemorate this day and recognize student, faculty and staff veterans and their families, and take the opportunity to thank them for their service and their sacrifice.”

Dan Layzell, App State vice chancellor of finance and operations

Opening remarks were made by Dan Layzell, App State vice chancellor of finance and operations.

“For more than 100 years, this day has been set aside to honor and commend those who have served our country in the armed services,” said Layzell. “At App State, we commemorate this day and recognize student, faculty and staff veterans and their families, and take the opportunity to thank them for their service and their sacrifice.”

Layzell said App State currently enrolls 255 student veterans and 93 active-duty military members and employs 72 staff and faculty veterans. He said App State is also among the University of North Carolina System institutions with the highest enrollment of military spouses and children.

“For more than 100 years, this day has been set aside to honor and commend those who have served our country in the armed services. At App State, we commemorate this day and recognize student, faculty and staff veterans and their families, and take the opportunity to thank them for their service and their sacrifice.”

Dan Layzell, App State vice chancellor of finance and operations

For 13 consecutive years, App State has earned Military Friendly® School designations in recognition of the university’s efforts to help military-affiliated students thrive on campus and in the surrounding community.

On Veterans Day in 2016, App State Chancellor Sheri Everts opened the Major General Edward M. Reeder Jr. Student Veteran Resource Center to give military students access to mentoring, tutoring and various other forms of support. Gibbard, this year’s featured speaker at the Veterans Day Ceremony, is one of the many students who have been able to utilize that center.

Gibbard graduated magna cum laude from App State in May with a degree in social work and is pursuing a Master of Social Work with a focus on community and organizations.

View larger image

App State’s Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) presents the colors at the Veterans Day Ceremony on Nov. 11. Photo by Chase Reynolds

View larger image

The 2022 Veterans Day Ceremony is held inside the B.B. Dougherty Administration Building on Nov. 11. Photo by Kyla Willoughby

During her address, Gibbard said the military has always been a part of her story. The day after she was born, her father left for Operation Desert Storm.

“As most things come full circle, I was boots on the ground in Kuwait with my mother on my 22nd birthday — the same sand my father walked on a few days after my birth,” she said.

Gibbard described the selflessness of service members and the small sacrifices they make along with the large ones, such as missing holidays, births and birthdays.

She concluded by speaking to the continued importance of honoring and supporting veterans.

“If you can offer time to a veteran, take the time,” she said. “At the core of their being, veterans are just like everyone else in the sense that they want to be accepted, loved and connected.”

Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs J.J. Brown then made closing remarks.

“Fewer than 1% of our population serves in the U.S. military,” he said. “At App State, we are proud to recognize these heroes and thank them for their service.”

View larger image

Pictured from left to right are Vice Chancellor of Finance and Operations Dan Layzell, App State graduate student and U.S. Army veteran Morgan Gibbard ’22 and Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs J.J. Brown , who gave remarks at App State’s Veterans Day Ceremony on Nov. 11. Photo by Chase Reynolds

About Morgan Gibbard

Gibbard is a Watauga County native who grew up in Boone, attended Hardin Park Elementary School and graduated from Watauga High School in 2009.

After graduating high school, Gibbard enrolled in the U.S. Army Reserve. She completed her basic training at Fort Sill in Oklahoma in 2010 and then went on to Fort Sam Houston in Texas for her training as a combat medic and physical therapy technician. She finished her training at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio and Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu.

Gibbard then returned to North Carolina and was assigned to a unit in a combat support hospital out of Greensboro. In 2012, she deployed with a unit out of Bell, California, to Kuwait, where she worked in a physical therapy clinic at a hospital through 2013. Once she came home from deployment, she was moved to Colorado as part of a reserves unit based in Denver.

After 10 years of service, Gibbard was honorably discharged for medical reasons.

“It was sort of heartbreaking, because I planned to retire from the Army,” she said.

