Date: June 19, 2012
Contact: Carol Connelly, Director, Media & Communication Services, ext. 5267, cconnelly@pnc.edu

American Veterans Traveling Tribute Schedule of Events at PNC

Westville – A full slate of guest speakers, performers and memorial activities have been scheduled during the American Veterans Traveling Tribute (AVTT) and Traveling Vietnam Wall visit to the Purdue University North Central campus on July 3 through 7.

The opening ceremony will begin July 3 at 7 p.m., with guest of honor Joseph Kernan, former mayor of South Bend, Indiana governor and ex-POW.

Events continue to be added to the schedule. For a complete schedule and additional information about the AVTT, visit www.pnc.edu .

Performers are still needed for Thursday, July 5 at 2 p.m. and Friday, July 6 at 2 p.m. and p.m.

Schedule of events:

Tuesday, July 3

10 a.m. - American Veterans Traveling Tribute and escort departs Cabela's parking lot, Hammond

11 a.m. - American Veterans Traveling Tribute and escort arrives at Purdue North Central

2 p.m. - Michigan City High School Wolfpack Marching Band

7 p.m. - Opening Ceremony Welcome by PNC Chancellor Dr. James B. Dworkin

Call to Colors - Community Veterans

Raising of the Flag - JROTC, Michigan City High School

National Anthem - Kylee Barnett, The Wall Gang, Michigan City

Pledge of Allegiance - Purdue North Central Veterans

Invocation – Rev. Steven Laue, director, Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy Services, IU Health LaPorte Hospital

Fallen Soldier Battle Cross - Army National Guard, LaPorte

Bagpipe - Kathleen Lang, LaPorte County Superior Court 1

Unveiling of POW/MIA Table - Rich Mrozinski, chair, Indiana VFW National Legislative Committee, LaPorte County Council

Comments - Steve Moore, president, The Wall Gang, Michigan City

Introduction of Guest of Honor - Indiana State Senator James Arnold

Guest of Honor - Joseph Kernan, former mayor of South Bend, Indiana governor, POW

Comments – Brig. Gen. David Wood

Benediction – Rev. Laue

God Bless the U.S.A. - Kylee Barnett, The Wall Gang

Wednesday, July 4

9 a.m. - Pledge of Allegiance - Shelly Hacker, Westville, mother of Marine Lance Cpl. Joshua Birchfield

National Anthem - Emily Birchfield, Westville, sister of Marine Lance Cpl. Joshua Birchfield

Invocation - Pastor Daniel Cho, Westville United Methodist Church

10 a.m. - Suzi Carpenter, Wanatah and Morgan Wolff, Guitar, Wanatah

11 a.m. - The Exchange Club Choir, Michigan City

Noon - Duneland Early Music Consort

1 p.m. - Alicia Ebaugh, Michigan City

2 p.m. - Back Porch Swing, LaPorte

3 p.m. - David Lain, Porter County Sheriff

4 p.m. - Sheryl Edwards, LaPorte and Rose Marie Dure, keyboard, LaPorte

5 p.m. - India Potter, LaPorte and Tom Bartlemay, acoustic guitar, New Buffalo

6 p.m. - Monica Schafer, Violin/Viola; Scott Schafer, Keyboard, Valparaiso

7 p.m. - Comments and reading of names of those from LaPorte County who fell in WWI, WWII and Korean War

Father Jim Rosselli, retired chaplain, Indiana Guard Reserve

Dr. Raymond Cohen, Valparaiso, WW II veteran, PNC Advisory Board, Herrick Professor Emeritus, Purdue University

Jim Stemmler, LaPorte

7:45 p.m. - Reading of Declaration of Independence - Linda Taylor, Valparaiso

8 p.m. - Pledge of Allegiance, John Tomczak, Valparaiso, Vietnam veteran

America the Beautiful – Rev. John Albers, Valparaiso, Memorial Lutheran Church, Liberty Township

Invocation - Alan Harvey, chaplain, Michigan City Police Department

Gun Salute - Don Teske, American Legion Post 100, Lake Station, Department of Defense Funeral Honor Guard

