Josh Imhof | features editor

As dozens of veterans, their families and supporters crammed into the Duquesne Union Ballroom, an anticipatory silence hung in the air.

The people were standing, the veterans were saluting, but no one was singing the national anthem — the performer never arrived.

Suddenly, University Chaplain Bill Christy, a veteran himself, began to sing from the wings. Then another voice joined in, then another, until hundreds spontaneously performed at once.

“It was a really joyous moment to see everybody realize, ‘Hey, we’re gonna keep the show going, and we’re gonna make this happen,’” said Chris Boissonnault, director of the Office for Military and Veteran Students.

On Tuesday, Duquesne hosted the 27th annual Veterans Leadership Program Veterans Day Breakfast Celebration. The event drew hundreds of guests, including Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Fox Chapel, Pittsburgh Mayor-elect Corey O’Connor and former Steeler Rocky Bleier.

Ben Stahl, chief executive officer of the Veterans Leadership Program, first joined the organization in 2013 and has been coming to the breakfast ever since. He said it bridges the gap between soldiers and civilians.

“It not only brings veterans together, but it brings the community together with veterans,” Stahl said.

Stahl served as a minesweeper electrician in Iraq and Bahrain before returning to the United States. Like many other soldiers, he said he had trouble finding a purpose post-service.

“When you’re in the military, your entire day is structured for you. You have people that are depending on you, and you have to be somewhere at a certain time,” Stahl said. “When you separate from the service all of a sudden, there’s no one knocking on your door to say, ‘Hey, where are you at?’”

Others shared similar thoughts.

Matthew Hannon, a Marine Corps veteran, also served in the Middle East.

“The transition was terrible for me. I didn’t know the resources that were available for me,” Hannon said.

To get back on their feet, Hannon said veterans’ transitions need to have a focal point or a specific goal, almost like a mission. His focal point was finding an internship at Veteran Affairs.

For Stahl, it was helping other veterans reintegrate into society.

However, sometimes a focal point is not enough.

On March 23, Jeremiah Irwin, a Marine Corps veteran and Duquesne student, committed suicide at the age of 32.

He was honored at the event by Boissonnault and his mother, Cathleen Wilberg, who both delivered speeches through teary eyes and cracking voices.

“It was important for me to speak for him because he’s not here to speak for himself,” Wilberg said.

Boissonnault presented Wilberg with a plaque to be hung in the veterans lounge, which he said will serve as a reminder of Irwin’s presence at the university.

Wilberg said she also hopes it reminds veterans to reach out for help if they are struggling.

“If they’re having a weak moment, maybe somebody else is too,” Wilberg said.

Hannon said events like these are helpful, and give veterans access to resources they may not know about.

“When you come together with folks like this, all those aspects come to bear,” he said. “You’re putting a face and a palm to the name.”

The breakfast also featured a panel discussion about the Vietnam War, as well as the presentation of an award to Todd DePastino, author and director of the Veterans Breakfast Club, an organization that gives veterans the space to share their stories with others.

As the event wrapped up, multiple people approached Wilberg offering their condolences, including one man who shared the story of how he lost his son to suicide.

While sad, she said that talking to others has been helpful.

“It’s comforting to know that people care,” Wilberg said.

Josh Imhof can be reached at imhofj@duq.edu