West Texas A&M University and the City of Canyon again will join forces to commemorate Veterans Day.
The joint celebration for veterans, active-duty military and Gold Star families will begin at 11 a.m. Nov. 11 at the Veterans Memorial on the WT campus.
“Hosting the Veterans Day celebration on our campus is a highlight for me each year,” WT President Walter V. Wendler said. “Shortly after arriving at the University, I worked with alumni, veterans and community leaders to realize a long-overdue dream of a campus memorial to honor WT alumni and their families who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. The memorial ensures WT remembers the price that servicewomen and men, and their families, pay for the freedoms we often take for granted.”
Honoring the courage and sacrifice of veterans is a profound duty, Canyon Mayor Gary Hinders said.
“This Veterans Day ceremony is not just a tribute to those who have served; it’s a reminder of the freedoms we enjoy because of their bravery,” Hinders said. “By coming together as a community, we can honor those who served our country and now serve Canyon as neighbors and students.”
The celebration will include remarks from Lt. Corey Todd Jones, an Amarillo native and deputy public affairs officer in the Office of the Secretary of the Navy. Jones’ father, Stephen Jones, is a member of the WT Alumni Association board of directors.
The event also is scheduled to include a flyover provided by the 7th Bomb Wing from Dyess Air Force Base.
A wreath will be laid at the memorial to commemorate members of the WT family who gave their lives in military service.
Rylan Dove, a junior education major from Amarillo and U.S. Army veteran, will deliver the invocation. The Canyon High School Choir will perform the national anthem and an armed forces tribute, and the Tascosa High School Junior ROTC will present colors.
Free hot dogs and Buffalo cookies also will be served.
WT currently serves nearly 600 military and veteran students, offering access to a variety of educational benefits programs for them and their dependents.
“At WT, we have the opportunity to play a crucial role in the transition of veterans back to civilian life and to further the education of our nation’s active-duty servicemembers,” said Amy Criss, director of military and veteran benefits. “We aim to ensure that active military, veterans and their families receive the resources they need not only to be successful but also to thrive.”
WT’s Office of Military and Veterans Services was one of 19 institutions receiving a gold 2023 Veteran Education Excellence Recognition Award by the Texas Veterans Commission. WT ranked No. 25 for Best Colleges for Veterans in recently released rankings from U.S. News & World Report.
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