Exeter Salutes

Honoring Exonians’
service and sacrifice

Exeter has a rich history of military service. More than 700 current Exeter alumni have served or are serving in the U.S. armed forces or the military of their home country. Scores more died in combat or in active service to the country. More than two dozen Exeter graduates since 2002 have gained appointment to a U.S. military academy; and many current employees of the Academy are veterans of one of the six service branches.

Exeter Salutes is the Academy’s way to honor and celebrate that service. Each November, the institution gathers to hear from Exonians who have served or are serving in the armed services and to learn how much the Exeter-ingrained spirit of non sibi has molded their sense of responsibility and self-sacrifice.

Among the programming each year is a guest speaker who addresses assembly. The Exeter Salutes assembly speaker for 2025 was Layne Erickson ’18, a first lieutenant and Apache helicopter pilot in the U.S. Army. “My non sibi is not serving and defending the United States of America. My non sibi is more direct. It’s rooted in personal strengths: Organization, empathy, preparedness — skills that I first learned here at Exeter,” she said.

“I doubt my day job will be inspiring any 333 essays, but … your actions don’t need to be impressive to have impact. Non sibi is far greater than the sum of its parts.”