From the President: Remembering Our Fallen Heroes

Dear CWU Community,

Every year on Memorial Day, the Central Washington University community stands together in remembrance of all United States military members who have died in service of our country.

Today, we pay tribute to all of the courageous service members who have sacrificed their lives for this great nation-many of whom had CWU ties.

The names of fallen service members with connections to Central are well known by generations of Wildcats-heroes like Douglas Munro, who died during World War II while saving the lives of 500 Marines in Guadalcanal, and Clifton Alford, who was killed on a bombing run over France in 1944. Others who deserve our recognition on Memorial Day-and every day-include Cortland Carmody, Hamilton "Ham" Montgomery, San DeWayne Francisco, and Bryan Christopher Black.

To all of our fallen heroes, we offer our most heartfelt and humble appreciation as we recognize their strength and courage in the defense of liberty and freedom for their fellow Americans. This is also a day to reach out to the veterans who served alongside these courageous individuals and to comfort the Gold Star Families and friends who have lost their loved ones in service of our country's ideals.

I encourage the entire CWU community to take a moment this Memorial Day to remember the legacies of those we have lost in armed conflicts. Their sacrifices have allowed millions of Americans to enjoy a sense of freedom that other nations around the world can only dream of.

On behalf of the entire CWU community, I would like to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation for your commitment to upholding everything we hold dear.

Sincerely,

A. James Wohlpart
President