Eastern to honor veterans at annual Veterans Day ceremony on Nov. 11

Air Force veteran and AmeriTech Contracting CEO will deliver keynote address

Willimantic, CT (11/05/2026) — Eastern Connecticut State University will honor the men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces during its annual Veterans Day ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 9 a.m. in the Student Center. The public is welcome to attend.

This year's keynote speaker is Eastern alumnus Andrew DiSilvestro Jr. '11, CEO of AmeriTech Contracting and a senior noncommissioned officer in the U.S. Air Force. DiSilvestro will share reflections on military service, leadership, and the values that have shaped his career in both the armed forces and the construction industry.

DiSilvestro has built AmeriTech Contracting into a multimillion-dollar federal construction firm, completing more than $250 million in federal projects nationwide. Before founding AmeriTech, DiSilvestro established and sold a successful Connecticut construction company. His professional accomplishments have earned him recognition from the Hartford Business Journal's 40 Under Forty, an EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2026 finalist designation, and a BD+C 40 Under 40 honor, among other awards.

The ceremony will begin with welcoming remarks from Angela Bazin, director of wellness education outreach and veteran affairs, and Eastern student Michael Hemmings, followed by a group recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. The Eastern Chamber Singers will perform the national anthem, and Pastor Paul Doyle will offer reflections. Eastern President Karim Ismaili will deliver remarks before DiSilvestro's keynote address.

The annual ceremony brings together Eastern's campus community to recognize the service and sacrifice of U.S. veterans, including members of the University community, and to express gratitude for their contributions to the nation.

Event Details

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Eastern Connecticut State University is the state of Connecticut's public liberal arts university, serving upwards of 4,000 students annually on its Willimantic campus. A residential campus offering 41 majors and 68 minors, Eastern offers students a strong liberal arts foundation grounded in a variety of applied learning opportunities. Ranked among the top 15 public liberal arts universities in the United States by U.S. News & World Report in its 2026-27 Best Colleges ratings, Eastern has also been awarded 'Green Campus' status by the Princeton Review 15 years in a row. For more information, visit www.easternct.edu.

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