Alfred University hosts sixth annual Veterans Day dinner

James Overbye (left) and his sister, Madeline, write letters to a veteran. As part of Tuesday's Veterans Day dinner at Alfred University, attendees were encouraged to write letters of support and appreciation to veterans and active-duty service men and women. James and Madeline are the children of Jonathan and Amelia Overbye of Alfred Station; Jonathan served 10 years in the U.S. Air Force.

Alfred University hosted its annual Veterans Day dinner Tuesday evening, Nov. 11, honoring veterans and military-affiliated students, staff, faculty from the Alfred University campus and local communities.

The sixth annual event, held in the Knight Club, Powell Campus Center, was organized by Angie Taylor, chief inclusivity officer, and Andrew Burlingame '22, an Alfred University graduate and the military and academic coach in the University's Bernstein Center for Advising.

"I am honored to take part in this program tonight," said Taylor. "We come here to honor the courage, sacrifice, and service of our nation's veterans."

Mark Zupan, Alfred University president, make comments during the university's sixth annual Veterans Day dinner Tuesday evening.

More than 30 people, including veterans from the local community and the Alfred University staff, attended the dinner. Mark Zupan, Alfred University president, thanked all veterans and active-duty men and women for their service. "We are eternally beholden to those in our community who have served," he said.

Among those in attendance were the Alfred Station family of Jonathan Overbye, his wife, Amelia, and their two children: daughter Madeline and son James. Jonathan Overbye is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. Madeline, 8, stood up and made comments acknowledging the members of her family who served: great-grandfather, Vern Overbye, who served four years in the Air Force; grandfather, James Overbye, who served nearly 30 years in the U.S. Army; and her father, who served 10 years in the Air Force.

Following the dinner, those in attendance took time to write letters of support and appreciation to veterans and active-duty service men and women. The university partnered with Operation Shoebox, a non-profit organization that sends care packages to U.S. troops overseas. Letters written at Tuesday's dinner anonymously to service men and women are included in Operation Shoebox-distributed packages.

Nicole Foster (left), owner of N'Dulge bakery in Alfred, and Andrew Burlingame '22, military and academic coach in Alfred University's Bernstein Center for Advising, hold a cake Foster baked specially for the university-hosted Veterans Day dinner Tuesday evening.

Attendees enjoyed a special treat, as Nicole Foster, owner of N'Dulge bakery in Alfred, provided a cake for dessert. The military-themed cake included words of appreciation to veterans and service members.