Contact: Leah Barbour
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are the ideals for which America's veterans have fought, sacrificed and sometimes died.
For them, Mississippi State annually pays tribute with several activities.
Beginning Monday [Nov. 11] on Veterans Day and concluding the following Saturday during the home football game, the university will recognize former and current service members' numerous contributions, said Ken McRae, director of MSU's G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery Center for America's Veterans.
The Veterans Day honors and recognition ceremony begins at 1 p.m. on the MSU Drill Field with a Student Veterans Association observance of the national moment of silence. Then, the names of the 108 Mississippi veterans who have been killed in action since the first Gulf War will be read aloud.
At 2:30 p.m., the formal ceremony will begin. The Monday ceremonies are open to everyone, including veterans, their families and the general public, as well as MSU students, faculty and staff.
"Veterans Day is a time of celebration to honor all of America's veterans for the sacrifice they have shown through their patriotism, love of country and selfless service to protect freedom around the world," said McRae, a retired Army officer.
Tuesday, the center will sponsor an invitation-only luncheon, followed on Friday night with its annual donor dinner, also an invitation-only event.
At the Saturday football game against the University of Alabama approximately 350 Mississippi National Guard members will participate in ceremonies with the Famous Maroon Band. The veterans' center also will be hosting service members throughout the day with various campus activities, McRae said.
"One of the pillars of MSU's underpinning is a history of military service," McRae said. "Today, we are ranked as a top 15 Veteran-Friendly University, with more than 10 percent of the student population made up of veterans, current service members or their dependents."
Additional information about 2013 Veterans Day activities and celebrations is available at 662-325-6719 or by visiting http://veterans.msstate.edu.
For more about MSU, visit http://msstate.edu.