Veterans Week: UND to host Army veteran, ‘Dancing with the Stars’ winner J.R. Martinez
Events throughout Nov. 11 holiday week will honor those who have served in America’s military
With Veterans Day on Nov. 11, the University community is invited to events throughout the week, including a high-profile visit to campus the following week.
Monday, Nov. 10, marks the birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps, and the Veteran & Military Services office will host a celebration from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at its McCannel Hall location, in Room 170. Desserts and refreshments will be served.
At the Memorial Union on Nov. 10, cookies and poppies will be given out from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in recognition of Veterans Week to honor those who have served in the nation’s military, living and deceased. A similar event is set to take place at the airport administration building on Wednesday, Nov. 12.
For the Tuesday holiday, the University, UND ROTC and the UND Alumni Association & Foundation will hold a ceremony from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Gorecki Alumni Center.
The event is free, open to all ages, and will feature remarks from UND leaders. Refreshments will be served.
UND Art Collections is once again hosting an Arts for Vets exhibition in Columbia Hall, and an opening reception for the fifth annual display will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 13.
J.R. Martinez to visit campus
The following week, UND is set to host a visit from J.R. Martinez — actor, best-selling author, motivational speaker and U.S. Army veteran — on Nov. 19.
Martinez is scheduled to speak from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Memorial Union Ballroom with a talk titled, “Overcoming Adversity with Optimism and Resilience.” He will be touring campus prior to the event, and a meet-and-greet will take place immediately following his talk.
Most widely known for his roles on the Emmy Award-winning daytime drama “All My Children” and his win on “Dancing with the Stars” in the show’s 13th season, Martinez first served the U.S. Army in a deployment to Iraq.
In April 2003, Martinez was driving a Humvee that struck a roadside bomb in Karbala. He was trapped inside of the burning vehicle, suffering severe burns. He spent 34 months recovering, undergoing dozens of surgeries in the years since.
It was during his recovery that Martinez realized the positive impact he could have on others, speaking to other patients about his experiences and listening to theirs.
He has since become a highly sought-after motivational speaker. He has spoken to troops at various bases around the world, as well as to organizations such as the Clinton Global Initiative, the Red Cross and dozens of universities and Fortune 500 companies.
More on Martinez is available to read in the University Letter blog.
