New Mexico State University will hold the eighth annual Military and Veterans Appreciation Week from Nov. 6-11. There will be events every day of the week to support and honor NMSU’s military and veteran friendly community.
“The Military and Veterans Appreciation Week is dedicated to honoring students, staff and faculty that have served and sacrificed to protect our freedoms,” said Hector Sanchez, NMSU’s Military and Veterans Programs director. “This year we will highlight service animals both in the military and those comforting our veterans and the contributions made to supporting our military and veteran servicemen.”
To kick off the week, there will be an inaugural ceremony at the Aggie Memorial Tower at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 6. Retired Army Brigadier Gen. Jack R. Fox will be the guest speaker. Following will be a U.S. Army Cadet Command Special Recognition and Contracting Ceremony.
After the ceremonies, the Student Veterans Organization will have an information table from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. outside Corbett Center Student Union’s main west entrance.
On Tuesday, Nov. 7, MVP will host the Veterans Day Picnic from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Garcia Center courtyard. Food will be provided by Jim Bobs BBQ. Various local veteran service organizations will have information tables, including the Las Cruces Vet Center mobile van.
On Wednesday, Nov. 8, there will be three events at the northeast side of Corbett Center. MVP will host the NMSU Tribute to the U.S. Air Force 49th Security Forces Squadron Military Working Dogs from Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, to honor and celebrate military working dogs. There will be refreshments provided from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will also be ROTC and Armed Forces Recruiters Day. They will have information tables from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. SVO will also host a Veterans Day celebration with games, refreshments, cotton candy, snow cones and popcorn from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
On Thursday, Nov. 9, MVP will host an open house in Corbett Center, Room 244, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Attendees can learn more about the program, meet the staff and enjoy refreshments and popcorn.
On Friday, Nov. 10, NMSU will host the Faculty and Staff Military Veterans and ROTC Anniversary Banquet in the Villanueva Victory Club on the third floor of NMSU’s Fulton Center. The banquet will start at 6 p.m. and dinner will be served from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Renay Scott, vice president of NMSU’s Division of Student Success, will be the featured speaker. The dinner is by invitation only. Contact Gail Bamford at gbamford@nmsu.edu or 575-646-2689 for more information.
The week will conclude on Veterans Day, Saturday, Nov. 11, with NMSU Air Force and ROTC marching in the Las Cruces Veterans Parade, at 11 a.m. in downtown Las Cruces. For more information on the parade, visit https://www.lascrucesvetday.org/.
For more information about the week’s events, visit https://mvp.nmsu.edu/military-and-veterans-appreciation-week.html.
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CUTLINE: New Mexico State University will hold the eighth annual Military and Veterans Appreciation Week from Nov. 6-11 to support and honor NMSU’s military and veteran friendly community. (NMSU Photo by Josh Bachman)