Founding President Dr. Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson signed a proclamation Wednesday designating Nov. 7-11 Military and Veterans Appreciation Week at PennWest.

The signing ceremony kicked off a series of military appreciation events across the PennWest campuses.

“Veterans among our faculty, staff and students contribute tremendously to our campus communities in the form of leadership, integrity and dedication,” Pehrsson said. “With this proclamation, we honor the sacrifices of military service members and reaffirm our commitment to providing comprehensive support services to our student veterans, current service members and their families.”

Events include:

PennWest California

The Veterans Club at PennWest California will host its 49th annual Veterans Day dinner Nov. 8 in the south wing of the Convocation Center. Paul Shipley ’17, ’19, who served in Iraq in 2006-2007, will be the guest speaker.

Doors open at 5 p.m., and the event begins at 5:30.

Admission is free for California campus veterans, military service members and students. California alumni who are current or former members of the military will also be admitted for free. Other guests are $10 per person. For payment options, contact calveterans@pennwest.edu.

Reservations are due by noon Nov. 3 by emailing calveterans@pennwest.edu or calling 724-938-4076.

PennWest Clarion

Beginning at 4:58 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6, with the lowering of the flag, Clarion ROTC cadets will be raising and lowering the flag at 7:58 a.m. and 4:58 p.m. daily at the Carrier flag pole through Friday, Nov. 11.

PennWest Clarion’s Presidential Commission on Veteran & Military Affairs has teamed up with Aramark to offer free lunches for student, faculty and staff veterans in Eagle Commons from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Nov. 11.

PennWest Clarion – Venango

“A History of Service: Saluting All Veterans” will be held at 11 a.m. Nov. 10 at PennWest Clarion – Venango’s Robert W. Rhoades Student Center auditorium. Previously named “Flags for the Fallen,” the event honors veterans from all U.S. conflicts.

Rep. R. Lee James, a U.S. Navy veteran who represents the 64th Legislative District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, will serve as keynote speaker. Casey Beightol, director of campus relations at PennWest Clarion – Venango, and James Geiger, vice president for Advancement at PennWest, will offer welcoming remarks.

Refreshments will be served in the dining lounge following the program.

The campus will be dotted with hundreds of flags symbolizing those from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania who fought and died in all wars. The annual “Walk of Remembrance” will be placed along the sidewalk between Frame and Montgomery halls.

“A History of Service: Saluting All Veterans” is organized by the Venango Veterans Club with support from the Clarion Students’ Association, local service and veterans’ groups and other community supporters.

PennWest Edinboro

Members of the Fighting Scots Battalion ROTC program will mark Veterans Day with a solemn community observance at 11 a.m. Nov. 11 on the front lawn of Reeder Hall.

During the public flag-raising ceremony, the ROTC Honor Guard will present a 21-gun salute as tribute to past and present military servicemembers, and a series of speakers will discuss the significance of Veterans Day as a nationwide day of remembrance.

A reception will follow in the lobby of Reeder Hall.

About Veterans Day

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, an armistice was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in World War I. The following year, many countries recognized that date as Armistice Day, which became a federal holiday in the U.S. in 1938, and was eventually renamed Veterans Day following the Korean War.

Pennsylvania Western University is committed to helping veterans, eligible dependents and active-duty service members reach their education and life goals with the help of individualized support services.

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