ESU to Host Veterans Day Celebration

picture of ROTC cadets on veterans day celebration

Posted by: Elizabeth Richardson on October 29, 2019, No Comments

East Stroudsburg University will host its 11th annual Veterans Day Celebration Tuesday, November 12 at 2 p.m. to recognize local veterans, servicemen and servicewomen in all branches of the armed services. The celebration will be in Stroud Hall, Room 117. In addition, there will be a military observance adjacent to the “Julia” statue at the front campus circle. Julia was originally acquired by East Stroudsburg State Normal School alumni in 1919 to commemorate and honor the school’s servicemen and women who had died in World War I.

The keynote speaker for this year’s event is Lieutenant General Richard Zilmer (Ret), a United States Marine Corps Veteran. During his military career, LtGen Zilmer served in a variety of operational and staff assignments throughout the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and Japan. His operational commands consisted of Commanding Officer First Battalion, First Marines, Commanding Officer 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Commanding General Multinational Forces-West (Anbar Province, Iraq) and Commanding General III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan. Zilmer completed combat tours during Lebanon Peacekeeping Operations, Operation Desert Storm, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

LtGen Zilmer’s staff assignments included Headquarters Marine Corps tours in Washington, D.C.; Deputy J-3 for Operations at the United States European Command; Presidential Support duties at Camp David, Md.; and Senior US Marine Representative to the Royal Marines in Poole, England. His final assignment was Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Headquarters Marine Corps.

LtGen Zilmer retired from active duty in 2011 following 36 years of commissioned service. He presently sits on the CNA Military Advisory Board, and serves as a Highly Qualified Employee and Senior Mentor for the US Army. He is an independent consultant and past board member with the Hershey Trust Company and Milton Hershey School Board of Managers where he served as Vice Chairman.

A native of Reading, Pa., LtGen Zilmer presently resides with his wife Lorie and youngest son in the Pocono Mountains. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Kutztown University in 1974 and holds a Master of Arts in national security and strategic studies from the College of Naval Warfare. He has also studied at the Penn State Executive Programs and the Kenan-Flagler School of Business at the University of North Carolina.

The Veterans Day Celebration program will also include the armed forces medley, a wreath laying by ESU Provost Joanne Z. Bruno, J.D. and Lieutenant General Zilmer, the playing of taps and a three volley salute by American Legion Post 927 Honor Guard, and bagpipes by Celtic United Pipes and Drums.

A reception will be held following the program in the foyer of Zimbar-Liljenstein Hall.

For more information, contact June Pepe in the Student Enrollment Center at (570) 422-2812 or at veterans@esu.edu.