COOKEVILLE –Tennessee Tech’s office of veterans and military affairs, in conjunction with the ROTC and student veteran organization, held a Veterans Day ceremony on campus Monday morning.
Several students, faculty, staff, administrators and members of the military were on hand in front of Derryberry Hall to honor veterans.
After the posting of the colors and the playing of the national anthem, Joseph Roberts of the United States Navy and interim director of the school of professional students gave the invocation.
Speakers during the ceremony included Mary Benedict, director of military and veteran affairs; LTC Adam Grim, professor of military science, Tech Golden Eagle Battalion; Tech president Phil Oldham; student veteran Derrick Sarmiento of the United States Marine Corps; and Putnam County archivist Glen Jones.
The ceremony concluded with a cannon salute for the services as well as a service medley and retiring of the colors.
“I was pleased and thankful for each of our speakers today and felt that that each did a fantastic job of touching on an important theme related to the 100th year of the end of World War I,” said Benedict. “The music performed by the TTU Brass Arts Quintet made the event all the more special. Our ROTC department did a beautiful job presenting our colors as well as making sure our canon salute went off without a hitch. They are always there to help support our Military and Veteran Affairs events and we appreciate them.”
The event is the first in a week-long celebration to commemorate Veterans Day on Nov. 11.
“This event would not have happened without the help of my team and our student veteran organization,” said Benedict. “They were instrumental in the planning and success of this day. This ceremony was a kickoff for a very special week of events we have planned to honor those brave men and women who have served in uniform. We look forward to all of the ways our campus will show their support this week.”
Events the rest of the week include the student veteran organization having a service day at Tech’s child development lab on Tuesday; a veterans appreciation day on Wednesday; the student veteran organization taking on ROTC in kickball and corn hole on Thursday; a traditional Marine Corps birthday celebration on Friday; and, the week wraps up with a Veterans Day picnic at Cane Creek Park on Sunday.
For more information about the office of veterans and military affairs, go to https://www.tntech.edu/em/military-and-veterans-affairs/.
