Remarks by Maura Sullivan HBS '09 when introducing General David Petraeus
Harvard's Kennedy School of Government
21 April 2009

Good afternoon—my name is Maura Sullivan and on behalf of the student veterans at Harvard Kennedy, Business, and Law Schools, thank you all for being here with us tonight as Harvard celebrates and honors its military veterans.

From the American Revolution and Civil War through the world wars, Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq and Afghanistan, many of Harvard’s finest students have served honorably and often heroically in the United States military.  This university hosted one of the first ROTC units and the business school partnered with the Army Air Corps during WWII and trained more than 6,000 servicemembers.  Over the past century, over 1200 have given their lives.  Many of their names are inscribed on the walls of Memorial Church and elsewhere on campus.  Of the seven Harvard graduates who have served as President of the United States, four of them wore a military uniform, including the very man after whom this school is named, John F. Kennedy.

Today, this proud military tradition continues across the campus.  Roughly 9% of the Kennedy School and 5% of the graduating class of the Business School each year is comprised of former service members.  Additionally, Harvard graduates roughly 27 ROTC cadets and midshipman each year to various branches of service.

So it is entirely fitting that we come together here to honor over 150 veterans who are now studying at the Kennedy, Business and Law Schools.  We first conducted such a tribute two years ago under the gracious leadership of Dean David Ellwood and of David Gergen, Director of the Center for Public Leadership.  That we are joined tonight by one of the most respected generals in our history, General David Petraeus, underscores the importance of this occasion.

I believe that in good conscience I could not leave this stage without giving voice to the many of my fellow veterans on campus who would like to see Harvard take two additional steps—reinstate ROTC and support the Yellow Ribbon Program in the new GI Bill that would make it possible for veterans to attend Harvard with full scholarships.  As you know, tensions during the Vietnam conflict led the University to sever its ties with ROTC. Harvard is much more welcoming to Veterans today than it was during the Vietnam War— my classmates have expressed nothing but interest in and respect for my service-- However, there is much work to be done.  Today’s Cadets and Midshipmen earn their diploma from Harvard, but train at MIT.

As you know, President Obama is a major supporter of public service.  At this very hour, he is signing into law the Edward M. Kennedy National Service Act that will bring the biggest expansion in national service since Franklin Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps.  In a campaign event last September at Columbia University, both Barack Obama and John McCain supported the reinstatement of ROTC on Ivy League campuses.  It is worth remembering what the Greek historian, Thucidydes once said, “The Nation that makes a great distinction between its warriors and its scholars will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting done by fools.”  We feel that Harvard graduates have a tremendous amount to offer-- that both the military and the university would be much improved by the strengthening of this relationship in these times of renewed peril.

So today, at a great hour for national service, let us celebrate Harvard’s Veterans, honor those who have paid the ultimate price, and together work toward enhancing this university’s long and proud tradition of students serving the nation and the world with honor.

At this time, I is my pleasure introduce a fellow Marine, classmate, and good friend- Seth Moulton.  Seth had the distinct honor of serving as a Special Assistant to General Petraeus in Iraq and has put forth a tremendous effort towards this evening’s celebration.  Please welcome Seth as he gives us a unique personal insight into our distinguished guest of honor.

Thank you.