Tennessee Tech honors veterans with weeklong celebrations, events
American flags are displayed on Tech’s main quad each year in honor of Veterans Week.
Tennessee Tech University will honor veteran students, faculty, staff and community
members with its annual Veterans Week celebration, hosted by Tech’s Department of
Military & Veteran Affairs.
While university classes are canceled on Monday, Nov. 11 in observance of the Veterans
Day federal holiday, campus will come alive the following day with a slate of patriotic
events to salute Tech’s veteran heroes.
At 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, the university will hold its annual Veterans Day ceremony
on the front steps of the Jere Whitson Building. The event, which is open to the public,
will feature keynote remarks from Tech’s own Kevin Vedder, a retired U.S. Army veteran
and the university’s associate vice president for human resources. Light refreshments
will be served.
On Wednesday, Nov. 13, departments and offices across Tech’s campus will participate
in a special day of appreciation for the university’s veteran community. Later in
the day, the university has partnered with the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs’ Tennessee
Valley Healthcare System to host a veterans town hall. The free event is open to all
local veterans and will begin at 4 p.m. in the Roaden University Center’s Tech Pride
Room.
During the town hall, attendees will learn about VA benefits like the PACT Act, Caregiver Support Program, Women Veterans Program and more. Eligible veterans will
have the opportunity to enroll in VA health care and learn about additional veteran
programs and services available in the community. Veterans Benefit Administration
representatives will be available to answer questions about benefit claims.
On Thursday, Nov. 14, a team of Tech’s veteran students, faculty, staff and alumni
will take on current Tech ROTC cadets in the annual kickball game and block party
at Walton Park. Light refreshments will be served.
The weeklong celebration culminates with Tech’s recognition of National Red Out Day
on Friday, Nov. 15. While Golden Eagles are usually encouraged to wear their purple
and gold on Fridays, members of the university community will instead wear read to
honor the sacrifices of our nation’s veteran heroes.
Also on Friday, the university's veterans and veteran dependents are invited to Tech's
Veterans Center – a dedicated campus space for military and veteran students and their
families – for a day of movies and popcorn. Veteran-themed movies will air continuously
throughout the day in the center’s quarters on the third floor of the Jere Whitson
Building.
“Our veterans and military families are a source of deep pride for the entire Tennessee
Tech community,” said Jamie Bryant, director of Tech’s Department of Military & Veteran
Affairs. “As a university, we have a long tradition of respect for veterans’ service
and sacrifice that is infused into all we do. We are especially pleased to hold this
annual event – now in its seventh year – as a token of our gratitude for their patriotism
and selflessness.”
Tennessee Tech has been named a 2024 “Best for Vets” university by Military Times and received the 2023-2024 “Military Friendly School” designation from VIQTORY, a
service-disabled, veteran-owned small business.
Learn more about Tech’s commitment and services to veteran and active-duty military
students and their families at https://www.tntech.edu/veterans/.
