photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World

Members of the color guard stand at attention during KU's Veterans Day ceremony on Nov. 11, 2024 at the Campanile.

The University of Kansas honored its veterans Monday at the university’s World War II memorial — The Campanile — while a world leader engaged in the deadliest European conflict since World War II looked on.

Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Nations, Sergiy Kyslytsya, was in the crowd for the ceremony. Kyslytsya did not speak as part of Monday morning’s ceremony, but is scheduled to speak on Tuesday, Nov. 12, at the Dole Institute of Politics, 2350 Petefish Drive. He told the Journal-World he is looking forward to the event’s question-and-answer portion where he can engage with Lawrence residents directly. The presentation begins at 5 p.m.

Monday’s ceremony included an address by retired U.S. Marine Ed Hudson, KU’s vice chancellor for information technology and chief information officer, a ceremonial wreath laying and numerous ceremonies and music. Hudson focused his remarks around a 1995 speech by Rear Adm. James R. Stark that highlighted the persona of various branches of the military by comparing them to popular breeds of dogs.

photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World

Ed Hudson, KU’s Vice Chancellor for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer, and retired Marine, speaks at a wreath laying ceremony in honor of US Veterans on Nov. 11, 2024, at the WWII Campanile Memorial.

“The Air Force reminded me of a French Poodle,” Hudson said, quoting Stark. “The poodle always looks perfect . . . sometimes a bit pampered and always travels first class. But don’t ever forget that the poodle was bred as a hunting dog and in a fight it’s very dangerous. The Army is kind of like a St. Bernard. It’s big and heavy and sometimes seems a bit clumsy. But it’s very powerful and has lots of stamina. So you want it for the long haul. The Navy, God bless us, is a Golden Retriever. They’re good natured and great around the house. The kids love ’em. Sometimes their hair is a bit long. . .they go wandering off for long periods of time, and they love water. Marines, I see as two breeds, Rottweilers or Dobermans, because Marines come in two varieties, big and mean or skinny and mean. They’ve got really short hair and they always go for the throat”

Hudson said he’s not sure what the former admiral would say about the Space Force or the Coast Guard but what Hudson is sure of is that a culture of sacrifice is inherent in all branches of the military. He said in his own time in the Marines, he was absent for the first three months of his son’s life leaving his wife to to navigate the sleepless nights and his son’s medical issues alone.

“A wreath-laying ceremony is a tribute to those heroes, the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice,” Hudson said.

Ed Hudson, KU’s Vice Chancellor for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer, and retired Marine, lays a wreath in honor of US Veterans on Nov. 11, 2024, at the WWII Campanile Memorial on KU campus.

He added that the wreath honored both the dead and an undying gratitude toward the living who served.

In addition to Hudson, the ceremony included various members of KU’s ROTC programs, current and retired members of the military, a drum and pipe corps, and a playing of “Taps.”

photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World

Dr. Todd Schmidt, retired US Army Colonel, left and Ukrainian Ambassador to the United Nations Sergiy Kyslytsya, right, attend a wreath laying service in honor of US Veterans on Nov. 11, 2024, at the Campanile on campus.

photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World

Lawrence residence attend KU’s wreath-laying ceremony for Veterans Day on Nov. 11, 2024.

photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World

front left to right, KU professors of military sciences, Captain Todd Copeland US Navy, Lieutenant Colonel Calvin Taetzsch US Army, Lieutenant Colonel Brett Messer US Airforce and Space Force salute during the National Anthem on Nov. 11, 2024, at the Campanile on campus.

photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World

Sharon Toulouse, retired Chief Warrant Officer 4 US Army and current assistant director of KU bands, plays Taps during KU’s wreath-laying ceremony for Veterans Day on Nov. 11, 2024.

photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World

The Kansas City, Kansas, Police Pipe & Drum Band plays Amazing Grace during KU’s wreath-laying ceremony on Nov. 11, 2024.

photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World

Two Marines stand at attention with a wreath honoring US Veterans on Monday Nov. 11, 2024 at the Campanile on KU Campus.