Veteran recognition planned for Nov. 11
ETHAN HENDRICKS
Staff Writer
staffwriter3@occc.edu
A bagpipe performance will follow the opening welcome at a Veterans Day Memorial Reception for students and faculty at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, in CU3.
Performer Gary Wallace will play “Military March” and “Highland Cathedral.” Wallace is a transcript assistant in the office of Records and Graduation Services, who served 21 years in the U.S. Air Force from 1971 until 1992.
The reception has become an annual tradition.
“Last year we had 50 people in attendance,” said Stephanie Baird, Student Life programs coordinator. “This year we hope to have more students.”
Janis Armstrong, Veteran’s Services coordinator, said she hopes this year’s event will be even bigger. She said she changed the time the ceremony starts to allow more people to attend.
“The last few years the ceremony has been at 11 a.m. because that’s officially when Veteran’s Day starts,” Armstrong said. “I received some letters from faculty this year asking me to set it at a different time so that more people could attend.”
Armstrong said she conducted a survey of faculty and students to find out what time would be best.
After the bagpipe music, the Marine Corps will give a presentation of the color guard and lead the ceremony in the Pledge of Allegiance.
“It’s not easy getting the actual Marine Corps color guard to do a presentation,” Armstrong said. “I’m glad we could get them to do this.”
J.B. Messer, Facilities Management director, will introduce the main speaker William Brown, readjustment counseling technician for the Department of Veteran Affairs. Brown will speak on “Lessons Learned From One Soldier’s Perspective.”
Hillary Shatley will sing “God Bless America” to close the ceremony.
“There will be a lot of veterans involved in this ceremony,” Baird said. “There are currently 650 veterans enrolled and that’s just for this fall semester,” Armstrong said. “I will be sending out postcard invites to all the veterans.”
Armstrong and Baird both said the ceremony is to honor veterans and those who are still in the service.
“Veterans Day is important for me because I can give back to all the service members that have served in a war,” Armstrong said. “I wish the whole college would shut down on that day to honor the veterans.”
