Former U.S. Army Captain Joseph P. Connolly ā85, who received numerous awards during his service, will be the guest speaker at the 19th Annual ĀŅĀ׊”æÉ°® Veterans Remembrance Mass and Ceremony on Monday, November 11.
Preceding his address, Jesuit Community member John C.Ā Monahan, S.J., also a veteran, will preside and preach at a 9:30 a.m. Mass in St. Maryās Chapel. Concelebrants from the Jesuit Community are veterans Robert L. Keane, S.J., ā71, MDiv ā78, rector, and Brett B. McLaughlin, S.J.
The following ceremony begins at 11 a.m. at the ĀŅĀ׊”æÉ°® Veterans Memorial on Burns Library Lawn. The event honors all alumni who have served, or are currently serving, in the armed forces.
ĀŅĀ׊”æÉ°® ROTC program students will once again emcee the ceremony and read aloud the names of ĀŅĀ׊”æÉ°® graduates who died during the nationās military conflicts. ĀŅĀ׊”æÉ°® students, faculty, staff, and alumni will serve as representatives of those who have died in wars, and alumni veterans will receive commemorative pins. Fr. Keane will lead the closing prayer at the ceremony.
Joseph P. Connolly
Connolly, chief operating officer at Afterburner, has served as CEO of several businesses, and is involved in nonprofit organizations including Literacy at the Well, a program which promotes literacy in South Sudan, for which he serves on the board of directors. He lends his experience to businesses across the globe.
During his service in the United States Army, Connolly was a Ranger and airborne qualified. In his final assignment, he was a company commander of a nuclear surety unit based in Germany. The awards he won during his service include both the Leadership Award and Honor Graduate Award upon completion of his Officer Basic Course. Ā
He earned a bachelorās degree in accounting from ĀŅĀ׊”æÉ°®, and was a Distinguished Military Graduate. He went on to earn an MBA from the University of Northern Colorado, and completed the executive program at Emory Universityās Goizueta Business School.
Ā āThe Alumni Association is honored to have Joe Connolly with us for the annual ĀŅĀ׊”æÉ°® Veterans Remembrance Mass and Ceremony,ā said Associate Vice President for Alumni Relations Leah DeCosta. āJoe will be representing the entire Connolly family as his younger brother, Major David Connolly, is the last name that is etched onto the Veterans Memorial Wall. David ('94) was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2005 and family members have regularly attended the Veterans Day services in memory of David. We look forward to welcoming Joe back to campus for this event.
āThroughout his career, he has exemplified the ĀŅĀ׊”æÉ°® mission of being men and women for others, and we are grateful that our veterans and guests will have the opportunity to engage with him,ā she added. Ā
The eventāwhich will be followed by a noon luncheon reception in Gasson 100āis open to all members of the ĀŅĀ׊”æÉ°® community. A program of the ĀŅĀ׊”æÉ°® Alumni Association, Veterans Alumni Network, and Army ROTC Program, the event is supported by the Executive Vice Presidentās Office.
Advance registration is encouraged, but not required, here.
University Communications | November 2019