But Gibbard is happy to be back in her hometown and attending App State. As an undergraduate student, she interned with Ashe County Community Paramedics, and now, as a graduate student, is interning with The Bridge International — an organization that spreads awareness and gives support to survivors of human trafficking.

Gibbard is a fifth-generation military member, and her family has strong ties to App State. Her father, Bob Gibbard, worked at App State after retiring as an Army officer, and many alumni remember him as their adviser when they were transfer students and student veterans.

“When my dad retired from the military we settled in Boone, so I’ve kind of grown up around App State,” said Gibbard. “With my time in the military, it was important for me to be in an environment that felt supportive toward my background. I find that the Appalachian culture of going out into nature, or being a part of your community, aligns with some of the values that I connected to in the military.”

Gibbard said she was honored to be able to give back to the App State Community as the guest speaker for this year’s Veterans Day Ceremony.

“My heart is filled that I was even considered to be able to represent the veteran community,” she said. “I’m hoping my message will bring more connectedness between veterans and community members. I’m hoping I can bring forth the idea that no matter what uniform we wear — or don’t wear — we all have a human responsibility to show up for each other and support each other in any way that we can.”

Gibbard said some of the best ways the community can support and honor veterans are to volunteer at local veterans centers, vote on regulations that help support veterans, support nonprofits that help those struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and send care packages to veterans and active military members.

What do you think?

Share your feedback on this story.

Veterans Week 2022
Veterans Week 2022

Veterans Week events will be held at multiple locations on the App State campus and throughout Boone from Thursday, Nov. 10, through Saturday, Nov. 19. Check out this schedule of events to get involved.

Learn more
App State earns Gold distinction as Military Friendly School for 2022–23
App State earns Gold distinction as Military Friendly School for 2022–23

University announces new emergency scholarship for student veterans

April 7, 2022

For more than a decade, App State’s support of military-affiliated students has earned it national recognition from VIQTORY as a Military Friendly School. App State has been named a Military Friendly School with Gold distinction for 2022–23.

Read the story
Student Veteran Services
Student Veteran Services

Student Veteran Services at Appalachian State University is dedicated to helping the university’s military-affiliated students thrive on campus and in the Boone community. The unit does so by connecting student veterans and military-affiliated students with services and resources that are commensurate with their needs, capabilities and contributions. These resources and services include the Major General Edward M. Reeder Jr. Student Veteran Resource Center, priority registration, scholarship opportunities, a Student Veteran Association and others.

Learn more

About Appalachian’s Student Veteran Services

Student Veteran Services at Appalachian State University is dedicated to helping the university’s military-affiliated students thrive on campus and in the Boone community. The unit does so by connecting student veterans and military-affiliated students with services and resources that are commensurate with their needs, capabilities and contributions. These resources and services include the Major General Edward M. Reeder Jr. Student Veteran Resource Center, priority registration, scholarship opportunities, a Student Veteran Association and others. Learn more at https://militarystudents.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The Appalachian Experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls nearly 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.

“My heart is filled that I was even considered to be able to represent the veteran community. No matter what uniform we wear — or don’t wear — we all have a human responsibility to show up for each other and support each other in any way that we can.”

App State graduate student and U.S. Army Reserve veteran Morgan Gibbard ’22

“For more than 100 years, this day has been set aside to honor and commend those who have served our country in the armed services. At App State, we commemorate this day and recognize student, faculty and staff veterans and their families, and take the opportunity to thank them for their service and their sacrifice.”

Dan Layzell, App State vice chancellor of finance and operations

Veterans Week 2022
Veterans Week 2022

Veterans Week events will be held at multiple locations on the App State campus and throughout Boone from Thursday, Nov. 10, through Saturday, Nov. 19. Check out this schedule of events to get involved.

