Jackson State University rolled out the red carpet for veterans and military students at a breakfast ceremony on Tuesday, Veterans Day.
Held at the Student Center Ballroom, the featured speaker at the event was Major DeRitha Barber, U.S. Army.
She spoke about her initial deployment to Kuwait during the first Gulf War. She had just joined the Army Guard and had two small children who she had to leave with her mother.
She had 72 hours to get ready for deployment, she said. All she could think about at the time was all those wonderful things her recruiter had promised her such as college loan forgiveness, a nice salary and a chance to further her education. She joked that she looked for that recruiter later on but could never find him, to the laughter and applause of the audience. She also spoke about the sacrifices made by her fellow soldiers during the conflict and the rewards of service.
The event was sponsored by the JSU Veterans & Military Center in collaboration with the College of Public Service/School of Social Work and Metro Jackson Community Prevention Coalition.
A number of local and state dignitaries were on hand, as well as job recruiters.
Campus businesses were offering discounts and on Veteran’s Day , also, according to Tim Abram, director of the JSU Veterans and Military Center.
For more information about benefits for veterans contact the JSU Veterans & Military Center at 601-979-1365 or 601-979-0889