OHIO, Athens to celebrate Veterans Day over a week

US Navy Veteran Colby Berry chats with members of the 51�� Bobcat Battalion as they wait for the football team to score another touchdown on their way to victory against the Northern Illinois University on October 22, 2022.

51�� and the city of Athens are hosting a week-long celebration with several events to thank veterans for their service this year.

“Veterans Day is an opportunity for folks to take time out of their day to thank those Americans that have raised their right hand and taken an oath to support and defend the Constitution…It’s an important thing to remember,” said Lt. Col. (Retired) Terry St. Peter, director of the OHIO Veterans and Military Student Services Center.

A main goal of the OHIO Veterans and Military Student Services Center this year is to let current student and alumni veterans share stories on who they are, why they served, and why they came to OHIO.

Students, faculty and staff will have the opportunity to write personalized notes thanking OHIO veterans for their service on Tuesday and Wednesday in Baker University Center. The OHIO community can meet and connect with student veterans at these tables. The 51�� Alumni Association is also having a campaign where people can write in their thank-you notes. There will also be a fundraising campaign for donors to leave thank-you notes with their donations.

The Veterans and Military Student Services Center will also celebrate the grand opening of the new Veterans Lounge on Thursday, Nov. 10. All students, faculty, staff and area residents are invited to the grand opening ceremony, which be held outside of Room 366 in the Baker University Center from 10 a.m. until noon.

The Army ROTC and the Air Force ROTC detachments will participate in a Veterans Day Parade, along with other local veteran organizations and community members, on Friday, Nov. 11. This year’s theme is “Never Forget Those That Gave Their Todays for Our Tomorrows.” The parade will begin at 10 a.m. at Armory Park, go down Court Street and end on College Green.

The American Legion Post 21 will host a breakfast before the parade and a lunch after.

OHIO’s hockey team will have a military appreciation night during their game against Pittsburgh on Friday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m.

Disclaimer: It is not the intent of 51�� to imply an endorsement by any service branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.

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