Two-time App State alumnus and former U.S. Army Special Operations Ranger Dan Blakeley ’15 ’18, who served in the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, speaks at the university’s annual Veterans Day Ceremony, held Nov. 11 in the B.B. Dougherty Administration Building on App State’s Boone campus. Photo by Chase Reynolds
BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University held its annual Veterans Day Ceremony on Tuesday, Nov. 11, to honor the men and women who have served in the United States armed forces. This year’s ceremony featured remarks from alumnus and former U.S. Army Special Operations Ranger Dan Blakeley ’15 ’18, who served in the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.
“Veterans, make this day about the impact of your time in service — not just the things you’ve done while in uniform, but the things you learned along the way and that you carry with you today,” said Blakeley. “Make sure you share your story, because it is worth sharing.”
He continued, “For nonveterans, take today as an opportunity to reflect on why we celebrate those who served. Be relentlessly curious about our blended humanity, and be inspired to selflessly serve others. Our story as veterans is part of your story as well.”
App State Chancellor Heather Norris gives opening remarks at the university’s annual Veterans Day Ceremony, held Nov. 11 in the B.B. Dougherty Administration Building on App State’s Boone campus. Photo by Chase Reynolds
The event took place in the B.B. Dougherty Administration Building, where cadets in App State’s Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program presented the colors, and Brent Bingham, a faculty member in the Hayes School of Music, performed the national anthem.
In her opening remarks, App State Chancellor Heather Norris recognized the commitment and courage of veterans in the campus and local community. She also reflected on her family’s history of service, sharing that her parents met while in the Army and both her grandfather and father-in-law served as members of the U.S. Navy.
“While this day has been set aside nationally to recognize veterans and their families, please know that at Appalachian State University, you have our respect and our thanks every day,” said Norris. “Thank you for your service, your many sacrifices and your selfless dedication to our country.”
Cadets in App State’s Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program present the colors during the university’s 2025 Veterans Day Ceremony, held Nov. 11 in the B.B. Dougherty Administration Building on App State’s Boone campus. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Brent Bingham, a faculty member in App State’s Hayes School of Music, performs the national anthem during the university’s annual Veterans Day Ceremony, held Nov. 11 in the B.B. Dougherty Administration Building on App State’s Boone campus. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
Cadet Grayson Jordan, an App State senior professional studies major from Fries, Virginia, introduces the guest speaker for the university’s annual Veterans Day Ceremony — two-time App State alumnus and former U.S. Army Special Operations Ranger Dan Blakeley ’15 ’18. The event was held Nov. 11 in the B.B. Dougherty Administration Building on App State’s Boone campus. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Master Sgt. Paul Sinnot, senior military instructor in App State’s Department of Military Science and Leadership, left in foreground, speaks with two-time App State alumnus and former U.S. Army Special Operations Ranger Dan Blakeley ’15 ’18, right in foreground, who served as the featured speaker at the university’s annual Veterans Day Ceremony, held Nov. 11 in the B.B. Dougherty Administration Building on App State’s Boone campus. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Cadets in App State’s Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program attend the university’s Veterans Day Ceremony, held Nov. 11 in the B.B. Dougherty Administration Building on App State’s Boone campus. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Chris Kleman, associate dean of App State’s College of Fine and Applied Arts and former chair of the college's Department of Military Science and Leadership, second from left in foreground, speaks with two-time App State alumnus and former U.S. Army Special Operations Ranger Dan Blakeley ’15 ’18, second from right in foreground, who served as the featured speaker at the university’s annual Veterans Day Ceremony, held Nov. 11 in the B.B. Dougherty Administration Building on App State’s Boone campus. App State Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice Chancellor J.J. Brown is pictured at far left in the foreground. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Norris noted that for 16 consecutive years, App State has been recognized nationally by numerous publications — from VIQTORY, to Military Times, to U.S. News & World Report — for the support the university provides to its military community.
