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The Military Commissioning Ceremony took place during Senior Week on Friday, May 18th, 2018 in the Campus Center Multi-Purpose Rooms. The ceremony started off with Second Lieutenant John Levasseur, USAF welcoming families, friends, and his fellow peers and officers to the event. Second Lieutenant Levasseur is one of the past presidents of the Association of Military & Osteopathic Physicians (AMOPS). In his introduction, he recognized how they were all there because they wanted to give the best medical care to soldiers, sailors, and air men. He ended by quoting General Douglas McArthur: “A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent.”
Melisa MacFarline, RN took the stage to sing the National Anthem sing the National Anthem, and then then Major Gregory Taggart, US Army (retired) took the stage to give the keynote address. Major Taggart is a local orthopedic surgeon who served in active combat all the while balancing a family and medical career at home.
He said as a physician in the armed forces, you wear many hats. Your military hat, your physician hat, and your family hat. He believed the key to his success was wearing one hat at a time. He told the story of being on a trip with his family and receiving a call from his nurse who wanted to ask him in-depth medical questions over the phone. He said that because he was wearing his family hat, hat the officers will wear in the course of their lifetime, and to cherish every moment
Military Commissioning Ceremony