Local Vets Honored in University Celebration

Published: November 08, 2012 | Read Time: 3 minutes

In a long-standing tradition shared by members of the community and Southern Utah University, veterans from across the region will be honored Monday, November 12, in a special event to express support and appreciation for their valiant service to our nation.

The 25^th annual SUU Veterans Day Observance Program will begin at 11 a.m. in the Randall Jones Theatre. The public is encouraged to attend the event in honor of Cedar City’s veterans.

This year, while honoring the service of all veterans, three local vets will be individually recognized for their service—Kent Myers, Bret Allred and Kaipo Kasiscke—in a program conducted by SUU School of Business Dean Carl Templin, a retired lieutenant colonel of the U.S. Air Force.

The keynote speaker at this year’s celebration will be Daniel Roberts, who served as battalion commander of the 2nd Battalion, 222nd Field Artillery in Cedar City. Roberts has been named an outstanding soldier of the year, received Army meritorious service medals for his deployments in Japan and Korea, and has even received a Congressional Legion of Merit medal. Now the owner of Coldwell Banker in Cedar City, Roberts is also the southern Utah director of the Utah Division of Community and Economic Development, was the state director for the 50th year commemoration of the Korean War and has been named Cedar City citizen of the year, just to name a few of his contributions and accomplishments. His perspective of service, sacrifice and all that comes with true patriotism should prove both insightful and inspirational.

A formal Presentation of Colors and Presenting of Arms by SUU’s ROTC is an audience favorite year after year. This year, as an added gesture of appreciation, ROTC officers will also usher the event.

Truly a community-wide effort, the Cedar High Band will perform, as will Cedar City’s Master Singers. Additionally fifth grade students from across Iron County School District have participated in a poster contest to further honor the veterans, and their posters will be on display Monday.

About the Honorees

Community honoree, Lt. Col. Kent Myers, was called to active duty in 1954 to Suwon, Korea as a wing information officer. He redeployed following the Korean War to Itazuke, Japan Air Force Base. And until his retirement in 1981, Myers was a liaison for U.S. Air Force Academy in Southern Utah. Recognized for counsel with the Japanese government officials and media reps, Myers has also been recognized for his writing of the history of the 8th fighter-bomber wing, and selected as an all-star for the Air Force football team.

Command Sgt. Maj. Bret Allred is currently a police office for the Iron County Sheriff’s Office. Deployed three times, twice to Iraq, Allred was awarded the Bronze Star, Iraqi Campaign Medal, dozens of service ribbons, and while in active service was responsible for more than 400 soldiers in the active reserve. Allred is an SUU graduate with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

Staff Sgt. Kaipo Kasiscke has been deployed in 2011 to Iraq with the Triple Deuce, the 2nd battalion 222nd Field Artillery, 1st Brigade Combat team. Kasiscke has also been deployed with the Army National Guard and then again to Iraq with his battalion in Hawaii. This last December he was admitted to the Special Forces Selection. Kasiscke is currently a student at SUU.

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