Men removed their hats and ROTC cadets in uniform saluted as the national anthem began, sung by the a cappella group, "Divine."

A gentle rain started as the anthem concluded. Clouds closed in; a flyover by F-15 jets was heard but not seen.

The 2009 Veterans Day ceremony at Oregon State University, held Friday on the Memorial Union quad, is part of a tradition that began more than 90 years ago, said cadet Capt. Kenneth Durbin.

Members of all campus ROTC units participated in the ceremony, which was organized by the OSU chapter of the Arnold Air Society, a nationwide service organization of the Air Force.

The OSU chapter is called the 1st Lt. James L. Badley Squadron. The appellation honors Badley, a 1960 OSU graduate and an Air Force F-4 pilot, who was shot down in 1968 during the Vietnam War. He was initially listed missing in action, later as killed in action.

"We're here to honor all vets for their service," Durbin said. "We're grateful for their sacrifice and celebrate their selflessness."

The rain pounded harder. The crowd of cadets on the Memorial Union steps didn't move as the ceremony continued.

A table was set as part of a 24-hour vigil to honor prisoners of war and military men and women who are missing in action, said Durbin, who explained its symbolism.

The table is small, set for one. A white cloth symbolizes purity. A single rose is for the families and loved ones who have kept faith. A yellow ribbon is worn by those who bear witness to our nation's unyielding demand for a proper accounting of our POW/MIAs.

A slice of lemon is a reminder of their bitter fate. The glass on the table is inverted for they cannot toast with us tonight, Durbin said. The chair is empty, for they are not here.

The vigil will remain on the quad until noon today.

On Friday, the sun broke through as guest speaker Sgt. Donald Malarkey slowly approached the lectern.

Malarkey, 88, served with E Company and earned a Bronze Star for his heroism on D-Day. His experiences were later recounted in the book, "Band of Brothers."

Malarkey wore a jacket with patches indicating his training and service.

He said his platoon leader used to call it his "ego jacket."

"If you've been where I've been," Malarkey said, "I guarantee you you'd wear it with the same pride I do, and always will."

Malarkey recalled arriving at Fort Benning, Ga., for training; at the time, they were dressed like paratroopers although they were not yet certified.

He said the 82nd Airborne guys joked about it.

"They called us long-walking, loud-talking, non-jumping sons of bitches."

The audience members laughed.

"On June 6, 1944, shortly after midnight, we were dropped into French soil," Malarkey said, calling it "the proudest day of my life."

E Company was an assault company - its members were ordered to take out four artillery guns that were firing down on Utah Beach.

"I don't know if it happened again, if we'd do it," Malarkey said. "We were pretty dumb."

And fearless. They knocked out three guns before they ran out of ammo.

"On Veterans Day, those are the events that run through my mind," Malarkey said.

Long applause followed Malarkey as he returned to his seat.

For the next 11 minutes, cadet Capt. Edward Sheehan and cadet Miranda Berry read the names of the 111 Oregon soldiers who are listed as MIAs and POWs.

Separate from the crowd, a lone woman in an orange-and-black rain jacket stood silently, her hand over her heart as the names were read.

Elham Maqsood, a student from Saudi Arabia, watched and photographed. She said she would write about what she saw and felt for her class at OSU's English Language Institute.

A 21-gun salute, followed by "Taps," capped the ceremony.

Bonnie Greg, sister of 1st Lt. Badley, attends the service every year.

"I always told the ROTC kids they brought my brother home the only way he was coming," she said. "It was his spirit."

"I appreciate that these kids remember him," Greg said, with tears in her eyes.