American Veterans Traveling Tribute Schedule of Events at PNC

AVTTwallA full slate of guest speakers, performers and memorial activities have been scheduled during the American Veterans Traveling Tribute (AVTT) and Traveling Vietnam Wall visit to the Purdue University North Central campus on July 3 through 7.

The opening ceremony will begin July 3 at 7 p.m., with guest of honor Joseph Kernan, former mayor of South Bend, Indiana governor and ex-POW.

Events continue to be added to the schedule. For a complete schedule and additional information about the AVTT, visit www.pnc.edu.

Performers are still needed for Thursday, July 5 at 2 p.m. and Friday, July 6 at 2 p.m. and p.m.

Schedule of events:

Tuesday, July 3

  • 10 a.m. - American Veterans Traveling Tribute and escort departs Cabela's parking lot, Hammond
  • 11 a.m. - American Veterans Traveling Tribute and escort arrives at Purdue North Central
  • 2 p.m. - Michigan City High School Wolfpack Marching Band
  • 7 p.m. - Opening Ceremony Welcome by PNC Chancellor Dr. James B. Dworkin
    • Call to Colors - Community Veterans
    • Raising of the Flag - JROTC, Michigan City High School
    • National Anthem - Kylee Barnett, The Wall Gang, Michigan City
    • Pledge of Allegiance - Purdue North Central Veterans
    • Invocation - Rev. Steven Laue, director, Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy Services, IU Health LaPorte Hospital
    • Fallen Soldier Battle Cross - Army National Guard, LaPorte
    • Bagpipe - Kathleen Lang, LaPorte County Superior Court 1
    • Unveiling of POW/MIA Table - Rich Mrozinski, chair, Indiana VFW National Legislative Committee, LaPorte County Council
    • Comments - Steve Moore, president, The Wall Gang, Michigan City
    • Introduction of Guest of Honor - Indiana State Senator James Arnold
    • Guest of Honor - Joseph Kernan, former mayor of South Bend, Indiana governor, POW
    • Comments - Brig. Gen. David Wood
    • Benediction - Rev. Laue
    • God Bless the U.S.A. - Kylee Barnett, The Wall Gang

Wednesday, July 4

  • 9 a.m. - Pledge of Allegiance - Shelly Hacker, Westville, mother of Marine Lance Cpl. Joshua Birchfield
    • National Anthem - Emily Birchfield, Westville, sister of Marine Lance Cpl. Joshua Birchfield
    • Invocation - Pastor Daniel Cho, Westville United Methodist Church
  • 10 a.m. - Suzi Carpenter, Wanatah and Morgan Wolff, Guitar, Wanatah
  • 11 a.m. - The Exchange Club Choir, Michigan City
  • Noon - Duneland Early Music Consort
  • 1 p.m. - Alicia Ebaugh, Michigan City
  • 2 p.m. - Back Porch Swing, LaPorte
  • 3 p.m. - David Lain, Porter County Sheriff
  • 4 p.m. - Sheryl Edwards, LaPorte and Rose Marie Dure, keyboard, LaPorte
  • 5 p.m. - India Potter, LaPorte and Tom Bartlemay, acoustic guitar, New Buffalo
  • 6 p.m. - Monica Schafer, Violin/Viola; Scott Schafer, Keyboard, Valparaiso
  • 7 p.m. - Comments and reading of names of those from LaPorte County who fell in WWI, WWII and Korean War
    • Father Jim Rosselli, retired chaplain, Indiana Guard Reserve
    • Dr. Raymond Cohen, Valparaiso, WW II veteran, PNC Advisory Board, Herrick Professor Emeritus, Purdue University
    • Jim Stemmler, LaPorte
  • 7:45 p.m. - Reading of Declaration of Independence - Linda Taylor, Valparaiso
  • 8 p.m. - Pledge of Allegiance, John Tomczak, Valparaiso, Vietnam veteran
    • America the Beautiful - Rev. John Albers, Valparaiso, Memorial Lutheran Church, Liberty Township
    • Invocation - Alan Harvey, chaplain, Michigan City Police Department
    • Gun Salute - Don Teske, American Legion Post 100, Lake Station, Department of Defense Funeral Honor Guard
    • Taps - Rich Coy, American Legion Post 100, Lake Station, Department of Defense Funeral Honor Guard

