Lehigh treats its military veterans to lunch

On November 11, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, World War I came to a close as the government of Germany signed an armistice with the United States, Great Britain, France and other Allied nations.

One year later, President Woodrow Wilson declared Nov. 11 a national holiday, Armistice Day, to honor veterans of World War I.

In 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower signed a bill extending the holiday to honor all military veterans. Congress later amended the new law and changed the holiday’s name to Veterans Day.

Lehigh marked Veterans Day 2011 on Friday, Nov. 11, by treating active, reserve and retired members of the military services to lunch.

Forty-six members of the U.S. Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard attended the event in the University Center. They spent their time together sharing stories and reconnecting.

The luncheon was organized by Frank Gunter, associate professor of economics and Retired Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.

“Whether people have served for six weeks or 35 years,” said Gunter, “it is important that they be honored for their contributions.”