Stony Brook University held its annual Veterans Day ceremony on November 12 at the Sidney Gelber Auditorium, gathering students, faculty, staff, community members, and veterans to honor military service and reflect on the experiences of those connected to the armed forces.
The event was organized by the Office of Military and Veteran Student Services. It featured traditional elements such as performances by the Spirit of Stony Brook Marching Band and a color presentation by the ROTC Culper Battalion. Staff Sgt. (Ret.) Jennifer Castle ‘09 sang the national anthem.
Max Langenbacher ‘26, a Marine Corps veteran and social work student who served as master of ceremonies, spoke about his enlistment decision and initial training experience in Parris Island, South Carolina. “The second I stepped onto the yellow footprints,” he said, “I thought, ‘What am I doing here?’” He described forming lasting friendships during his service: “An emo rocker from Boston, a Cuban boxer from Jacksonville and a Bolivian devout Catholic from Queens,” he recalled. “We formed a motley crew.” He noted that these relationships remain strong today.
Marianna Savoca, associate vice president for career readiness and experiential education, delivered welcoming remarks. She discussed values learned from her family’s military background—“duty, selfless service, loyalty, honor, integrity and personal courage”—and their relevance on campus. Savoca also acknowledged staff and volunteers supporting military-affiliated students throughout the year: “respect for the sacrifices veterans and their families make.”
Nine-year-old Annabelle Rumfelt provided a perspective as a military child. Her mother Jane York is both a Navy veteran and coordinator of military and veteran student services at Stony Brook. Rumfelt listed nine things she appreciates about growing up in a military household—including support from her community—and mentioned her enjoyment in “decorating the veterans lounge every year.” She concluded by thanking “our veterans, and our military families, especially the military kids like me!”
Second Lt. Pamela Chen ‘28 shared her journey from foster care to enlisting in the armed forces while now studying medicine at Stony Brook. Chen recounted feeling invisible during childhood but found support through government services: “During times like this it was easy to feel invisible...but as all hope was lost…the foster care system was there to save us.” She added that government programs were tangible evidence that “You will not fall through the cracks; you matter.” Chen attributed her decision to enlist partly to gratitude for this support: “The deep gratitude I had for being taken care of by the foster care system…made my decision to enlist easy…” She credited Sharon Cuff—a clinical associate professor—for helping her secure admission into medical school: “I would like to contribute my success in securing a seat at Stony Brook’s medical school to her.” Reflecting further on service she said: “For me enlisting wasn’t just a career choice. It was an opportunity to be part of something greater than myself,” adding about facing challenges: “We always have a choice.”
A solemn moment came with Army veteran Vincent Mogavero ’26 presenting the POW/MIA Table tribute honoring prisoners of war or missing personnel. He explained each symbol present—such as an empty chair representing those missing—and remarked: “This table serves as a profound reminder of personal sacrifices that temper the sweetness of enduring peace.”
Stony Brook University has more than 200 military-affiliated students including veterans, active-duty members and dependents among its community.