Spring Break
Remarks of Richard Greenawalt: Chairman, Drexel University Board of Trustees at the Armory Signing Ceremony
Issue date: 4/18/08 Section: Ed-Op
Thank you General Wright, thank you President Papadakis, and thank you Mario the Magnificent.
This is a wonderful day for me, personally. I went to Drexel, I am proud to say, though it was a bit longer ago than I sometimes care to remember. Many things have changed since my days as an undergraduate, but one thing has not: this building.
This armory was then, and remains today, a symbol of strength, of commitment, and of permanence. It is an excellent symbol for Drexel.
Headquartered in this fine old building is the 1st Regimental Veterans Corps - The Dandy First - formed in Pennsylvania in 1747; and it is here you will find the Washington Grays Artillery Corps, formed in Pennsylvania in 1777. These troops fought in the Revolutionary War, and they have borne their country's colors with honor ever since.
Today, this building is the home of Task Force Dragon - the ROTC program of Drexel and many other area universities. The men and women in Task Force Dragon are our University's best, combining academics with physical conditioning, discipline with leadership. We are proud of our ROTC program, and thank Colonel Flood, professor of military science at Drexel, for his leadership.
And stationed here at this armory today are members of the Pennsylvania National Guard - five full-time commands - awaiting orders to serve our country, wherever those orders might send them, including places halfway around the globe where they will live under great threat to their personal safety as they protect ours. You have our thanks, and we will keep you in our prayers.
The ceremony today marks a transition. It recognizes that an armory, located in the heart of a thriving university campus, in congested, narrow streets, with food trucks all around, is no longer the best place to muster troops or military vehicles. It anticipates a new importance, becoming a place where the students of Drexel University, its alumni, friends and the community can come together to enjoy basketball, national speakers and university events, in a bright, lively, state-of-the-art arena and convocation center befitting the world-class comprehensive university that Drexel intends to be.
But as we take responsibility for this fine old building and build it into Drexel's great future, we pledge to preserve its traditions of glory and its steadfast commitment to excellence. General Wright, members of the National Guard, we thank you for your confidence in us. We will give this building the honor it deserves.
This is a wonderful day for me, personally. I went to Drexel, I am proud to say, though it was a bit longer ago than I sometimes care to remember. Many things have changed since my days as an undergraduate, but one thing has not: this building.
This armory was then, and remains today, a symbol of strength, of commitment, and of permanence. It is an excellent symbol for Drexel.
Headquartered in this fine old building is the 1st Regimental Veterans Corps - The Dandy First - formed in Pennsylvania in 1747; and it is here you will find the Washington Grays Artillery Corps, formed in Pennsylvania in 1777. These troops fought in the Revolutionary War, and they have borne their country's colors with honor ever since.
Today, this building is the home of Task Force Dragon - the ROTC program of Drexel and many other area universities. The men and women in Task Force Dragon are our University's best, combining academics with physical conditioning, discipline with leadership. We are proud of our ROTC program, and thank Colonel Flood, professor of military science at Drexel, for his leadership.
And stationed here at this armory today are members of the Pennsylvania National Guard - five full-time commands - awaiting orders to serve our country, wherever those orders might send them, including places halfway around the globe where they will live under great threat to their personal safety as they protect ours. You have our thanks, and we will keep you in our prayers.
The ceremony today marks a transition. It recognizes that an armory, located in the heart of a thriving university campus, in congested, narrow streets, with food trucks all around, is no longer the best place to muster troops or military vehicles. It anticipates a new importance, becoming a place where the students of Drexel University, its alumni, friends and the community can come together to enjoy basketball, national speakers and university events, in a bright, lively, state-of-the-art arena and convocation center befitting the world-class comprehensive university that Drexel intends to be.
But as we take responsibility for this fine old building and build it into Drexel's great future, we pledge to preserve its traditions of glory and its steadfast commitment to excellence. General Wright, members of the National Guard, we thank you for your confidence in us. We will give this building the honor it deserves.
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