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Renowned Military Aviator Mike Durant to Speak at Embry-Riddle’s Veterans Appreciation Day

Embry-Riddle Alumnus Fought in Battle of Mogadishu in 1993

Mike Durant Daytona Beach, Fla., March 12, 2010 -- Embry-Riddle alumnus Mike Durant, retired from the U.S. Army’s 160th Special Operations Group, will be the guest speaker Tuesday, April 13, for Veterans Appreciation Day at the university’s Daytona Beach campus.

Durant is best known as the pilot of an MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter shot down during the Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia on Oct. 3, 1993, an incident in which 18 American soldiers died, including three Embry-Riddle graduates. After being attacked by a mob and fighting for his life, Durant was taken prisoner for 11 days.

He detailed his harrowing Somalian experiences in his New York Times bestselling book In the Company of Heroes, which also covers his military service in Iraq, the Persian Gulf, Panama, Korea, and Thailand. Durant’s latest book is titled The Night Stalkers: Top Secret Missions of the U.S. Army’s Special Operations Aviation Regiment. A popular motivational speaker, Durant is also the president and CEO of Pinnacle Solutions Inc., a training and simulation company based in Huntsville, Ala.

“We’ve very proud to have Mike join us for our second annual Veterans Appreciation Day as we honor all veterans and the sacrifices they’ve made for our freedom,” said Michele Berg, executive director of Alumni Relations at Embry-Riddle. “Mike’s a highly decorated veteran who has transformed his combat experiences into a powerful story of survival and inspiration.”

Hosted by Embry-Riddle President Dr. John P. Johnson and the Embry-Riddle Alumni Association, the Veterans Appreciation Day ceremony and the lunch that follows it are free and open to the public, with all local veterans invited to participate.

Ceremony participants include Embry-Riddle faculty, staff, and students; Embry-Riddle’s ROTC units (Army, Air Force, and Navy); Embry-Riddle’s Veterans Affairs Office; student, alumni, and community veterans; the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; the American Legion; local businesspeople; and political representatives.

The following events are open to the public unless noted otherwise. All events are free and will be held on the Daytona Beach campus at 600 S. Clyde Morris Blvd.

Tuesday, April 6: Showing of the movie Black Hawk Down
Willie Miller Instructional Center auditorium, 8 p.m.

Monday, April 12: Mike Durant will share his experiences, answer questions, and sign copies of his books.
Willie Miller Instructional Center auditorium, 5-7 p.m.
For Embry-Riddle students, faculty, and staff only.

Tuesday, April 13: Veterans Appreciation Day
Spruance Lawn, 10:45 a.m. to noon
Formation (Embry-Riddle ROTC Units)
Presentation of Colors (Embry-Riddle Joint Service Color Guard)
Singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” (Embry-Riddle AcaFellas)
Introduction (Dr. Richard Heist, Embry-Riddle EVP and CAO)
Opening Prayer (Melynne Rust, Embry-Riddle Chaplain)
Address (Dr. John P. Johnson, Embry-Riddle President)
Guest Speaker (Veteran and Embry-Riddle Alumnus Mike Durant)
Playing of All Military Service Songs
Missing Man Table
Playing of “Taps” (Bugle)

Also at the ceremony, the Embry-Riddle Alumni Association will present complimentary commemorative coins to all attending veterans, and the American Legion will collect unserviceable American flags. A free barbecue lunch will follow the ceremony. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony and the lunch will be held in Embry-Riddle’s ICI Center.

For more information, contact the Embry-Riddle Alumni Association at (800) 727-3728.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the world’s largest, fully accredited university specializing in aviation and aerospace, offers more than 30 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in its colleges of Arts and Sciences, Aviation, Business, and Engineering. Embry-Riddle educates students at residential campuses in Prescott, Ariz., and Daytona Beach, Fla., through the Worldwide Campus at more than 150 campuses in the United States, Europe, Canada, and the Middle East, and through online learning. For more information, visit www.embryriddle.edu.