Thursday, July 5

  • 9 a.m. - Pledge of Allegiance - PNC Retirees
    • National Anthem - Sue McClain, First Church of God, LaPorte
    • Invocation - Pastor Jeff Zigler, First Church of God, LaPorte
  • 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Bloodmobile
  • 10 a.m. - Sue Rosselli, LaPorte; Tracy, Sarah, and Ben Fronk, New Carlisle
  • 11 a.m. - Back Porch Swing, LaPorte
  • Noon - Cheryl Gardner, LaPorte
  • 1 p.m. - Bartlett Trio, Valparaiso
  • 3 p.m. - Suzi Carpenter, Wanatah and Morgan Wolff, guitar, Wanatah
  • 4 p.m. - Duneland Flute Quartet 5 p.m. - Glen Richardson, LaPorte
  • 6 p.m. - Pastor DeWitt Jackson and the Revival Center Choir, Michigan City
  • 7 p.m. - Reading of names of those from LaPorte County who fell in Vietnam War, Tim Long, Army veteran of Vietnam, New Carlisle
  • 8 p.m. - Pledge of Allegiance - Pines Village Veteran, Valparaiso
    • America the Beautiful - Bruce Johnson, LaPorte
    • Invocation - Pastor John Behler, Bethel Presbyterian Church, Union Mills
    • Gun Salute - American Legion Post 54, Hobart
    • Taps - Diane Bretchner, Valparaiso

Friday, July 6

  • 9 a.m. - Pledge of Allegiance - The Catholic Communities of LaCrosse, Otis, Wanatah
    • National Anthem - Carol Welsh, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Wanatah
    • Invocation - Rev. Gerald Schweitzer, The Catholic Communities of LaCrosse, Otis, Wanatah
  • 10 a.m. - VNA Hospice A Cappella Choir, Valparaiso
  • 11 a.m. - Jon Costas, mayor, Valparaiso
  • Noon - Nanda Danitschek, Hoosier Star 2010, LaPorte
  • 1 p.m. - Nic Orbovich, violin, Michigan City; Sunny Gardner Orbovich, Trinity Community Children's Choir, Michigan City
  • 3 p.m. Ceremony Honoring Emergency Personnel
    • Welcome - PNC Chancellor Dr. James B. Dworkin
    • Pledge of Allegiance
    • National Anthem - Alan Harvey, chaplain, Michigan City Police Department
    • Invocation
    • Speaker - Michael J. Lindsay, deputy director, Indiana Law Enforcement Academy
    • Speaker - David Myers, Wheatfield Volunteer Fire Dept., PNC alumnus
    • Song - Dennis Floyd, Westville, captain, East Chicago Fire Department, Hoosier Star 2008 Finalist
  • 4 p.m. - Alan Harvey, chaplain Michigan City Police Department
  • 5 p.m. - Deena Lawley, Valparaiso
  • 7 p.m. - Reading of names of those from LaPorte County who have fallen in the Global War on Terror and Operation Enduring Freedom
  • 8 p.m. - Pledge of Allegiance - Marine Corps League Detachment 1348, Michiana Marines
    • America the Beautiful - Sue Wilson, PNC and Liberty Bible Church
    • Invocation - Liberty Bible Church
    • Taps - Dr. Roger Luekens, Valparaiso


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Saturday, July 7

  • 11 a.m. - Closing ceremony
    • Welcome - Paul McGuinness, PNC vice chancellor for Enrollment Management Student Services
    • Pledge of Allegiance - The Wall Gang, Michigan City
    • Comments - PNC Chancellor Dr. James B. Dworkin
    • Thank you - Melissa Westphal Benefiel, PNC interim director of Advancement
    • Invocation - Rev. John Wolf, retired Navy chaplain
    • Bagpipe - Steve Peterka, Michigan City
    • Speaker - Blair Milo, mayor, LaPorte
    • National Anthem - Paul Hannon, Westville
    • Retrieval of Colors - JROTC, Michigan City High School
    • Gun Salute - Howling Mad Unit, American Legion Post 54, Hobart
    • Taps - Charles and Andrew Steck, LaPorte
  • 1 p.m. Event Closes