On Monday, November 11, New York Law School (NYLS) hosted its annual Veterans Day Luncheon, honoring veterans within the community and celebrating the camaraderie and shared experiences that bind them. Held in Abbey Hall, the event brought the NYLS community together to honor the service and sacrifice of its student, faculty, and alumni veterans.
NYLS Dean and President Anthony W. Crowell opened the celebration by first expressing deep gratitude to all veterans. “Veterans Day is always one of the most important days of the year for a country,” Dean Crowell said, “reminding everyone about the millions of veterans who serve and sacrifice for our nation’s freedoms. Our veteran community members represent the very best of our school, and I look forward to continuing to develop initiatives to help our veterans succeed in law school, and to provide more programmatic and educational resources to help the community in New York City and nationally.”
Arthur N. Abbey ’59, a veteran and Chair of the Board of Trustees, took the podium to share memories of growing up in an era marked by patriotism and unity and attending NYLS alongside World War II veterans. Abbey went on to describe the impact of his own military service, observing that it “left a huge impression” and taught him more about the importance of listening and discipline—values that continue to resonate with today’s students.
Dean of Faculty William P. LaPiana added a historical perspective to the Veterans Day celebrations, emphasizing the role of legal professionals in honoring those who have taken the oath to support, protect, and defend the United States. “Those who volunteer to be true to that oath at the cost of their lives deserve our most profound respect,” Dean LaPiana stated. “Throughout all of our history, we have been secure in our republic because we know that among us are those who do not fear to give all that to ensure that.”
Navy veteran Lawrence Montle ’13 shared remarks reflecting on the sense of unity that military service fosters. Professor Montle is the Chief Information Security and Privacy Officer at the New York State Insurance Fund, as well as an adjunct professor at NYLS and faculty advisor to the Law School’s student veterans. “Veterans who go to New York Law School earn two communities,” he said. “You earn the community of veterans’ camaraderie, and on the other side, you also get the New York Law School community, which is deeply powerful and long-lasting.”
The event continued with a “Changing of the Guard” ceremony, where Samuel Olesinski ’26, President of the NYLS Chapter of the Student Veterans of America (SVA), passed the torch of leadership to Dominique Moody ’26. Olesinski, an Air Force veteran, recounted his meaningful work with NYLS’s Veterans Justice Clinic—which Professor Montle teaches—and noted how his military experience had prepared him for lawyering. “My military experience has greatly prepared me for the requisite attention to detail, precision, and critical thinking of the legal profession,” Olesinski said.
Moody, an active Army Reservist, reflected on the significance of Veterans Day, stating, “It’s a very important day for all past and present members of the military to reflect on how our service has made an impact in the world and our own lives. I hope that, as student veterans, we can come together and build a stronger connection with our alumni network. The bonds we form as veterans, lawyers, and law students can make a powerful impact, offering support, mentorship, and shared understanding.”