5:15 a.m. 11/10/08

All,

I am writing to express to my colleagues and students the privilege I have to be serving our great nation in the military on this Veterans Day. I am sorry that I will miss two weeks of classes but honored to be serving on a temporary assignment at an undisclosed location overseas with our Special Operations Command Africa. Today I was also privileged to attend a special ceremony for the Marines with whom I am working. It is the Marine Corps birthday. It brought tears to my eyes as they recounted the Marines who were killed in the Beruit bombing several years ago and then sang the Marine Corps song.

I can tell you that contrary to some of the negative news media, our military is doing a great job in Africa. Today's mission in Africa is focused on helping the African nations stand for themselves and to assist them with their humanitarian needs. I cannot tell you what it means to local village people to have the US military dig wells for them or build schools. We are actively involved with medical missions going into remote villages with no medical care and setting up clinics to treat the sick. Literally, lives are being saved through these efforts.

I hope you have a very memorable and wonderful Veterans Day as the different military units visit our campus and General Hoyer makes his presentation.

I am proud to serve our state in the West Virginia Air National Guard and our country on temporary active duty with the United States Air Force.

Please give my warmest greetings to General Hoyer.

Sincerely,

Doug Weaver

 

11/11/08
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