Washburn University Honors Veterans at 39th Annual Ceremony

Veterans and community members gathered at Washburn University’s Memorial Union for the 39th annual Veterans Day ceremony, WIBW reported.

Under the banner “Unified by Service,” the event kicked off at 11:11 A.M. with a color guard presentation by Highland Park High School’s JROTC, musical performances of the national anthem and an Armed Forces medley by the Capital City Chorus, and a performance by the Standing Bear Intertribal Brotherhood of “We Fought For This Country.”

For Marine Corps veteran Randall Carnegie, Nov. 11th is also his birthday. Having completed a four-year term of service, he noted on Wednesday that it was his inaugural time attending Washburn’s event, leaving him deeply moved by the local support.

Washburn University holds 39th annual Veterans Day ceremony — KSNT News

“You get choked up,” Carnegie said. “It’s a wonderful feeling that they acknowledge the sacrifices that we and our families have made.”

Marking the occasion, U.S. Navy veteran Steven Bundy distributed commemorative pins to individuals who had served during the Vietnam War. Attendees leaving the venue were presented with orange carnations by Washburn as a tribute to former service members impacted by Agent Orange. The university added the tribute to its ceremony in 2008.

Veterans Day 2026 — Washburn University: Video Central

During the event, keynote speaker and former Army chaplain Rick Souter discussed the significance of keeping those impacted by the chemical agent in mind and honoring them.

“Agent Orange is a toxic chemical agent, and it killed and injured a lot of people,” Souter said. “I think the carnations are important because they remind us of what our troops had to survive not only during the time of battle but in the years since.”

Washburn has five veteran memorials on campus. Memorial Plaza, just south of Morgan Hall, honors all six military branches and nurses who served.