UCA and City of Conway to host Veterans Day Celebration

The University of Central Arkansas and City of Conway will host its 16th annual Veterans Day Celebration at 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, on the Old Main lawn at UCA.

This year’s theme is “Honor our heroes, protect our future.” A formal ceremony honoring veterans will take place at 1:40 p.m.

Special guests include Congressman Tim Griffin, Mayor Tab Townsell and Sen. Jason Rapert. Brigadier Gen. Dwight Balch, director of the Air National Guard, is the keynote speaker at the ceremony honoring veterans. Honorary citations will be presented by Sen. Jason Rapert to local community members. The ceremony also will include the presentation of the honorary doctorate of public service conferred posthumously to LTC William Leon Russell Sr. by UCA President Tom Courtway.

The celebration offers a full schedule of activities including free food provided by local restaurants, live music performances by the UCA community, educational information and vendor booths, and a bone marrow donor registry and community blood drive. Companies and organizations committed to providing services for veterans will also be present. Individuals interested in community service opportunities can participate in the Red Cross Blood Drive and the “Be the Match” Bone Marrow Donor registry on site at the celebration.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please visit uca.edu/veteransday. In the event of rain, the event will be held at Brewer-Hegeman Conference Center on the UCA campus.