Learn more
App State earns Gold distinction as Military Friendly School for 2022–23
App State earns Gold distinction as Military Friendly School for 2022–23

University announces new emergency scholarship for student veterans

April 7, 2022

For more than a decade, App State’s support of military-affiliated students has earned it national recognition from VIQTORY as a Military Friendly School. App State has been named a Military Friendly School with Gold distinction for 2022–23.

Read the story
Student Veteran Services
Student Veteran Services

Student Veteran Services at Appalachian State University is dedicated to helping the university’s military-affiliated students thrive on campus and in the Boone community. The unit does so by connecting student veterans and military-affiliated students with services and resources that are commensurate with their needs, capabilities and contributions. These resources and services include the Major General Edward M. Reeder Jr. Student Veteran Resource Center, priority registration, scholarship opportunities, a Student Veteran Association and others.

Learn more

Share

Topics

  • Community Engagement
  • Diversity
  • Events
  • Students

What do you think?

Share your feedback on this story.

Archives

Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

The migration of materials from other sites is still incomplete, so if you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Additional feature stories may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Photo galleries and videos published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian

Share

Topics

  • Community Engagement
  • Diversity
  • Events
  • Students

Other Recent Posts

  • App State’s Dr. Sarah Evans receives CAREER award from National Science Foundation
    App State’s Dr. Sarah Evans receives CAREER award from National Science Foundation
  • App State Online bachelor’s, master’s programs named among 2023’s ‘Best Online Programs’
    App State Online bachelor’s, master’s programs named among 2023’s ‘Best Online Programs’
  • Teaching: When the Cat Destroys Your Sweater, Knit Something New [faculty featured]
    Teaching: When the Cat Destroys Your Sweater, Knit Something New [faculty featured]
    Forbes
  • App State to conduct full test of its emergency notification system Feb. 1
    App State to conduct full test of its emergency notification system Feb. 1
  • 6 App State students observe world climate policymaking at UN climate conference
    6 App State students observe world climate policymaking at UN climate conference
  • Aspiring NASCAR reporter Noah Cornelius is on track for a career in broadcasting
    Aspiring NASCAR reporter Noah Cornelius is on track for a career in broadcasting
  • Professor Alexandra Sterling-Hellenbrand awarded 2022–23 Fulbright to teach, conduct research in Austria
    Professor Alexandra Sterling-Hellenbrand awarded 2022–23 Fulbright to teach, conduct research in Austria
  • How Loading Up On Almonds Makes Your Weekend Workout Go Smoothly [faculty featured]
    How Loading Up On Almonds Makes Your Weekend Workout Go Smoothly [faculty featured]
    Forbes
  • Campus emergency siren test to be conducted Jan. 4, 2023
    Campus emergency siren test to be conducted Jan. 4, 2023
  • App State student-athletes extend 3.0+ GPA streak to 21 semesters
    App State student-athletes extend 3.0+ GPA streak to 21 semesters
  • UNA’s Dr. Ken Kitts Included on AL.com’s Final Listing of Top 22 for 2022 [alumni featured]
    UNA’s Dr. Ken Kitts Included on AL.com’s Final Listing of Top 22 for 2022 [alumni featured]
    University of North Alabama
  • Caldwell UNC Health Care bids a fond farewell to marketing director [alumni featured]
    Caldwell UNC Health Care bids a fond farewell to marketing director [alumni featured]
    Yahoo! News

Archives

Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

The migration of materials from other sites is still incomplete, so if you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Additional feature stories may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Photo galleries and videos published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian
  • Events
  • Videos
  • Galleries
  • In the Media
  • Grants
  • Speakers
  • All Posts
  • Topics
  • For the media
  • COVID updates
  • Contact

App State

Copyright 2023 Appalachian State University. All rights reserved.

University Communications
ASU Box 32153
Boone, NC 28608
828-262-6156
ucomm@appstate.edu

Abouts

Disclaimer | EO Policy | Accessibility | Website manager: montaldipa (beltmr) .. | Website Feedback

Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram LinkedIn Snapchat