The University may not be called the Louisiana State Seminary of Learning and Military Academy anymore, but that doesn’t mean the school’s strong military ties have been severed.
The University’s ROTC and military history were honored Thursday afternoon at the annual Chancellor’s Day Parade at the LSU War Memorial on the Parade Ground. Family members, local veterans and community members were in attendance to show their support.
Chants, calls to order and the sounds of marching in unison rang out from the heart of campus. The Navy, Army and Air Force songs permeated from speakers beside the War Memorial.
Three ROTC branches, representing the Navy, Army and Air Force, marched from the War Memorial to the edge of the Parade Ground as they presented flags and rifles.
Jessica Pham, cadet and master of ceremonies, said the University’s military history is
inseparable from the history of the school.
Standing under the massive waving American flag on the War Memorial, Chancellor Michael Martin discussed the University’s historical military roots and reaffirmed the continued military presence at LSU.
In his address, Martin thanked all who had served in the military and all who planned to serve. He called Chancellor’s Day “a day to be proud.”
Martin said President Abraham Lincoln designated the University as a land-grant institution in 1862. Southern University was also designated, and Martin said this makes Louisiana the only state to have two universities designated as land-grant institutions.
Martin said Chancellor’s Day emphasizes the bond between LSU and Southern.
He said he enjoys hosting Chancellor’s Day because it offers him the opportunity to recognize the ROTC and thank those who have served the nation.
“It’s a day to celebrate the tradition and show that our military commitment is among the great things here at LSU,” he said.
Lieutenant Joshua Johnson, a University alumnus and former cadet, attended the Chancellor’s Day Parade and said the only time he missed the celebration was when he was serving in Afghanistan.
Johnson said the Chancellor’s Day Parade is a proud moment for cadets, as it offers them recognition and visibility.
Johnson said he was surprised serving as an ROTC cadet prepared him well for his service
in Afghanistan.
“I always found myself going back to the lessons I learned in the classroom,” he said.
After the parade, ROTC and audience members shuffled from the Parade Ground to the Student Union Theater for an awards ceremony. The awards recognized “excellence in both military and academic performance,” according to a University news release.
 
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Contact Emily Herrington at [email protected]