PHOTO BY: LOGAN KIRKLAND ROTC members gather on the field during halftime of Saturday’s game.
Cadet and veteran recognition at Saturday’s game was the first among many events that will be held on campus for Military Appreciation Month.
A month-long celebration will be held during the month of November in honor of those who have served in the United States military. The events started this past weekend with flag football games played by military cadets before the Ole Miss football game against Presbyterian, as well as the game being the Veteran’s Appreciation Football Game.
“This month is a continuation of what we’ve done for the past couple of years. In the past, we had a Veteran’s Day ceremony, which is really the only thing we did in regards to the university,” said Michael W. Howland, coordinator of Veteran and Military Services at the university.
Howland came to the university in 2010 to take over the Army ROTC and decided to reestablish the Chancellor’s Review, in which the chancellor inspects all of the ROTC cadets enrolled at the university. The Chancellor’s Review then became an additional event during Veteran’s Week at the university. This year, the Chancellor’s Review will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in front of the Lyceum.
“In 2013, I retired from the military and took this position as the coordinator of Veteran Military Services, and we decided to expand it to include multiple events,” Howland said. “One thing we decided to do was to work with athletics to create a Veteran’s Appreciation Football Game, so athletics goes out of its way to provide free tickets to veterans and military and their families to attend the football game that they choose for that event. During the game, we spend a lot of time recognizing veterans and the military on the campus and throughout the community.”
The United States Army’s Jazz Ambassadors will be performing at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts. According to Howland, last year’s performance was held by The United States Navy Band.
“What we’ve tried to do is basically build on what we had from the beginning with legacy events that we had created at Ole Miss and then add things to it that could compliment on-going things that we were trying to do in the future,” Howland said.
“The university has made a big push, especially in the last couple of years to show their appreciation to veterans and to make veterans feel welcome on campus. That’s one of the reasons that Michael Howland is here,” said Danny Blanton, director of Public Relations and a veteran.
“Being a veteran myself, veterans have a tendency to feel forgotten in this society, and it’s important for students to understand the sacrifice veterans have made,” Blanton said.
Military Appreciation Month will conclude with the Egg Bowl Run on Nov. 24 where ROTC cadets from Mississippi State will run the game ball from Starkville to Calhoun City. In Calhoun City, they will exchange the game ball with Ole Miss ROTC cadets during a short ceremony. The Ole Miss ROTC cadets will then finish the 47-mile run all the way back to Oxford. The event is expected to begin at 5 a.m. and end around 9 p.m.
Following the Egg Bowl Run, the game ball will be on display in the Ole Miss Student Union and put up for auction. All proceeds from the auction will be given to the Ole Miss ROTC fund.
The Egg Bowl Run was started last year by Master Sgt. Matt Hayes. The game ball will bear the signature of head coach Hugh Freeze and be carried by Ole Miss ROTC cadets in front of the Ole Miss football team during the Walk of Champions Saturday, Nov. 25.
“It’s important for students to appreciate and understand the sacrifices these people are making,” Blanton said. “Veterans don’t get rich for being in the military and going and putting their life on the line fighting for their country. They do it because of their love for their country. I think it’s important for students to take the time and think about that.”
“It’s great to see students supporting our military in any way they can because it’s important that those who serve know we support and respect what they do — that they are undoubtedly appreciated,” said Rebecca Whatley, junior Navy ROTC cadet. “And I think it’s important to show support for the ROTC because they are the future of our military.”
