To celebrate and honor NSU’s veterans, the Veterans Resource Center will host a Veterans Day event on Nov. 11 from 2-3:30 p.m. in the Flight Deck.
The event will feature a number of speeches and special performances designed to honor and recognize NSU’s veterans, including an introduction by Captain Lee Hediger, founding chair of The Veterans Trust and retired member of the U.S. Army, a speech by Carlos Garcia, veteran alumni and a graduate of the College of Psychology, and a performance by the Broward Sheriff’s Office color guard. There will also be a postcard station set up during the event where attendees will be able to write a Veterans Day postcard to an active veteran. All postage will be complimentary.
Peter Caspari from the Department of Defense will also be presenting President Hanbury with the Department of Defense Seven Seals award to recognize NSU’s efforts toward veteran employment and education.
According to the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a program within the Department of Defense, the Seven Seals award is given to any individual or organization that “develops and promotes supportive work environments for Service members in the Reserve Components through outreach, recognition, and educational opportunities that increase awareness of applicable laws, and resolves employment conflicts between the Service members and their employers.”
According to Kimberly Durham, chair of the department of justice and human services in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, NSU is the only educational institution in the state of Florida to receive the award.
Durham has been an integral part of putting on this event at NSU and said she believes this event is a great opportunity for students, faculty and community members to support and connect with veterans on campus.
She said, “I think coming out to the event and joining in on the festivities is one way that a student can actively say ‘thank you’ to our veterans and show support for NSU’s causes related to veterans.”
NSU’s Veterans Resource Center was established two years ago after Durham and a number of other faculty members and students noticed that NSU did not have adequate space or specialized resources to help veterans academically and professionally. The Veterans Resource Center is a room on campus specifically created for veteran students and is equipped with computers, refrigerators, television and a lounging and study area for our veterans to call their own, according to Durham.
Though she is not a veteran herself, Durham said she believes that it is important to offer support to veterans, which prompted her to work with the Veterans Resource Center.
She said, “I’ve always had a passion for veterans. I am not a veteran myself, but I’ve always had a passion for working with them as a group.”
The Veterans Resource Center will be accepting monetary donations during the event to support NSU’s veterans, though no donations are required to attend.
For more information or to make a donation, contact Kathleen Doyle at 954-262-FLAG.
