EIU Media Relations

EIU to Commemorate Veterans Day with Series of Events

Eastern Illinois University will commemorate Veterans Day with a series of events focused on military education including its annual ceremony.

Community residents are invited to join students, faculty and staff for the annual Veterans Day Commemoration Ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11, in Old Main’s Cougill Foyer. The annual ceremony will include remarks by Derrick Jackson, an EIU student veteran, and EIU President Bill Perry, as well as the laying of a wreath.  The ROTC Panther Battalion will render a three-volley salute, while members of the EIU Department of Music will perform the National Anthem and the playing of taps.

Scott Shaffer, coordinator of EIU’ s military student assistance center, said the ceremony is only a part of EIU’s commitment to military veterans. This year, EIU was recognized by U.S. News & World Report for its commitment to military veterans. The magazine’s “2015 Best Colleges” rankings, published annually, list Eastern as the No. 13 “Best College for Veterans” among Midwestern regional universities (public and private).  EIU was the second highest ranked public university on the list.

The public is also invited to other events throughout the week:

• A Veterans Appreciation Fair will be from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 10, at the LifeSpan Center (11021 E. County Road) (Sponsored by LifeSpan).
• Carl Sandburg Elementary School students will begin Tuesday’s activities with a presentation of the POW/MIA Remembrance Table. The table honors those, be they prisoners of war or those missing in action, who cannot join their families and friends. This activity will begin at 9 a.m. in Booth Library’s north foyer.
• The Mattoon Junior ROTC Drill Team will conduct a “Drill and Ceremony” at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12, in the University Ballroom in the Martin Luther King Jr. Union.

For more information about the Military Assistance Center at EIU, click here.