UK to Host Veterans Day Celebration By Jenny Wells-Hosley
The University of Kentucky will host its annual Veterans Day celebration to pay tribute to the sacrifices made and courage displayed by our veterans.
Organized by the UK Veterans Resource Center and the UK Student Veterans Association, the ceremony will be held at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 11, in the Gatton Student Center Harris Ballroom. Doors open at 11 a.m. The entire campus community is invited.
For those who cannot attend the in-person ceremony, a virtual option is available at https://uky.zoom.us/j/89621104014.
Among the speakers will be university administrators and Aydin Chester, president of the UK Student Veterans Association.
“On Veterans Day, we recognize America’s veterans for the selfless service they’ve provided our country so that we may live free," said Chester, who is a junior in the Gatton College of Business and Economics. "We do things like pursue an education, build careers and raise families in a free country all because of the sacrifices our nation’s military has made. (This Veteran's Day), we recognize that the veterans here at UK aren’t just former service-members, but also Wildcats. Thank you for your commitment to our nation and thank you for your service!”
A keynote will be delivered by Wesley Coffman, D.M.D., an assistant professor in the UK College of Dentistry. Before pursuing his career in dentistry, Coffman was honorably discharged after four years of service in the U.S. Army, where he served a one-year tour of duty in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot and earned the Bronze Star. In his talk on Thursday, Coffman will discuss his experience with the draft, the Vietnam war and the benefits of having served. He will also discuss patriotism and how everyone can do small things to make the country better.
Lapel pins representing the various branches of service will be distributed, and a chili lunch will follow the ceremony.