UPDATE: Fallen Broncos Ceremony to take place in the Bernhard Center

Due to expected inclement weather for an outdoor ceremony, this event will take place in the Bernhard Center in the President's Dining Room rather than at the Campus Flagpoles.

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Western Michigan University will honor members of the University community who have died with a Fallen Broncos Ceremony at 3 p.m. on Friday, April 8. The ceremony will be held in the Bernhard Center in the President's Dining Room.

Families of the deceased will be invited to participate as well as students and employees of WMU. In the case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved to the President’s Dining Room in the Bernhard Center. 

The Western Faculty Senate developed the Fallen Broncos program in collaboration with several University offices including the Office of the President, Office of the Provost, Office of Marketing and Communications, Board of Trustees, Western Student Association, Graduate Student Association, Office of Student Engagement, School of Music, University Libraries, Division of Intercollegiate Athletics and University Advancement. 

Discussions began several years ago and were inspired by the Texas A&M Military School Silver Taps ceremony, explained Marilyn Kritzman, president of Faculty Senate and a faculty member in the School of Communication. Taking the time to remember a student, co-worker or acquaintance who has passed away can help heal a person’s sense of loss, she says.

“As a community, we need to have a culture of saying goodbye,” Kritzman says. “The acknowledgment of the community can help those who were close to those who have passed to have closure.”

In the past, various memorials have been held on campus for deceased individuals at Western. The Fallen Broncos program unifies those efforts to remember these individuals collectively and consistently, she says. Ceremonies will be held, as needed, annually in October and April to honor students, faculty, staff and members of the Board of Trustees who pass away while active members of the University community.

“Our intention is for this program to become part of the University’s culture and a tradition,” Kritzman says.

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