University of Arkansas Celebrates Veterans Week

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The first official Veterans Week Celebration at the University of Arkansas is being held Nov. 7–12. The celebration kicks off Monday, Nov. 7, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the reading room of Mullins Library, with remarks by Chancellor G. David Gearhart and Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan.

One of the highlights during the celebration is a speech by Gen. Wesley Clark, retired, former NATO commander and former presidential candidate, at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, at the Walton Arts Center.

“We are extremely thankful to the sponsors and partners, both on and off campus, who helped make this vision a reality,” said Erika Gamboa, director of the Veterans Resource and Information Center. “Our intention is to raise awareness of the many sacrifices veterans and their families go through on a daily basis, which allows all of us to enjoy freedom in this country. The University of Arkansas is fortunate to include among its student population a growing number of veterans, many of whom are already leaders in their own right. It is with great pride that we recognize veterans with this special week of events.”

The 10-member Veterans Week Celebration Week committee began planning the events in January 2011.  The events are as follows:

Monday, Nov. 7
Kick-Off Celebration!
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Mullins Library Reading Room

Color Guard Presentation, followed by National Anthem
Welcome – John Moore
Speaker – Chancellor G. David Gearhart
Scholarship Recognition – Garrick Hildebrand
Proclamation – Fayetteville Mayor Lionel Jordan
Retire Colors Procession Closing Remarks – Lt. Col. Rick Mayes
*Reception to follow

Tuesday, Nov. 8
Veterans Resource Fair
11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Arkansas Union Connections Lounge
Veteran service information provided by local and state agency representatives

Wednesday, Nov. 9
Panel Presentation – “Veterans’ Journeys Home – Reintegration and Resilience
5 – 7 p.m., Verizon Ballroom in the Arkansas Union

Thursday, Nov. 10
Distinguished Lecture: Gen. Wesley Clark
7 – 8:30 p.m. Walton Arts Center
Tickets are free to students first. Contact Student Activities for ticket info: 479-575-5255

Friday, Nov. 11
Remembrance Day National Roll Call
8 a.m. – 4 p.m.,Connections Lounge, Arkansas Union

Annual Ringing of the Bells
11 a.m., Arkansas Alumni Association

Veterans Day Celebration – Honoring All Who Serve
11 a.m., Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks Auditorium

Moment of Silence
1 p.m., University of Arkansas and Participating Universities

Veterans Day Parade
4:30 p. m. Fayetteville City Square (Activities start at 2:30 pm)

Saturday, Nov. 12
Veterans Memorial 5K Race ($25/$30 fee)
8 a.m. 700 S. Government Ave.
For more information call 479-871-7478

Nov. 1 - 23
Veterans Day Photo Exhibit
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday
Anne Kittrell Art Gallery in the Arkansas Union
Theme: “What Veterans Day Means to Me”

There are more than 500 students at the University of Arkansas who receive some type of military benefits. These may be veterans, or dependents or spouses of veterans. There is also an undetermine number of students who are veterans who are not receiving military benefits.

"To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…" – with these words President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Nov. 11, 1919, as the first commemoration of Armistice Day after World War I.

On May 13, 1938, an act of Congress (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) was approved making Nov. 11 each year a legal holiday, dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." Armistice Day was primarily to honor veterans of World War I. In 1954 the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting the word "Veterans." On June 1, 1954, Nov. 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.