Jeffrey B. Dodge Veterans Center Dedication
Oct 13, 2015 | J.Crane
On Saturday morning, October 17, the University of Dubuque will officially dedicate the new Jeffrey B. Dodge Veterans Center. The ceremony will begin at 9:30 a.m. on the University of Dubuque on the North Campus Quadrangle.
The ceremony will include: a welcome by Dr. Jeffrey Bullock, president of the University; a greeting and presentation of the proclamation by Mayor Roy Buol; a litany of dedication by Chaplain (Major) Michael Willer, MDiv’98, US Army; Roll call for UD Alumni on the Vietnam memorial by Command Sergeant Major Rick Ernst, US Army (ret.); taps and ceremonial firing detail; remarks by friend and classmate Royce W. Farmer; and remarks by the family of Sergeant Jeffrey B. Dodge. The ceremony will conclude with the retiring of colors, a benediction by President Bullock, and a postlude by the UD Wind Ensemble.
The Jeffrey B. Dodge Veterans Center officially opened in spring of 2015 and is located in the garden level of Blades Hall. Rick Ernst, veterans admission and assistance coordinator for the Veterans Center stated, “The Genesis of the Veteran Center was the realization of the need to address the unique challenges of student veterans by the University. The task and purpose of the Veteran Center is to capture and harness the synergy found in numerous veteran’s benefits, programs, and services into a single touch point easily accessible to our student veterans.”
The center honors Mr. Jeffrey B. Dodge. Dodge, from Yonkers New York, was a member of the Class of 1968, majoring in mathematics. While a student Jeff was actively involved with many different clubs and student organizations. As a four-year letter winner, he was captain of the tennis team his sophomore through senior years. He also was involved with the D-Club and Alpha Phi Omega during his four years on campus. He was a member of the Thirteeners Fraternity and, in his senior year, served as their Pledge Master. Jeff was the May Fete King of his class his second year and in his junior year, he served as the vice president for the Cassat Hall House Council and as Chief Magistrate of the Primary Court. He also was a member of CCAC during his time here at Dubuque.
After graduation Jeff enlisted in the Army in October 1968, completing his basic training in Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. On April 25, 1970 Sergeant Jeffrey Dodge was killed in Binh Duong, South Vietnam on his 366th day “in country”. He was 23.
The dedication ceremony is free and open to the public.
