Veterans Day observance to be held in chapel

A Veterans Day observance is planned for 8:30 to 9 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 11, in the Princeton University Chapel.

Capt. Philip Roos, of the U.S. Navy, will deliver remarks. The program also will include an invocation by Rev. Dr. Alison Boden, the University's dean of religious life and of the chapel; the presentation of the colors by the Princeton University Army ROTC "Tiger" Battalion cadets; and the singing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" and "America the Beautiful" by Kenneth Grayson, foreman in the University electric shop. Dr. Mary Rorro, psychiatrist for the Department of Veterans Affairs, will play a viola solo, and senior Emily Bobrick, a member of the Princeton University Orchestra, will play taps. The Rev. Deborah Blanks, associate dean of religious life and of the chapel, will offer the benediction.

The University and local communities are invited to attend the event, which is sponsored by the Offices of the Vice President for Campus Life, Religious Life, Human Resources, and Community and Regional Affairs; the Princeton University Army ROTC; and Alumni and Friends of Princeton University ROTC.

Roos enlisted in the United States Navy in 1981, after immigrating from the Netherlands and becoming a U.S. citizen. He was selected to an officer accession program, attended the University of San Diego, and through the NROTC program was commissioned an ensign in 1988. Among his sea assignments, Roos has served as commanding officer of the USS Champion, commanding officer of the USS Sampson, and assistant chief of staff for operations for Carrier Strike Group Seven, embarked in the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Ashore, Roos has served as a combat systems instructor at Navy's Surface Warfare Officer's School, the naval operations officer at U.S. Pacific Command, and most recently served as commanding officer of the Naval ROTC Unit at University of California-Berkeley. He assumed command at NROTCU Rutgers in July 2012. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in biology from the University of San Diego and a Master of Arts in national security affairs and strategic studies from the Naval War College.