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Laboratory Director G. Peter Nanos on Monday received his official Laboratory Veterans Day T-shirt from members of the Laboratory's Veterans Committee. At left is Nicolas Walker of Protection Technology Los Alamos, while next to him is Danny Abeyta of Design Engineering (ESA-DE). Also shown are Juanita Cordova and Lorraine Dominguez, right, also of ESA-DE. The Laboratory will conduct its Veterans Day observance on Nov. 12 in the Otowi Building cafeteria and at the flag poles on the north side of the building at Technical Area 3. Photo by LeRoy N. Sanchez, Public Affairs

Lab honors country's veterans with events Nov. 12

New location for fun run/walk

The Laboratory will honor this country's veterans at the annual veterans' breakfast and flag-raising ceremony Nov. 12 in the Otowi Building and at the flag poles outside the Otowi Building at Technical Area 3.

Tuesday, Nov. 11, is Veterans Day and the Laboratory is closed.

Laboratory employee, Naval reservist and veteran Capt. David Swingle of Internal Assessments (AA-2), is the guest speaker at the breakfast, which is sponsored by the Lab's Veterans Committee and the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO).

Swingle will recount his experiences during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

There are about 1,050 University of California employees working at the Lab who are veterans in addition to several hundred subcontract personnel who also are veterans, said Veterans Committee Chairperson Allyn Pratt of the Risk Reduction and Environmental Stewardship Division (RRES) Office. Pratt noted that the theme of this year's observance is to recognize Korean War veterans and their service to the country. This year is the 50th anniversary of the armistice ending that war, he said.

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.

At 8 a.m. activities move to the front of the Otowi Building where a flag-raising ceremony will be conducted by members of the Protection Technology Los Alamos ceremonial force, the Los Alamos High School Naval Junior ROTC, and cadets of the Los Alamos chapter of the Civil Air Patrol. Pratt is the master of ceremonies at the presentation of colors.

Mary Beth Stevens of the Ombuds Program Office will sing the National Anthem and Debbi Wersonick of the Community Relations (CRO) Office will lead the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.

Rich Marquez, associate director for administration (ADA), is scheduled to make brief remarks before the playing of "Taps" by Robert Stearns of the high school Naval Junior ROTC concludes the ceremony.

"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 Pratt. "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 to yourselves."

The Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) also is sponsoring a Hispanic Medal of Honor recipients display in the Otowi Building second floor lobby. The display will be in place from Nov. 10 through 14 and honors Hispanic veterans who have earned the nation's highest military award.

Veterans Day activities conclude with a fun run/walk beginning at noon. Because of construction activities in and around the SM-31 warehouse at TA-3, the route for the fun run and walk has been changed to Omega Canyon Road in Los Alamos Canyon. The best way to get to the registration location is to turn left on West Road at the intersection by the Los Alamos Medical Center and park on the north side of Omega Canyon Road. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m., at the intersection of West and Omega Canyon roads (near the ice skating rink in Los Alamos Canyon).

The first 500 people to register and complete the 1.25-mile course will receive a Lab Veterans Day long-sleeve T-shirt.

"This is not a race," Pratt said. "We want employees to come 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, get a fun-run ticket and complete the course at your own pace."

Pratt 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 available at the registration station.

For more information, contact Pratt at 7- 4308. 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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