David was the epitome of an All-American. He possessed an adventurous spirit and always looked to capture the best that life had to offer. Be it as a player on the basketball court, a scientist on the ocean, or an avid hiker in the mountains of Maine, Dave "seized the day" in everything he did.
Growing up in the small town of Jamestown, Pennsylvania and living only yards from Pymatuning State Park, David was instilled from his earliest days with the importance of God, family, and country. He quickly learned the values of hard work and dedication and service.
His grandfathers had served in World War II, his father in Vietnam - service to one's country had been a sense of pride in our family - and Dave was going to continue the tradition for a new generation of challenges.
Graduating from Jamestown High School in 1999, David enlisted in the Army and began his training in Fort Benning, Georgia. Have completed jump school and trained as a paratrooper, he was selected to serve with the Old Guard in Washington, DC at Arlington National Cemetery. Dave became a rifleman with the company and took part in the 21-gun salute during military funerals. Gaining an appreciation for the rifle, David joined the United States Army Drill Team and traveled across the country participating in shows and parades.
When his enlistment ended three years later, Dave entered the University of Maine and majored in Wildlife Ecology. However, not wanting to leave the service, he joined the Maine Army National Guard for his four years while he attended college. While studying for his degree, Dave received numerous awards and citations for his contributions and academic record. He worked with all types of animals, both land and marine, and became a fellow in an Honors program to work with middle school students in science.
In January of 2006, five months before graduation, Dave's Maine Army National Guard unit was called to active duty in Iraq, and in March they were deployed to Tallil Airbase, near Nasiriyah, about 300 miles southeast of Baghdad. The unit's mission was convoy security.
On May 6th, 2006, David was the mission commander - in the lead vehicle - for a convoy returning from Baghdad en route to Diwaniya. As his gunner spotted an insurgent with a detonator, the vehicle hit the IED, and it exploded. Dave reached back to pull his gunner to safety just as the bomb exploded. Both Staff Sergeant Dale Kelly - the driver - and David were killed by the blast. The gunner - Specialist Chris Frasier - survived the blast with injuries to his feet and legs.
David was awarded the Bronze Star with a V for Valor and his Wildlife Ecology degree from the the University of Maine posthumously.
Staff Sergeant David Michael Veverka was buried in Arlington National Cemetery on May 17, 2006, and this memorial scholarship was created in his name. He will be remembered for his selfless sacrifice to his comrades and his commitment to his country. We will continue to honor him and his fellow soldiers who continue to serve and sacrifice in the name of freedom.
