Honoring Our Veterans

Sunday, Nov. 11, is Veterans Day, and The Association of Former Students joins our nation in honoring and saying “thank you.”

Veterans Day coincides with Armistice Day, which is commemorated every year on Nov. 11 to mark the armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany for the cessation of hostilities of World War I, which took effect at 11 a.m.—the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month" of 1918.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the armistice of the Great War. See a list, and photos of many, of the known Aggies who sacrificed their lives fighting in World War I here.

Veterans Day will be commemorated and recognized across Texas A&M’s campus and throughout Aggieland throughout the weekend. Read on to find ways you can participate and show your support, and learn of a few current efforts in place to recognize deserving veterans.

AROUND CAMPUS

Texas A&M University students, faculty and staff and the Brazos Valley community are invited to join the Corps of Cadets on the Corps Memorial Plaza Sunday, Nov. 11, at 11:11 a.m. in the north end of the Quadrangle for a Veterans Day wreath-laying memorial.

At the eleventh minute of the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, marking the end of World War I, the Corps will lay four ceremonial wreaths at the Memorial Student Center, Spanish-American War Memorial, the World War I Memorial, and the Post World War II Memorial on the Corps Memorial Plaza. Read more here. 

The community is invited to join the Brazos County World War I Centennial Committee on Tuesday, Nov. 13, for the dedication of a Texas Historical Commission marker commemorating Texas A&M’s participation in World War I. The event will take place at 10 a.m. in Academic Plaza (west side of the Academic Building).

The marker highlights the commitment Texas A&M and its former students made in the fight against tyranny during the Great War, and some of the unique events that took place on campus during the war. Read more here. 

The Veterans Service Office is hosting a brunch for veterans until noon Friday in the Money Education Center lobby.

The George Bush Presidential Library and Museum will honor military members and their families this Veterans Day by offering free admission to all active-duty personnel, retirees, veterans, reservists, National Guard and Coast Guard members as well as their families on Sunday and Monday. Free admission is available for one service member and up to five family members.

AROUND TOWN

The Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial will hold its annual Veterans Day Ceremony at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 11, in the Louis L. Adam Memorial Plaza of Veterans Park and Athletic Complex in College Station. Activities will commence with the “Honor Wall Roll Call,” a reading of military veteran names recently added to the memorial’s Wall of Honor. Other musical renditions, remarks and presentations to follow include the national anthem and Texas Our Texas, special recognition of Brazos Valley Heroes (Service Medley), rifle salute by the Ross Volunteers, Taps and more.

American Legion Post 159 is holding a Veteran’s Day ceremony at 11 a.m. on Sunday at 101 Waco St., Bryan.

Brazos Valley Chorale is performing a free concert in honor of Veterans Day at 2 p.m. on Sunday at the American Pavilion in Veterans Park.

WWI statue dedication and WWI names will be read on Sunday from 4-5 p.m. at the Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial.

HONORING VETERANS

Holocaust Museum Houston is holding Guardian of the Human Spirit Luncheon on Wednesday, Nov. 14, honoring the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets and Aggie liberators of World War II. Former TAMU president Robert Gates will speak. Read more and get tickets here. 

Nominations are being accepted for WWII veterans to receive the French Legion of Merit, France’s highest honor.

Project Aggie Valor is an ongoing effort to identify all former students who have been awarded the nation’s second highest award for valor—the Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross or Air Force Cross. View the list or provide additional information at tx.ag/valor.

The Liberator Information Project seeks to identify Texans who helped liberate the Nazi concentration camps during WWII. Please direct individuals fitting this description to this link for additional details here.

ONGOING VETERAN SUPPORT

In 2012, The Association helped establish the TAMU Veteran Resource and Support Center, a unique effort dedicated to supporting Aggie student veterans. With a motto of “Serve well those who have served,” the Center provides direct care to more than 1,200 veterans through mentoring, scholarships, academics, free athletics tickets, housing, and employment.

Aggie Rings for student veterans are made possible by former students’ gifts to The Association’s Annual Fund, as well as through current students’ support of Class Councils and its student-led, nine-year tradition, 11/11 Day, which annually raises financial support for their Aggie Rings for Veterans fund.

A similar program, Ring it Forward, seeks to award an Aggie Ring scholarship in the name of each of the 37 fallen Aggies who lost their lives during the War on Terror after Sept. 11, 2001. To date, they have been able to provide 13 Aggie Ring scholarships to individuals who have served in combat.

Gifts for Class Councils Aggie Rings for Veterans, Ring it Forward, and the TAMU Veteran Resource and Support Center can be directed to The Association of Former Students 505 George Bush Drive, College Station, TX 77840.

Anyone can give to provide an Aggie Ring Scholarship for student veterans at Texas A&M. Read about how here.

As well as donors’ gifts made specifically to Ring or other scholarship funds, any gift made to The Association generally helps support these scholarships. Thank you to all members of The Association who help these Aggie students’ dreams come true. You can learn more by contacting Nelson at (979) 845-7514 or SNelson92@AggieNetwork.com.

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

In 2018, our Traveling Aggies program is offering a number of trips remembering World War II, including:
Victory in the Pacific: March 15-25
Normandy ~ Honfleur - Honoring 75th anniversary or D-Day 2nd departure: April 6-14
Normandy ~ Honfleur - Honoring 75th anniversary or D-Day: April 20-28
75th Anniversary: D-Day Normandy: May 30 to June 8
Easy Company England to the Eagle's Nest: Sept. 2-15