В Олд Доминион университете открыли памятник и фонд в честь погибшего полковника Брандона Шаха

NORFOLK — Brandon Shah’s legacy will live on in many ways at Old Dominion University. Speaking to about 400 people Friday morning in the shadow of S.B. Ballard Stadium, Katherine Shah, his widow, announced the formation of the LTC Brandon A. Shah Leadership Foundation with the mission of developing the next generation of military leaders through scholarships and mentorship, supporting Gold Star families, and promoting safer ROTC environments, according to the foundation’s website. In the space just outside of Rollins Hall, which is adjacent to Ballard Stadium and houses the Army ROTC Annex, the university erected a 7-foot granite monument in honor of Shah’s “enduring legacy and selfless service.” Shah was 41 when he died March 12 after a gunman entered his classroom in Constant Hall and shot him while he was teaching his cadets. The top of the monument forms the shape of Virginia, and bears the U.S. Army seal along with an engraving of the Monarch crown. It is flanked by two granite benches, one dedicated to the “heroic action, extraordinary courage and selfless service” of the MS4 cadets who subdued the gunman. The other bench is dedicated to Linda Baker, who served as executive assistant to ODU’s Army ROTC program for 45 years. The university also named the Annex, housing the Department of Military Science of which Shah was the chair, the “Lieutenant Colonel Brandon A. Shah Wing.” Additionally, the corner of the football field just feet from the building is now known as “Shah’s Corner.” Katherine Shah, who will serve as president of the leadership foundation, was overcome with emotion as she recounted her husband’s life. She spoke of his dedication to his cadets and to her and their family, and his service to his country. “I’m proud, I’m grateful, I’m humbled, I’m happy, and yes, I’m sad because of the one person I wish was standing here,” she said. Brandon Shah was the head of ODU’s Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program and a professor of military sciences. During his career, he was deployed in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and Atlantic Resolve, served in numerous leadership positions and earned commendations including two Bronze Stars. Following the ceremony, the crowd was led to the football field, where it set off fireworks and fired the cannon in Shah’s honor. ODU’s season-opening game Saturday against Norfolk State University will be dedicated to Shah. The players will wear special jerseys in military camouflage with “LTC Shah” on the back instead of players’ names. The helmets will feature Apache helicopters, of which Shah was a pilot. Cadet Cecilia Fosso is the former battalion commander of ODU’s Army ROTC program. Shah promoted her to the position much to her surprise. She initially thought he was joking, but came to see that he had a larger design in mind. “He told me that one of my biggest weaknesses was delegation,” Fosso said. “He knew that becoming battalion commander would force me to trust the people around me and allow others to lead … He saw where I still needed to grow.” She added that she’s glad ODU is allowing everyone on campus “to see (Shah) in the same light that you saw us.” Katherine Shah recounted their meeting at a July 4 cookout in 2008, when she noticed his “quiet but commanding presence” and asked her friends about him. Having grown up a military brat, she had said she’d never date a man in the military. “Apparently God heard that and said, ‘We’ll see about that,’ ” she said. Of all the titles Brandon held, “Daddy” was the one that mattered most, Katherine said. She said their 10-year-old son, Lucas, looks just like him and shares his determination, confidence and high standards. “I tell (Lucas) all the time, the best parts of daddy live inside you every single day,” she said. Lucas showed that to her recently, when he noticed how hard she was working behind the scenes. She explained to him that she was trying to “make everything perfect as daddy would want it.” Lucas said, “Mommy, we have to come up with our own high standards now, something that mirrors daddy’s high standards but is all our own.” She said March 12 was a moment when her husband’s leadership stopped being theoretical. “He led, he moved toward danger, he protected his cadets, he put his people before himself in the most unimaginable circumstances. Lt. Col. Shah did his job and he did it well,” she said. “As his wife, there will always be a part of me that wishes he never had to.” Gavin Stone, 757-712-4806, [email protected]