Emporia State University will welcome retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Fran Oleen, district director of the U.S. House of Representatives, to campus on Nov. 15 for Salute to Service 2025, the university’s annual recognition of U.S. military veterans and those who generously volunteer their time to ESU.
The day’s festivities begin at 9 a.m. with an open house at the Bloomer Veterans Hall of Honor and Student Veterans Center in Memorial Union in the heart of ESU’s campus. The recently renovated Veterans Center provides ESU’s student veterans with private meeting areas to relax, study and hold outreach activities.
Oleen (BS 92 — Political Science), a former deputy attorney general for the Kansas Attorney General’s Office and a longtime service member with the Kansas National Guard, will be the featured speaker at the Veterans Celebration and Flag Ceremony at 10 a.m. on the Plumb Hall lawn. This free event is open to the public. Register at emporia.link/VeteranCelebration.
At 11 a.m., the ESU Alumni Association will provide lunch for ESU military veterans and volunteers at the Live at the Hive alumni tent prior to the Hornets’ 1 p.m. football game against Fort Hays State. Registration is required for the lunch. Participants should register online at emporia.edu/salute2025.
ESU will also honor two of this year’s recipients of the University Service Citation Award, Josiah D'Albini and Joyce French, during the football game at Welch Stadium. The University Service Citation Award honors unique and significant service to the university by alumni, friends or former employees.