This year, on Thursday, Nov. 11, High Point University (HPU) will continue its yearly tradition of honoring veterans and donating American flags to local nonprofits, schools and government buildings.
The university’s “Annual Veterans Day Celebration” is expected to welcome over 1,000 people. The event is free and open to all veterans as well as to anyone who wishes to honor veterans for their service. Those planning to attend need to RSVP at www.highpoint.edu/veteransday or by calling Campus Concierge at 336-841-4626.
The 11th annual Veterans Day Celebration will take place at 8 a.m. at the Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena and Conference Center on the corner of East Lexington Avenue and Panther Drive in High Point.
The program will include a complimentary breakfast, and, in addition to honoring veterans, will recognize the university students leading initiatives to support veterans. The North Carolina Brass Band and the HPU Chamber Singers will provide some patriotic music at the morning celebration.
HPU will have about 100 student volunteers on hand to greet and assist veterans during the event.
Continuing a long-standing tradition, at the annual event, HPU will donate about 100 American flags to area nonprofits, schools and government buildings.
This year, retired Col. Vance Cryer, the senior manager for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, will speak. Cryer served in the United States Marine Corps for 27 years. According to the biography HPU sent out with the event announcement, “During his time of service, he deployed to the Arabian Gulf on six rotations since 1996 after completing his naval aviation training in 1995 and was a part of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, 2004 and 2005. Col. Cryer was announced as the 2019 Horatio Alger Award recipient recognizing his patriotism, his positive influence and care for others.”
At the event, veterans in attendance will also be able to take a photo with a bald eagle that will “soar across the crowd.”
Also, the new Qubein Arena and Conference Center will showcase several patriotic displays.
This celebration is supported by the Sheriff Family Veterans Awareness Endowment, the United States Marine Corps Officer Program and Harvest Table.
Public parking will be available in the new parking lot located at 1315 North University Parkway. Handicap-accessible vehicles will be available.
Veterans get a day today, and one is May. I have two photos of Doughboys who served in France, both Great Uncles. I knew my uncle Sam (really) who served in WWI also.
The World would be a much different place today if Kaiser Wilhelm & Herr Hitler had their way.
We still have a Republic, if we can keep it.