Gannon to Host Tribute to Area Veterans on Nov. 8
Posted: October 29, 2012Gannon University on Thursday, Nov. 8 will honor those who honored their country through their service in America’s armed forces.
Gannon will host a “salute to veterans” at 3 p.m. at the West Eighth Street entrance to A.J.’s Way, located just east of the Erie Technology Incubator between Peach and Sassafras streets. The public is welcome to attend the event, which is being held in observance of Veterans Day.
Gannon President Keith Taylor, Ph.D., will begin the ceremony with welcoming remarks. In addition, the names of Gannon military members who gave their lives in service to their country will be read.
Dr. Jay Badams, superintendent of the Erie School District, will be the event’s guest speaker. Prior to embarking on a career in education, Badams served his country as a medic with the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division.
The ceremony also will include a 21-gun salute by the Marine Corps Reserve. A reception will follow.
The rain/weather location will be the Yehl Ballroom of Gannon’s Waldron Campus Center, 124 West Seventh St.
The event is being organized by Ronald K. Swift, LTC (Ret), USAR, Gannon University’s veteran financial aid and enrollment counselor. Swift works with veterans interested in attending Gannon and helps them apply the benefits they are eligible for as a result of their service.
More about Dr. Jay Badams
Badams served as superintendent of the Wattsburg Area School District from September, 2007 until January, 2009. Prior to being named superintendent of the Erie School District in June, 2010, he was the district’s assistant superintendent.
During his years of service with the Erie School District, Badams also has served as a special education teacher, as an assessment specialist, as associate dean of Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy, as a curriculum coordinator at the elementary and secondary levels, and as director of high schools.
Badams has been selected, by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, as a featured presenter at several Governor’s Institutes on Data-Driven Decision Making. He recently served on the assessment work group of the Governor’s Commission for College and Career Success.
A native of Rochester, N.Y., Badams earned a bachelor’s degree from Allegheny College, a master of education degree and a superintendent’s letter from Edinboro University, and a doctoral degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
He and his wife, Tiffany, live in Erie with their children, Jamie, Matt, Emma, and Jack.