Andover’s 16th Annual Veterans Day Program brought together Andover students, alumni, and faculty in a day of reflection and gratitude for those who have served in the armed forces.
Hosted by the Office of Alumni Engagement in partnership with the Andover and the Military (AATM) Committee, the program on November 10 was divided into two parts: a meeting held by the committee in the Underwood Room and a program and dinner in Kemper Auditorium. The second part featured a keynote address by Dr. Jesse M. Ehrenfeld ’96, U.S. Navy veteran and President of the American Medical Association.
Jennifer Savino, Director of the Office of Alumni Engagement and the organizer, explained that the program has grown to include both students and alumni and involves planning keynote speakers in advance. She emphasized the uniqueness of this year’s program as it marked the first All-School Meeting (ASM) with a Veterans Day speaker in more than a decade.
“Working with our alumni committee, we extend an invitation to our annual speaker about 10 months in advance in order for our veterans to coordinate their other commitments in order to come to campus… This year, we had a Veterans Day program that included an All-School Meeting and an evening dinner and program. We have not had the opportunity to have a Veterans Day All-School Meeting for more than a dozen years,” wrote Savino in an email to The Phillipian.
Founded in 2011, AATM aims to connect Andover alumni who have served in uniform with one another as well as with the broader Andover community. Captain Luis Angel Gonzalez ’97, committee chair and Commodore of Naval Surface Group Central, described their mission to strengthen connections between veterans and introduce students to national service opportunities.
“What we are focused around is building the community of veterans and those who have served, as well as serving as a resource for the institution regarding national service opportunities here. One of the highlights of the program, besides the Veterans Day dinner that we hold annually, is the Erik Kristensen Scholarship for the summer seminar in order to bring individuals that might not otherwise be aware of the opportunities into the Andover fold so they can make decisions going on in the future about their own higher education,” said Gonzalez.
Drawing from his experience in medicine, academia, and the Navy, Ehrenfeld encouraged students to recognize that dedication to others can take countless forms. He emphasized that his time at Andover instilled the discipline and resilience that later guided his career in an interview with The Phillipian.
“I loved my time here. I’m grateful for my time here. As I’ve gone through my life and career, I recognize the path that my Andover education created for me. I learned a lot about myself outside of the classroom. That was really important. I also never at any point in my life worked as hard as I did when I was here at Andover; not in medical school, not in residency, not in the military, not when I was deployed. This was a place that really tested me and helped me understand how to manage my time,” said Ehrenfeld.
Sean Flynn ’27, an attendee, appreciated Ehrenfeld’s speech and explained how it deepened his understanding of what it means to serve. He found the address as particularly inspiring to him, noting its message that service extends beyond the battlefield and can take many forms within one’s community.
“Something I took away from his speech was that anyone can serve, no matter who, no matter what they do; it doesn’t have to be in the military, it can be anything. Anytime you do serve, it’s a commitment to the country and to our ancestors and to our families…Everything we do and any position, any job that we will ever do, it’s all in response to that,” said Flynn.
William Ogle ’26 commented that hearing from alumni veterans during the program broadened his understanding of Andover’s connection to national service. He expressed his hopes for increased student involvement in Veterans Day programming and further discourse on military service moving forward.
“I used to think of service in pretty narrow terms: it was the military, the government, volunteering. But after hearing from people who’ve served in many different capacities, I see it more as a mindset. It’s about being willing to take on a burden for others,” said Ogle. “There isn’t much dialogue surrounding military service through the Andover community. I’d love to see Veterans Day continue to grow into a broader conversation on campus instead of a one-day event. It would be great to have more student involvement, maybe panels where students and alumni can speak about what service means in different forms.”
Ehrenfeld concluded his speech by reflecting on the broader meaning of service based on his personal experiences. He urged students to consider their actions and decisions in regard to the common good.
“As you all prepare to pick up the threads of your own life’s work, I would urge you to think about service in its broadest sense. Service isn’t just what you do for a living. It’s the spirit in which you live. Find your own way to answer that call, remembering that every single decision you make, from how you treat a peer to how you approach a complex moral problem, is a reflection of your commitment to the common good,” said Ehrenfeld.
