Galloway, N.J. — Stockton University will honor the service, sacrifices and contributions of veterans, active-duty military personnel and their families with a series of events during Veterans Week from Nov. 9-14.

Organized by Stockton's Office of Veteran and Military-Connected Student Success and Military-Affiliated Students of Stockton, the weeklong celebration will feature a Veterans Day recognition ceremony, panel discussion, community service project, military-themed activities and a free concert by the Bay Atlantic Symphony.

The events are designed to recognize the contributions of veterans, National Guard and Reserve members, and military-affiliated students, faculty and staff, while providing opportunities for the campus community to learn more about their experiences.

The centerpiece of the week will be Stockton's annual Veterans Day Recognition Ceremony at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, in the Campus Center Grand Hall.

This year's ceremony will feature two distinguished guest speakers: Lt. Victoria Castleberry, commanding officer of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Angela McShan and Lucy Del Gaudio, women veterans coordinator for the New Jersey Department of Veterans Affairs.

The ceremony will honor the service, sacrifice and continued contributions of the nation's veterans. A reception will immediately follow in the Campus Center Coffee House. The ceremony will also be livestreamed.

Later that day, Del Gaudio will also be the guest speaker at “Latino Voices in Service: Experiences in the Military and Higher Education” from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the Multicultural Center.

The panel discussion will feature Hispanic student veterans and service members sharing their experiences navigating military service and higher education. Topics will include cultural identity, overcoming barriers, transitioning to college, representation and community.

Other Veterans Week events include:

• Nov. 9-13 — Faces of Stockton's Military Community Photograph Project: An exhibition in the Campus Center Coffee House will highlight the diversity of Stockton's military-affiliated students, faculty and staff, showcasing their service, experiences and connections to the university.
• Monday, Nov. 9 — Veterans Park Cleanup: Volunteers will gather from noon to 1 p.m. at Veterans Park on the Galloway campus to honor veterans through a community service project involving leaf removal and trash collection.
• Wednesday, Nov. 11 — Veterans Day Ruck March: Students, faculty, staff and community members are invited to participate in a morning of camaraderie and physical activity at Big Blue Track. Participants will gather at 7 a.m., with the march beginning at 7:15 a.m. The event will take place rain or shine.
• Thursday, Nov. 12 — Meals Ready-to-Eat (MRE) Tasting: Experience a taste of military life by sampling the packaged meals commonly used by service members in the field. The event will take place from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at Independence Plaza and provide an opportunity to interact with Stockton's military-affiliated students. In case of inclement weather, the event will move to the G-Wing Lower Gallery Atrium.
• Saturday, Nov. 14 — Bay Atlantic Symphony Veterans Day Concert: The week concludes with a special musical tribute honoring those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces at 7:30 p.m. in Stockton's Performing Arts Center. The concert is free and open to the public, but advance tickets are required and available through the Stockton Performing Arts Center website.

For more information about Veterans Week, contact the Office of Veteran & Military-Connected Student Success at VMCSS@stockton.edu.