Good Afternoon,

I work at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis in the Office for Veterans and Military Personnel. Our campus has approximately 1,200 Veterans, current service-members and dependents of Veterans currently enrolled as degree-seeking students. We also have a Student Veterans Group with some students signed up, but few that actually participate. Our office does a lot of Veterans outreach and our Student Veterans Group is very busy with community service activities.

It is difficult to get Veterans to stay involved in our initiatives around campus and the community, but most importantly to support one another. We have been focusing a lot of effort on pulling our student Veterans together and to get involved. Every year, we celebrate Veterans during the first week of November. We would be privileged to have a U.S.S. Indianapolis survivor appear for one or two hours. We typically invite a guest of honor and I feel that this year, we really need to have someone present that our student Veterans look up to and respect. You may speak on any topic you wish: your service, experiences, life, family, etc., maybe shake some hands and sign a few autographs.

This email is not addressed to any specific survivor as I know that you all have very busy schedules and thousands of requests for appearances. I would also understand if I did not receive a response. If there is a survivor that lives near our school available, that would be terrific; as most of students that have served or will serve are very familiar with this historical event and look up to those involved.  

I hope that someone is available to attend. Our school is known for its Veteran appreciation and would be honored to have you. I would like to express my deepest gratitude for you, your service, and your sacrifice.

God Bless and Semper Fidelis

Very Respectfully,

Jonathan S.

Veteran Services Specialist

Division of Enrollment Management

IUPUI Office for Veterans & Military Personnel

420 University Blvd., CE050A

Indianapolis, IN 46202

O: 317.278.0158 | F: 317.274.6477

jwsteinb@iupui.edu

http://veterans.iupui.edu/