Honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice

Newly constructed Veterans Honor Wall commemorates service members with ties to UND who lost their lives in combat

Last week, members of the campus community gathered to unveil the University’s Veterans Honor Wall — part of a weeklong slate of events celebrating Veterans Day.

Located on the second floor of the Memorial Union, the wall commemorates UND alumni, students, faculty and staff who lost their lives in combat from World War I to the present.

The Honor Wall’s dedication aligns closely with the UND LEADS Strategic Plan’s pillars of affinity and service, said UND President Andy Armacost, a retired Air Force brigadier general.

“UND has always placed veterans in its heart,” he said. “We love when people serve. We love when they serve the University, the nation and the world. Today is a day of pride and affinity, and a day to honor service.”

Angie Carpenter, director of Veteran & Military Affairs at UND, thanked the University’s leadership for its work in seeing the project to its completion and said the Honor Wall will serve as a permanent memorial to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Carpenter added that UND’s approximately 1,800 military affiliated students — active duty, veterans, dependents and ROTC cadets — enrich campus life and were the impetus behind the wall’s construction.

“Veteran and military students enrich our community by bringing with them discipline, leadership, resilience and a unique perspective shaped by their service,” she said. “They contribute not only to the intellectual life of our University but also to the social fabric of our campus.”

One of these students — Bella Hammer, a Social Work major and member of the 119th Wing of the North Dakota Air National Guard — also addressed attendees. Hammer, who enrolled at UND last spring, spoke of the difficulties she has faced transitioning from a strictly military regimen, to balancing aspects of civilian life.

“I knew that moving to Grand Forks and diving into college classes was going to be a big adjustment, but I didn’t anticipate how challenging it would be,” she said. “Transitioning from life on a military base to a dorm was an experience like no other. Finding a new community at UND did not come easily for me at first.”

Hammer, however, praised campus resources for helping ease this transition.

“When the fall semester began, I made a conscious effort to engage more fully,” she said. “I joined the Veteran & Military Services office. Working there has been an amazing experience — it has given me a sense of belonging and purpose. The Veterans Honor Wall here at UND is more than just a wall. It stands as a reminder of the ideals I strive to uphold every day.”

UND Student Body President Connor Ferguson thanked members of the military in attendance for their service and encouraged everyone to remain steadfast in their support for all who serve.

“Everyone has someone close to them who currently serves, or who has served in the past,” he said. “I am proud that we are taking the time to uphold the tradition of honoring our nation’s service members. This honor wall reminds us of our duty as an institution to offer them the greatest opportunities for success.”

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