Following Norris’ remarks, Cadet Grayson Jordan, a senior professional studies major from Fries, Virginia, introduced Blakeley, who, over his eight years of service, deployed six times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
App State’s annual Veterans Day Ceremony honors those who have served in the U.S. armed forces and their families. This year’s ceremony, held Nov. 11 on the Boone campus, featured remarks from alumnus and former U.S. Army Special Operations Ranger Dan Blakeley ’15 ’18.
“As I reflect on my service, it’s the core of who I am,” said Blakeley. “The values it instilled in me have helped me prove to myself that I can do anything if I put my mind to it.”
Blakeley put that mindset into action at App State when he founded Team Sunergy — the university’s solar vehicle team — in 2013. He led a team of students and faculty advisors in designing and building two solar-powered race cars. The team, which began competing internationally in 2015, has earned podium finishes in nearly every competition it has entered and is developing its third-generation solar vehicle.
“In the Army, I was very proficient at my job,” he said. “I built networks with the right people, and I went through the ranks quickly. That work ethic absolutely translated to my time at school and to the success of Team Sunergy.”
Two-time App State alumnus Dan Blakeley ’15 ’18, a former U.S. Army Special Operations Ranger, served in the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. Photo submitted
Empowering veteran voices
Since graduating from App State, Blakeley has focused much of his time on connecting with veterans across the country. In 2020, he founded his own company, United Valor, which shares the untold stories of veterans to help them find purpose and pave the way for their success.
“When I was a student, I didn’t tell anyone I was a veteran and just tried to blend in,” Blakeley said. “It wasn’t until around the time my wife was pregnant in 2019 that I realized I couldn’t go through the rest of my life without talking about my service, and that my kids are going to want to know. So I started reaching out to a core group of friends from the Army and began finding ways to reconnect and give back.”
This newfound passion for supporting veterans inspired Blakeley to write his first book, “The Twenty-Year War,” which was published days ahead of the 20th anniversary of 9/11. The book shares the stories of 71 veterans from the Global War on Terror, exploring their calls to service, their transitions to civilian life and what it’s like to find meaning again after hanging up the uniform.
Two-time App State alumnus Dan Blakeley ’15 ’18, a former U.S. Army Special Operations Ranger who served in the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, founded the university’s solar vehicle team, Team Sunergy, in 2013. He is pictured in 2018, preparing for his final drive with the team. Photo by Chase Reynolds
“This gave a voice to a lot of veterans who think their stories are lesser than others, and for many of them, it was the most therapeutic thing they could have done,” Blakeley said.
The impact of Blakeley’s book was so profound that it has since been adapted into a traveling museum exhibit. “The Twenty-Year War: Our Next Greatest Generation” debuted at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio, in 2022.
“The response has been fantastic,” said Blakeley. “We have a guest book that visitors can write in, and we’ve heard incredible stories from veterans from all different walks of life — and that’s exactly why we did this.”
Guests visit the traveling museum exhibit “The Twenty-Year War: Our Next Greatest Generation,” which debuted at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio, in 2022. The exhibit is based on the book “The Twenty-Year War” by App State alumnus Dan Blakeley ’15 ’18, which shares the stories of 71 veterans from the Global War on Terror. Photo submitted
Beyond the uniform — honoring service and giving back
Blakeley’s family history is rooted deep in the military. His father served in the Air Force for 21 years, and his brother-in-law served in the Marine Corps.
“I’ve had the privilege of talking to a lot of veterans in my life, and the amount of commitment they put into their service, along with the physical and mental demands — it’s a constant reminder that we need to be grateful for what they’ve done,” he said.
As for Veterans Day itself, Blakeley said it’s a moment for him to acknowledge his own service, but more importantly, to honor the service of others. He hopes this day inspires communities to support veterans and one another.
“This day is a time to reflect on veterans and their service to our country, but it’s also a reminder to carry that mindset of service into every part of our lives,” he said. “Even though I’ve taken the uniform off, I still find ways to give back — not just to the veteran community, but to humanity as a whole.”
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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, the App State Student Veterans Association — an official chapter of the Student Veterans of America — and others. Learn more at https://militarystudents.appstate.edu.
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, cost-effective education. 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.
