Sandia celebrated the 100th anniversary of Veteran’s Day in the Steve Schiff Auditorium on Nov. 7. President Woodrow Wilson first enacted the day honoring veterans one year after the Armistice ending World War One, designating it as a day, “filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America.”

Hundreds of Sandia veterans and their families were honored at the annual event, which included a presentation of commemorative coins to Sandia’s veterans and active service members. One in 12 Sandians is a veteran. The guest speaker for this year’s event was David “D.J.” Johnson, Ret. Col. USAF and vice president of the Federal Solutions Business Enterprise for Honeywell International, Inc. An information fair held in the lobby before and after the ceremony featured organizations that support active service members, veterans and their families. All service members were recognized during the Sandia Singers’ performance of service songs for each branch of the military.