This November Norwich University will be hosting its very own legacy march. The three-day event will start off in the town of Norwich, in the eastern edge of Vermont near the Connecticut River, and end at the Norwich campus in Northfield.
The march will take place on Nov. 5-7, and is open to any students, faculty and alumni who want to walk the 50 miles from the original site of the Norwich campus to Northfield.
“We want to get a lot of people together to celebrate the legacy of Norwich,” said Victoria Amador, 21, a senior construction engineering management major from San Antonio, Texas.
“This so that we can celebrate the past by marching towards the future,” Amador said.
Amador is a member of the Construction Management Engineering Club, a new club that is generally responsible for the march. The march was the brainstorm of Norwich students.
Not only is this march being done to celebrate Norwich, it is also a fundraiser to benefit the Veterans’ Place in Northfield, and the Wounded Warrior Project.
The Vermont Veterans’ Place is an organization that focuses on helping homeless veterans’ by providing needed resources so as to become contributing members of society once again.
The Wounded Warriors Project is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization designed to help wounded warriors returning home from current conflicts and to provide assistance to their families.
“All the money made … will be split between the Wounded Warrior’s Project and the Veteran’s Place,” said Emily Baugus, a 19-year-old sophomore construction engineering management major from Kingsville, Texas.
The Legacy March will also be taking place on the National Day of Service.
Marching isn’t the only way to participate. Donations can be made by purchasing mile markers.
“You can buy a sign that has your name on it for quarter miles, half miles and full miles,” Amador said.
“The Construction Engineering Management Club is raising money to cover the cost for everyone marching,” Amador said. The only thing the participants have to pay for is the cost of registering to participate, which is $50.
The students hope to raise $10,000, and give $5,000 each to the two programs.
Amador hopes the activities will bring the Norwich community closer and says this is a good opportunity for students and alumni to come together and share their experiences.
According to Eugene Sevi, professor of civil engineering and co-coordinator for the march, “This celebrates Norwich’s long history in a very real way.”
Sevi participated in a similar march that took place 15 years ago.
“It is a fun and positive experience to celebrate Norwich’s history and our commitment to physical fitness,” Sevi said. “This will be an enjoyable event that will promote camaraderie between all the people who participate.”
“This will bring a sense of accomplishment not only to those who participate in the march, but everybody who vicariously participates and supports the marchers,” Sevi said.
If rooks would like to participate in the Legacy March, they will be treated as regular students and members of the NU community, according to Baugus.
The march is meant as a time to bond with alumni and faculty as well as be educational to Norwich’s past.
“There are going to be educational tours along the way of places where Norwich’s past events have happened,” Baugus said.
The Green Mountain Boys will also be sponsoring the march and will be supplying vehicles that will carry the participants’ equipment as well as supplies and people who may get injured.
“Because this is the first year doing this (in a long time) we’re trying to keep logistics kind of small,” Baugus said.
The goal they are trying to reach for participants is about 50 students and around 20 alumni and faculty.
The Construction Engineering Management Club will be setting up booths in the Wise Campus Center for information on how to participate in the march or to donate as the event comes closer.