Laboratory Director John Browne and Randy Mynard, left, of Environmental Geology and Risk Analysis (EES-9), look at the new veterans long-sleeve T-shirt in Browne's office. Mynard designed the T-shirt, presented to Browne on behalf of the Laboratory's Veterans Committee. The first 500 Lab personnel who register and complete the fun run/walk on Nov. 12 will receive a T-shirt. Next to Mynard is Allyn Pratt of Restoration (RRES-R). Pratt in January will succeed Mynard as chairman of the Lab's Veterans Committee. Photo by LeRoy N. Sanchez, Public Affairs

Lab honors country's veterans with events Nov. 12

White Rock native and veteran Bernard "Bun" Ryan, a Lab retiree and World War II veteran, is the guest speaker at the breakfast, which is sponsored by the Lab's Veterans Committee and the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO).

Ryan will recount his wartime experiences in the South Pacific.

Monday, Nov. 11, is Veterans Day and the Lab is closed.

There are about 1,150 University of California employees working at the Lab who are veterans in addition to several hundred subcontract personnel who also are veterans, said Randy Mynard of Environmental Geology and Risk Analysis (EES-9) and Veterans Committee chairperson.

The Lab's Veterans Day commemoration begins at 7 a.m. with a breakfast in the Otowi Building cafeteria. The no-host breakfast is open to all Lab workers, including nonveterans, Mynard said.

At 8 a.m., activities move to the front of the Badge Office, where a flag-raising ceremony and rifle salute will be conducted by members of the Protection Technology Los Alamos force. Mynard is the master of ceremonies at the presentation of colors.

Laboratory Director John Browne is scheduled to speak at the flag raising.

Missy Orr of White Rock will sing the National Anthem and Debbi Wersonick of the Community Relations (CRO) Office will lead the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.

"This Veterans Day we honor the sacrifices, perseverance and heroism of our veterans in past conflicts; in peacetime; and now, in the war on terrorism," said Mynard. "As the stars and stripes rise to wave proudly over its citizens, offer your gesture of respect and allegiance to America, and honor our freedoms, our veterans and yourselves."

The OEO also is sponsoring a veterans photo display in the Otowi Building second floor lobby. The 60-plus photo display includes photos of Lab workers and family members who served in the military. The display will hang in the lobby through Nov. 30.

Veterans Day activities conclude with a fun run/walk beginning at noon. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. at the south side of the SM-31 Chemical Warehouse at TA-3. The first 500 people who register and complete the 1.25-mile course will receive a Lab Veterans Day long-sleeve T-shirt.

"This is not a race," Mynard said. "We want employees to show their support for all of our veterans by joining in the fun run/walk. It is a great way to get some exercise as well. The key is to get there, register and get a fun-run ticket."

Mynard explained that the ticket will be punched at the halfway point on the course. The punched ticket can be exchanged for an official fun run T-shirt, which has a new logo design this year.

For more information, contact Mynard at 7-7335. Or the see the Veterans Committee Web page at http://www.lanl.gov/orgs/oeo/vets/Index.html online.

-- Steve Sandoval

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