This year’s Veterans Day events hold special importance for Americans, and especially military veterans, as the day marks the 10th Veterans Day after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Northern Kentucky University’s Veterans Advocacy Committee and NKU V.E.T.S. will feature several events Friday to honor military veterans, those who served both prior to and after the terrorist attacks ten years ago.

“The important thing about Veterans Day is remembering veterans, past, present and future,” said Doug Windford, a junior organizational leadership major and president of NKU V.E.T.S.

The events will begin at 6:30 a.m. with a synchronized National Roll Call of the 6,243 US service members who have died in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The roll call will conclude with a nationwide minute of silence at 2 p.m.

“The National Roll Call kind of sets this year apart,” said sophomore social work major and Vice President of NKU V.E.T.S. Missy Levoy. “The fact that we’re pulling out of Iraq — while it doesn’t mean that it will be the last of the casualties — hopefully means the numbers won’t go up much more.”

A flag raising and wreath laying ceremony will take place at the flagpole between Founders Hall and Steely Library from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. NKU’s gospel choir Anointed Voices will sing “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and renowned bugler and veteran Larry DuPree will play “Taps” at the ceremony.

NKU alumnus Robert Snow will present a uniform and memorabilia display from 12:15 to 1:45 p.m. A slide show with the names and faces of fallen service members will accompany the display. Refreshments will be offered, as well.

A lecture by Executive Director of the International Education Center Francois LeRoy, Ph.D., will conclude the Veterans Day events at NKU. From 2:15 to 4 p.m. in Otto Budig Theater, LeRoy will give a presentation about the history of Veterans Day and how other countries honor their veterans.