Contact: Kay Jones
A dedication ceremony for the newly renovated Drill Field flagpole area is scheduled Sept. 20 at Mississippi State University.
The 6 p.m. public program will include patriotic music, remarks by student leaders, President Charles Lee and Vice President for Student Affairs Bill Kibler, and recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Funded entirely by donations from MSU fraternity and sorority members, the $30,000 redesigned and re-landscaped seating and gathering area replaces an older, smaller flagpole mount. In addition, a brick seating area is surrounded by sections of flowers in rotating annual colors.
The site now includes new lighting that allows the new 25-by-15-foot American flag to be displayed 24 hours a day on the 70-foot pole. Previously, the flag was raised and lowered daily at dawn and dusk.
Work on the project was completed by Office of Campus Landscape technicians based on a design provided by former student Colin Brock. A 2002 landscape architecture graduate from Raymond, Brock now works in Charlotte, N.C.
"Mississippi State's 29 sorority and fraternity chapters have made a significant and lasting contribution that both honors our country and enhances the university's historic Drill Field," said Jimmy Abraham, associate vice president for student affairs.
"In addition to formally dedicating this important site, the Sept. 20 ceremony will be used by President Lee and Dr. Kibler to thank all those whose hard work and dedication has made it the focal point of central campus that it should be," he added.
For more information on the ceremony, telephone Heidie Lindsey in the Office of Student Life at (662) 325-3322.