IC Honors Veterans...and One Special Dad

By Charles McKenzie, November 10, 2023

Twentieth anniversary of annual Veterans Day Celebration held in Ford Hall.

For 20 years, Ithaca College has held an annual celebration in honor of Veterans Day.

(Photos by Charles McKenzie)

U.S. Army veteran Lawrence Krauss instilled in his five children a devotion to their country and a respect for veterans. One son joined the Army himself, and a daughter, Karena, worked hard to make him proud in other ways.

Karena Krauss, an accounts payable specialist at IC, has chaired the college’s Veterans Day Celebration Committee for the last five years.

But this year felt very different.

With this being the 20th anniversary of IC’s Veterans Day celebration, Krauss was excited to learn that it would be livestreamed from Ford Hall, allowing her father and brother to watch from out of state.

“We believe that we are a family at Ithaca College, and if a member of your family is serving or especially if they are in harm’s way, we want you to know that we support you and them.”

President La Jerne Terry Cornish

Sadly, less than three weeks before the celebration, her father passed away unexpectedly.

She was resolute that the event continue, especially as a final tribute to her father, who served in Munich, Germany, during the Vietnam War and later joined the Reserve. Thanks to fellow committee members Meghan Fouracre ’02 and Jessica Hsu (U.S. Air Force veteran), they completed their mission. The event not only went ahead but also had its largest attendance in recent years, not even including those watching the livestream.

Veterans Day Celebration Committee chair Karena Krauss with her father Lawrence, who passed away in October. (Photo submitted)

The featured guest speaker was Joey Diana Gates, a sergeant in the Army who served as a linguist in Korea working with North Korean defectors and refugees. Today, she is an environmentally focused entrepreneur in Ithaca and also coordinates area Earth Day celebrations.

The celebration was emceed by Art Ostrander, dean emeritus of the School of Music. He came to the college after serving as a first lieutenant in the Army from 1964 to 1966.

“Ithaca College is always honored to welcome veterans to our staff and faculty,” said President La Jerne Terry Cornish at the event. “The leadership and perspectives they bring to our students and workplace are invaluable.”

She also honored the students IC has had over the years who work on their degrees while still in the military, having to balance their education and service requirements. Some have even had to take leaves of absence because they were called to serve.

“Our mission becomes to support theirs, as we work to provide them with the support and flexibility they need to complete their education.”

“[The celebration] was so beautiful,” Krauss said. “My father would have loved it. He would have been very proud of it.”

Cornish also acknowledged the sacrifices that military families make. In her own family, her father served in the Army during the Korean War, and her brother later joined the Army also. Too often, she said, the sacrifices that families have to make while their loved ones are serving go unnoticed.

“We believe that we are a family at Ithaca College, and if a member of your family is serving or especially if they are in harm’s way, we want you to know that we support you and them.”

Sgt. Joey Diana Gates (U.S. Army) being thanked by Veterans Day Celebration Committee Member Meghan Fouracre. (right).

(Photo by Charles McKenzie)

During the concert portion of the program, IC groups the Treble Chorale, Trombone Troupe, and Midnight Brass performed patriotic favorites.

Though she loved all of them, Krauss was particularly excited about a new performance this year.

She had always wanted to have a bagpiper play at the annual event. Her father had taught himself violin and encouraged her to take up an instrument too. She chose the bagpipes but the instrument was more difficult than she realized.

Luckily for her, this year a student volunteered. Paul Narkewich ’26 stepped to the stage by himself and played an emotional solo version of Amazing Grace.

“It was so beautiful,” Krauss said. “My father would have loved it. He would have been very proud of it.”

A final salute from a proud daughter to her favorite veteran.