Activities start Nov. 6 in honor of veterans, military personnel

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Several activities have been planned at Western Michigan University to commemorate Veterans Day on Tuesday, Nov. 11, as well as to honor or assist WMU students, WMU employees and members of the broader community who are military veterans or are currently deployed.

All activities take place on the WMU campus unless otherwise noted. Directions to WMU and campus maps are available by visiting wmich.edu/maps/printables.php.

For more information, contact: Natalia C. Obreiter for ROTC and Department of Military Science and Leadership activities at cris.obreiter@wmich.edu or (269) 387-8120; David Reed for the Broncos for Heroes event at david@broncosforheroes.org or (248) 312-8679; and Ashley Braatz for Office of Military and Veterans Affairs activities at ashley.braatz@wmich.edu or (269) 387-4411.

Activities on Nov. 11, Veterans Day

• Army ROTC cadets from WMU's Bronco Battalion are holding an American Red Cross blood drive from 10:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. in Room 1305 of the Activity Therapy Building, which serves as ROTC headquarters and is located between WMU's Health and Human Services Building and the Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital. For information or an appointment, visit redcrossblood.org and use "wmu" as the sponsor code or call (800) 733-2767. Walk-in donors also are welcome.
• WMU student veterans from several nations will participate in a reading called Stories From the Barracks to the Front from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Lee Honors College Building lounge. Starting at noon, participants will read short narratives about their military service. The public is welcome to attend this free event, which will include refreshments.
• The Combat Veterans' Writing Group of the Portage District Library will host a community story-sharing called Stories From the Front and the Home Front Chapter 2 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the library's Austin, Sugarloaf and West Lake rooms. This event is part of the University Center for the Humanities at WMU speaker series that is focusing this year on the healing arts. It will begin with readings of short pieces by members of the writing group. An open-mic session will follow, during which community members who have served on the home front, or who have memories of a loved one who has served in combat, will be given the opportunity to speak about their war-time experiences.

Activities before, after Veterans Day

• Thursday, Nov. 6—A Broncos for Heroes Night or B4H Night, fundraiser to support sending care packages to troops deployed overseas will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Texas Corral Grill & Saloon, 5519 W. Main St. in Kalamazoo. Members of Broncos for Heroes, a registered student organization at WMU, will act as the restaurant's servers for the night and donate all of their tips toward the care package project. Meanwhile, Texas Corral will contribute to the project by donating 15 percent of the bill incurred by patrons who bring in the B4H Night flier posted at http://goo.gl/bZyOZH.
• Thursday, Nov. 13—Army ROTC and the Department of Military Science and Leadership will host a Veterans Day celebration for veterans from all service branches from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Activities Therapy Building. Services, food and drink will be provided. Reservations are requested at (269) 387-8120 or (800) 968-7682 so organizers can get a food count, but reservations are not required to attend the event. Free parking will be available in lot 103.
• Friday, Nov. 14 (Canceled due to weather)—Student Veterans of America will hold its fourth Veterans Day 5K Run and Celebration beginning at 9 a.m. at the Campus Flagpoles by the Lee Honors College. The event features a 5K cadence-calling, organized run followed by a celebration at the Wesley Foundation that includes a complimentary breakfast and motivational remarks by retired Brig. Gen. Michael C.H. McDaniel, professor of constitutional law at the WMU Thomas M. Cooley Law School.
• November and December—Anyone on and off campus who is a veteran or still active in the military may contact the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs to participate in intercollegiate athletics military appreciation nights. Participants may request up to four free tickets to the football game against Northern Illinois University (time has yet to be announced) Friday, Nov. 28, and up to two tickets to the hockey game against Colorado College at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12.
  
  During the hockey game, the WMU Student Veterans Association will hold a raffle for a special-edition camouflage hockey jersey. Raffle tickets are $5 for two tickets and $10 for five tickets. The winner will be picked during the third period of the game. Proceeds will be split between the WMU United Way campaign as well as the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs to benefit the SVA. Last year's raffle raised close to $1,000.
  
• Now through mid-December—Student Veterans of America, Broncos for Heroes, and the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs are collecting items for holiday care packages that will be sent to deployed student veterans. A list of high-demand items is available by visiting wmich.edu/military and clicking Events. Donations may be dropped off in the Student Veteran Lounge, Room 1304 of Ellsworth Hall; at the Campus Flagpoles before the 5K run and celebration Nov. 14; and in the lobby of Lawson Ice Arena before the hockey game Dec. 12.

For more news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.