A fifth and final LSU Salutes
Closing five years of helping run LSU Salutes with the Cadets of the Ole War Skule, Raby writes on service and the long purple line.
For half a decade, through time's swift flight, Every year, with reverence, when we'd convene, I helped uphold this noble rite, To celebrate the brave, the strong, the unseen.
Each moment spent planning, organizing and executing events through the Cadets of the Ole War Skule has been a tribute to the valor and sacrifice of our veterans. This year marks the finale of five years helping run the annual LSU Salutes events.
Our distinguished speakers, from General Downer to LSU President William F. Tate IV, echoed a resonating truth: that America and LSU, even in their imperfections, embody a continuous journey of improvement toward our highest ideals. As we honored this year's Hall of Honor inductees, I was reminded of the long purple line of LSU's military history — a lineage steeped in courage and resilience.
These events are more than commemoration; they are a reaffirmation of our commitment to honor and uplift through service, in whichever way we are each called. Thank you to our veterans for your bravery and sacrifice, and thank you to the COWS and the LSU Corps of Cadets. May we continue to serve others in your honor.
