UB will honor the university’s veteran and military service members with a two-part program on Nov. 10.

The eighth annual celebration will begin at 11 a.m. with a flag ceremony at Flint Loop in front of Capen Hall on the North Campus.

Following the ceremonial procession and presentation of colors by the UB Police Color Guard and student cadets of the local ROTC Color Guard, the flag will be raised to full — then half-mast — in honor of all veterans who have served. The UB Thunder of the East marching band will play the national anthem while the flag is raised.

The invocation will be offered by U.S. Air Force veteran Tommie L. Babbs, pastor at Thankful Missionary Baptist Church and a senior academic adviser with Student Advising Services.

Following the flag-raising, the celebration will move to the Buffalo Room, 10 Capen Hall, for refreshments and remarks. UB Provost Charles F. Zukoski will welcome attendees. UB student Jesse D. Robson (U.S. Marines); UB Police Officer Christopher C. Fisher (U.S. Army) and UB alumnus Major Peter A. Nowak, senior intelligence officer with the 107th Operations Group, New York Air National Guard, Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, each will reflect on what it means to be a veteran.

Robson served in the Marine Corps from January 2012 through January 2016, and started his academic studies at UB just a week after his service ended. A member of the 2nd Tank Battalion out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, he was deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in 2013 and was awarded a combat action ribbon. He is majoring in media study.

Fisher served in the Army from October 1999 to September 2002. He started his military service with E Company, 1st Battalion, 81st Armor Regiment at Fort Knox, Kentucky. His permanent duty station was at Fort Benning, Georgia, with the 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment of the 3rd Infantry Division. Following 9/11, Fisher assisted the first wave of Army Rangers to deploy from Fort Benning in September 2001, and assisted in their return that December. Upon his discharge, Fisher was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon and two Army Achievement Medals. He was a New York City police officer from 2005-13, and joined UB Police in 2013. He currently serves on UB’s Veteran Steering Committee.

In his position with the New York Air National Guard, Nowak serves as the senior uniformed intelligence officer responsible for the organization, training and equipping 55 Air National guardsmen, including intelligence personnel in the 136th Attack and 107th Operations Support Squadron. He joined the New York Air National Guard in 1996 as an airman basic-fuels systems specialist.

Nowak graduated from UB in 2001 with a BS in management information systems and a minor in economics. A combat veteran, he served in Operation Noble Eagle, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, New Dawn and Inherent Resolve. He is the recipient of numerous major service awards and decorations, including the Meritorious Service Medal and the Air Force Commendation Medal.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information and to RSVP, visit the Special Events website.