Independence Community College invites the public to a Flag Raising Ceremony and Ribbon Cutting on November 11, celebrating the grand opening of the Veteran Student Success Center. The Flag Raising will begin at 8:30 a.m., outside the ICC Library American Flagpole. An open house will follow the ceremony offering refreshments and the opportunity to tour the center.
“Veterans Day is not a day to grieve, but rather a day to cherish. A day to appreciate our service members,” said Alan Parsons, Director of Veteran Success. “The Veteran Student Success Center at Independence Community College acknowledges and appreciates our veterans. To those in uniform serving now and to those who have served in the past, we admire your sacrifice, your selflessness, and your courage. Thank you!”
ICC is a designated a Purple Heart College by the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH). This designation is in recognition of the College’s support of military members, including veterans and their families.
Originally awarded as the Badge of Military Merit by General George Washington in 1782, the Purple Heart is the oldest U.S. military award still presented. General Douglas MacArthur revived the award and renamed it the Purple Heart on the 150th anniversary of Washington’s creation in 1932; it is now presented to service members of the United States Armed Forces who have been wounded or made the ultimate sacrifice in combat. More than 1.9 million Purple Hearts have since been awarded.