Alumni killed in Vietnam War to be honored during dedication event

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Western Michigan University will mark the 40th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War this holiday weekend by dedicating a plaque at Kanley Chapel in honor of alumni who were killed in action during the conflict.

A ceremony at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 23, will formally mark the installation of a plaque at Kanley that notes the sacrifice of 11 servicemen who died during the war. Families of those being honored have been notified and several families plan to have members attending the brief ceremony.

The plaque being dedicated replaces one that was placed at Kanley during the Vietnam War. The old plaque noted the names and service information of just two alumni. Realizing the actual toll was higher, WMU staffer Eric McConnell, Ombudsman assistant, championed the cause of more fully recognizing the sacrifice of WMU alumni during the war. His research over the past two years completed that list, and the University moved this spring to replace the plaque with the one being dedicated on May 23.

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