Veterans Day 2022 was a special day at the Veteran Student Success Center on the ICC main campus. At a special ceremony at 11 a.m. on this 11th day of the 11th month, college staff and students gathered in the Student Union Building around the college’s flag display featuring the five (5) military branch flags.
Brin Stark, SGA president and Vocal Performance major set the tone by singing acapella, the National Anthem followed by a welcoming from ICC president, Dr. Vincent Bowhey. After remarks by Tommy Ellis about Public Law No. 114-240”, the “Veterans Day Moment of Silence Act”, and Leah Delamarter’s statements about the significance of Veterans Day, India Bennett then presented those gathered with information about the Space Force, the newest and sixth (6th) branch of the U. S. military. As she was presenting, the new Space Force flag was brought into view and then appropriately installed in its place of honor with the other branch flags, the Army, the Navy, the Marines, the Coast Guard and the Air Force.
For many, this ceremony was their first opportunity to view the newest of the branch flags and to learn about the Space Force being the newest military branch in almost 75 years along with its critical importance to our future. The event offered everyone a reminder of the sacrifices made by our veterans throughout our country’s history and our debt of gratitude.
Current veteran students and all future veteran students at ICC can be assured of ICC’s commitment to providing all military-affiliated students with every service necessary for a successful college career. Besides being a Purple Heart College, ICC was recently named a Veteran Friendly School as well. Additionally, ICC is one of sixteen colleges nationwide to receive special funding from the U. S. Department of Education/FIPSE to establish an on-campus Center of Excellence for Veteran Students Success. For more information about veteran student services at ICC, please call 620.332.5477 or stop by the office located on the lower level of the Student Union Building on the Main Campus.