Taps - Rich Coy, American Legion Post 100, Lake Station, Department of Defense Funeral Honor Guard

 

Thursday, July 5

9 a.m. - Pledge of Allegiance - PNC Retirees

National Anthem - Sue McClain, First Church of God, LaPorte

Invocation - Pastor Jeff Zigler, First Church of God, LaPorte

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Bloodmobile

10 a.m. - Sue Rosselli, LaPorte; Tracy, Sarah, and Ben Fronk, New Carlisle

11 a.m. - Back Porch Swing, LaPorte

Noon - Cheryl Gardner, LaPorte

1 p.m. - Bartlett Trio, Valparaiso

3 p.m. - Suzi Carpenter, Wanatah and Morgan Wolff, guitar, Wanatah

4 p.m. - Duneland Flute Quartet

5 p.m. - Glen Richardson, LaPorte

6 p.m. - Pastor DeWitt Jackson and the Revival Center Choir, Michigan City

7 p.m. - Reading of names of those from LaPorte County who fell in Vietnam War, Tim Long, Army veteran of Vietnam, New Carlisle

8 p.m. - Pledge of Allegiance - Pines Village Veteran, Valparaiso

America the Beautiful - Bruce Johnson, LaPorte

Invocation - Pastor John Behler, Bethel Presbyterian Church, Union Mills

Gun Salute - American Legion Post 54, Hobart

Taps - Diane Bretchner, Valparaiso

Friday, July 6

9 a.m. - Pledge of Allegiance - The Catholic Communities of LaCrosse, Otis, Wanatah

National Anthem - Carol Welsh, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Wanatah

Invocation – Rev. Gerald Schweitzer, The Catholic Communities of LaCrosse, Otis, Wanatah

10 a.m. - VNA Hospice A Cappella Choir, Valparaiso

11 a.m. - Jon Costas, mayor, Valparaiso

Noon - Nanda Danitschek, Hoosier Star 2010, LaPorte

1 p.m. - Nic Orbovich, violin, Michigan City; Sunny Gardner Orbovich, Trinity Community Children's Choir, Michigan City

3 p.m. Ceremony Honoring Emergency Personnel

Welcome – PNC Chancellor Dr. James B. Dworkin

Pledge of Allegiance

National Anthem - Alan Harvey, chaplain, Michigan City Police Department

Invocation

Speaker - Michael J. Lindsay, deputy director, Indiana Law Enforcement Academy

Speaker – David Myers, Wheatfield Volunteer Fire Dept., PNC alumnus

Song - Dennis Floyd, Westville, captain, East Chicago Fire Department, Hoosier Star 2008 Finalist

4 p.m. - Alan Harvey, chaplain Michigan City Police Department

5 p.m. - Deena Lawley, Valparaiso

7 p.m. - Reading of names of those from LaPorte County who have fallen in the Global War on Terror and Operation Enduring Freedom

8 p.m. - Pledge of Allegiance - Marine Corps League Detachment 1348, Michiana Marines

America the Beautiful - Sue Wilson, PNC and Liberty Bible Church

Invocation - Liberty Bible Church

Taps - Dr. Roger Luekens, Valparaiso

Saturday, July 7

11 a.m. - Closing ceremony

Welcome - Paul McGuinness, PNC vice chancellor for Enrollment Management Student Services

Pledge of Allegiance - The Wall Gang, Michigan City

Comments - PNC Chancellor Dr. James B. Dworkin

Thank you - Melissa Westphal Benefiel, PNC interim director of Advancement

Invocation – Rev. John Wolf, retired Navy chaplain

Bagpipe - Steve Peterka, Michigan City

Speaker - Blair Milo, mayor, LaPorte

National Anthem - Paul Hannon, Westville

Retrieval of Colors - JROTC, Michigan City High School

Gun Salute - Howling Mad Unit, American Legion Post 54, Hobart

Taps - Charles and Andrew Steck, LaPorte

1 p.m. Event Closes