The architectural rendering of Memorial Tower restoration renovations.

Rendering by Jerry M Campbell and Associates

Celebrating LSU’s Military Heritage

With a nod to the past and a salute to the future, LSU celebrated its military heritage with three major events on April 20.

The afternoon’s activities began with a ceremony marking the initial phase of the anticipated restoration and renovation of Memorial Tower, which will house the LSU Military Museum. Following the ceremony, the traditional President’s Day Parade and Change of Command Ceremony for the LSU Corps of Cadets at the LSU War Memorial on the Parade Ground. The Corps of Cadets includes the Army and Air Force ROTC units at LSU and the Naval ROTC unit at Southern University. After the parade, cadets and midshipmen were recognized at the sixth annual Joint ROTC Awards Ceremony, which was followed by a reception for honorees and their families and guests.

Top left: Cadets of the Ole War Skule President John Milazzo, LSU Military Excellence Commission Chair Laura Leach, President F. King Alexander, and past Cadets of the Ole War Skule President Richard Lipsey. Top right: Cadets of the Ole War Skule president John W. Milazzo, Jr., presents a scholarship to Air Force Cadet Zeyad Alaidroos during the Joint ROTC Awards Ceremony on April 20 as part of the President's Day events. Bottom left: Cadet Lukas Dretzka, left, and Commandant LTC Lawrence House, right, look on as MIDN/CAPT Christopher Dedo, Corps Commander, turns over command to C/Col Sarah Mai. Bottom right: LSU Corps Commander MIDN/CAPT Christopher Dedo, President Dr. F. King Alexander, Commandant and Professor of Military Science LTC Lawrence House, and Professor of Aerospace Studies Lt Col William Magee prepare to troop the lines at the President’s Day Parade.

Photos by Ray Dry and Cody Willhite/LSU Strategic Communications

Left: CDR James Thomas, executive officer for NROTC at Southern University, representing honoree CAPT Anthony Chatham; John W. Milazzo, Jr., president of Cadets of the Ole War Skule; and honoree LTC Lawrence House, Commandant and Professor of Military Science. Right: Attending the Farewell Dinner from Army ROTC were LT Todd Dixon, Cadet Lukas Dretzka, LTC Lawrence House, Cadet Frank Fontenot, LT Spencer Lewis, and Cadet Matt Kinsey.

Farewell Dinner

LSU and Cadets of the Ole War Skule paid tribute to outgoing NROTC Commander at Southern University, CAPT Anthony Chatham, who is retiring from the United States Navy, and LSU Commandant of Cadets and Professor of Military Science LTC Lawrence House, at a farewell dinner on May 2. Friends, colleagues, cadets, and midshipmen gathered at the City Club of Baton Rouge for the event to thank House and Chatham for their service to LSU and Southern and the LSU Corps of Cadets. LTC House will be assuming new duties with Cadet Command at Fort Campbell, Ky.

Photos by Ray Dry

The cadets take the Oath of Office during the Commissioning Ceremony on May 11, 2017.

20 Cadets Commissioned at Spring Ceremony

Twenty LSU graduates were recognized during the Spring Commissioning Ceremony on May 11 in the Union Theater. Air Force Col. Jeffery F. Staha was the guest speaker for the ceremony and gave the commissioning oath.

Ten LSU graduates from the Army ROTC program and six graduates from the Air Force ROTC program were commissioned. Four LSU students, who participated in Southern University’s Navy ROTC program, were also commissioned. In addition, two graduates from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette that took part in LSU’s Army ROTC program were commissioned.

Photo by Eddy Perez/LSU Strategic Communication

View event photos at the Cadets of the Ole War Skule website.

Cadets Celestial

William A. Brookshire, April 14, 2017, Pasadena, Texas

Fall 2017