Published: 11/07/2019
Gannon Proudly Hosts Veterans Day Celebration
The cadre and cadets of the “Pride of PA” Army ROTC Battalion at Gannon University will honor those who have served and those who continue to protect our freedoms with a Veterans Day Celebration on Friday, Nov. 8.
The celebration will begin at 6 a.m. with a 3K run/walk that starts at Harbor View Miniature Golf, 36 State St. The event is free and open to the public.
A Reveille Ceremony will follow at 7:30 a.m. in 219 Waldron Campus Center, 124 W. Seventh St. Retired Erie Country Judge and Maj. Gen. Michael E. Dunlavey will be the guest speaker at the event.
The “Reveille,” or bugle call, will be performed during the flag raising and lowering by Gannon’s Father Shawn Clerkin, director of liberal studies and co-director and associate professor of the School of Communication and the Arts.
In addition, a wreath will be laid in honor of military members who are currently serving or have given their lives in service to their country, including six officers commissioned through Gannon’s ROTC program.
This event is also free and open to the public.
A Veterans Breakfast for invited guests will begin at 8 a.m. in the Yehl Ballroom. The Gannon University Chorus will commence the event with a performance of the National Anthem. Afterward, Gannon University President Keith Taylor, Ph.D. will speak to the importance of veterans to Gannon University, our community and our nation.
A Fallen Soldiers Table will be set up at the breakfast to honor our fallen, missing or imprisoned military service members.
The day’s events will conclude with the retiring of the colors by members of the Gannon ROTC program.
About Maj. Gen. Michael E. Dunlavey:
Dunlavey graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1967. He entered active duty in the Army, serving in Germany and Vietnam. He joined the USAR during law school and commanded soldiers at multiple levels. He was selected as DCG of the Army's Intelligence and Security Command, and the Army's Assistant Deputy CoS for Intelligence. After promotion to major general, he was chosen by NSA Director Mike Hayden to be his assistant at NSA Headquarters. After Sept. 11, 2001, Dunlavey was recalled to active duty and was personally chosen by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld in 2002 to create an interrogation system at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He concluded his military career in April of 2004.
Dunlavey received his J.D. from the State University of New York in Buffalo and established a private practice in Erie, Pa. He later served as assistant district attorney and assistant public defender for Erie County. He was elected as a judge of the PA Court of Common Pleas for the Sixth Judicial District in November 1999. He authorized a number of precedent-setting opinions during his tenure as a strong advocate of the U.S. and Pennsylvania Constitution. He was also highly instrumental in the establishment of a Veterans Court for Erie County. He retired from the bench in August 2012.
Dunlavey remains active in retirement as a consulting expert in cybersecurity and belongs to a number of organizations supporting veterans. He has received many distinguished military career and civilian awards. He humbly considers his greatest accomplishment and reward is being blessed by four wonderful children, four grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.