With its main entrance adorned with American flags, Lander University celebrated the men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces with a Veterans Day celebration on Friday, Nov. 10, in the Josephine B. Abney Cultural Center Auditorium.
The program, led by members of the Lander chapter of the Student Veterans of America, featured a historic narrative of the origin of Veterans Day and recognition of Lander students, faculty and staff who have served in the military. Also observed was the Missing Man Table, a symbolic military tradition to honor missing soldiers who have either fallen, are missing or have been imprisoned during warfare.
Lander freshman Treyvories Evans, of St. Stephen, was named the 2017 Outstanding Student Veteran for his recent service in Puerto Rico. Evans, a member of the South Carolina National Guard, was deployed when the 178th Engineer Battalion from Rock Hill and the 122nd Engineer Battalion from Edgefield were sent to assist with recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.
During a reception following the Veterans Day celebration, attendees joined in a celebration of the 242nd birthday for the U.S. Marine Corps.
Lander has historically been a strong supporter of the U.S. Armed Forces and has worked to increase recruitment of military personnel and veterans so that they can take advantage of the opportunities to continue or complete their education. For its efforts in support of veterans, Lander was officially named a Yellow Ribbon Program school by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in 2016.