Honoring the Long Crimson Line

With a collaborative and visionary approach, Tom Reardon has been a tireless volunteer, working to build and strengthen the ties between Harvard and its military community. In 2007 Reardon founded the Harvard Veterans Alumni Organization (HVAO) as a Harvard Alumni Association Shared Interest Group. It provides a network for veterans on and off campus, honors the service and sacrifice of Harvard veterans, and supports the relationship between the University and the veterans who are students, faculty, and staff.

Reardon has worked closely with Harvard College’s Admissions Office, and he introduced the Service to School (S2S) program to partner with the College with the goal of admitting more young veterans.

In addition, Reardon has shined a light on Harvard’s exceptional military history and veterans, raising funds for HVAO to donate and dedicate two plaques in Memorial Church — one to Harvard’s 18 Medal of Honor recipients and another to honor four Army chaplains who met at Harvard and perished together on the SS Dorchester in 1943. In 2015 Reardon arranged for 45 Medal of Honor recipients to visit Harvard Yard for a memorial service and luncheon with many of the University’s veterans.

Reardon attended Harvard College during the anti-Vietnam War protests and corresponding anti-military sentiment. Drafted weeks after graduation, he served for three years as an infantry officer, including a year as a platoon leader and company executive officer, in the 23rd Infantry Division in Vietnam. For his distinguished leadership and service, he received the Bronze Star Medal and Combat Infantryman Badge.