Veterans Awareness Week underway on campus
Mississippi State is honoring past and present members of the armed forces during Veterans Awareness Week, which culminates Saturday, Nov. 12 during halftime of the home football game with the University of Alabama.
The university's G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery Center for America's Veterans is sponsoring the activities, which kick off with an 11:30 a.m. luncheon Thursday honoring all current faculty and staff who are veterans or service members.
Also during the lunchtime program in the Colvard Student Union's Foster Ballroom, ret. Col. Norman L. Williamson of Fairfax Station, Va., will be inducted into the MSU Army ROTC Hall of Fame. Formerly of Forest, Williamson is a 1969 business statistics graduate who went on to receive a master's degree in guidance education the following year. He also holds a second master's from the University of Southern California.
Friday is National Veterans Day, and the MSU observance begins at 1:30 p.m. with wreaths laid at the three campus memorials, followed by a 2:30 p.m. public ceremony on the historic Drill Field. Also open to all, a reception follows in the union's Old Main Lounge.
Immediately after the reception, a dinner in the Foster Ballroom will recognize various military and service scholarship program donors, as well as scholarship recipients.
Saturday's ESPN-televised Southeastern Conference football game kicks off at 6:45 p.m. During halftime, the military scholars again will be recognized as part of the halftime show specifically dedicated to all veterans and current service personnel. For gameday information, visit www.mstateathletics.com.
For more about MSU Veterans Week, telephone Ronnie White at 662-325-6825. For Center for America's Veterans information, visit www.veterans.msstate.edu.
Margaret Kovar | University Relations
