University Park, Pa. -- Although exact numbers are not known, it's estimated that hundreds of Penn State students or alumni are currently serving active tours of duty across the globe as part of the nation's armed forces. Recently, the University received word from one such alumnus who is serving in Iraq and credits his love for Penn State as a source of hope and a reminder of home.
Recently, 1st Lt. Raymond P. Zavalla contacted the University to share a photo of himself proudly displaying a Penn State banner in front of his base operations sign at Al Taqaddum, Iraq. A self-proclaimed "proud alumnus of Penn State," Zavalla graduated in 2002 through Penn State's ROTC program as a marine second lieutenant, with a degree in speech communications. The Hazlet, N.J., native has been stationed at Camp Taqaddum since August 2004 and is planning to visit the University Park campus this spring, when he hopes to return home.
"I just wanted to show (the University) and our fellow Penn State alumni that we are represented well out here," Zavalla said in reference to the photo he sent.
Zavalla said he is aware of other Penn State alumni stationed near him, but it's hard to know who his fellow alums are since the personnel on base are so scattered. In the Marine Corps, though, the Penn State alumni stick together and are a well-known group among the other marines, Zavalla said.
Reminiscing about Penn State provides a bit of reprieve and an opportunity to reflect on simpler times for Zavalla, who enthusiastically rooted for his Nittany Lions while watching a Penn State football game with about a hundred other soldiers in their dining facility months ago.
"After getting mortars and rockets fired at you and having no days off since August, it warmed my heart to see Beaver Stadium and the fans," said Zavalla.
Recently, Zavalla was touched and excited by a package he received from the Alexandria, Va., chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association. "I am not even a member there, and they sent me a lot of great stuff," he said.
The University Registrar's Office reports that 17 Penn State students have left school for active duty so far this semester. Fifty-two students were activated during the fall 2004 semester, in addition to 14 in the summer 2004 semester and 43 in the spring 2004 semester. These Penn Staters are added to the 340 activations that occurred from fall 2001 to fall 2003.
Other Penn Staters serving in the military are invited to submit photographs, brief remarks about their experiences and information about where they are stationed to PennStateLive@psu.edu
For more information about Penn State's ROTC program, visit http://www.psu.edu/oue/rotc.htm