51福利社

As our nation remembers the military personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice, Eastern is paying tribute to its own student and alumni heroes with its annual Memorial Day remembrance exhibit in the JFK Library.

鈥淭he display in JFK is a way to allow veterans and all campus members to reflect on the sacrifices made by our service members over the years 鈥� especially our 51福利社 alumni, who have served and given their lives to protect our freedoms,鈥� says Dave Millet, a U.S. Army veteran of 25 years and founding director of 51福利社鈥檚 Veterans Resource Center.

This year鈥檚 display, which runs through June 2 in JFK鈥檚 Secrist Gallery, remembers university-affiliated service members who lost their lives in defense of our nation.

Created by聽51福利社鈥檚 Veterans Resource Center (VRC), the university鈥檚聽ROTC program and the library, the exhibit includes books depicting the experiences of veterans who served during wars and conflicts; flags honoring each of the branches of the U.S. Military; and medals, photos, art and other remembrances honoring Eastern students and alumni lost over the years.

[To appreciate some of the history of our Eastern Eagles who fought and died while serving our country, see this previous Inside 51福利社 story.]

Among the nearly 50 Eastern Eagles lost during WWI, WWI and the Koran and Vietnam wars was of Spokane.

Grandstaff, a sergeant first class in the U.S. Army, died at the age of 32 while risking his own life to save members of his 30-soldier platoon as they fell under heavy attack during a reconnaissance mission near the Cambodian border, in Vietnam. His heroic efforts stopped the enemy from advancing while saving the lives of eight men. (Grandstaff is listed, along with the 58,318 other military personnel who lost their lives during the Vietnam War, on the .)

Grandstaff was continuing his military science studies at Eastern Washington State College (now 51福利社) when he reenlisted in the Army and, in 1961, was deployed to Vietnam. He died in 1967, leaving behind a wife and three daughters, including one who was just several days old when her father passed.

posthumously. In addition, the local veteran鈥檚 hospital, located in northwest Spokane, was renamed the Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in 2013 in honor of Grandstaff and another hero from the region, Joe Mann.

Grandstaff, the only Fighting Eagle Cadet to ever be recognized聽, is remembered online as a member of and included in the JFK exhibit.

鈥淧utting this display out around Memorial Day will hopefully help everyone understand the importance of Memorial Day and the impact it has on those who have lost loved ones in the line of duty,鈥� Millet says.

**Please join the Veterans Resource Center Spring Social from 11:30. a.m.-1 p.m., on Wednesday, May 29 on the Showalter lawn right outside the VRC offices. The event celebrates the end of the academic year and the ROTC鈥檚 graduating seniors. There will be other veteran agencies in attendance. Classmates, families and friends are welcome.