Penn State Mont Alto and its student Veterans Club joined forces to install a permanent memorial on campus to honor and remember veterans of the United States Armed Forces. The memorial has been placed at the foot of a new 40-foot flag pole in front of Conklin Hall. It will be officially dedicated at a ceremony on September 11 at 12:15 p.m.
The project was initiated by the student members of the Veterans Club. At a celebration for Veterans Day last November, the 30-member club announced its fundraising plan of $13,000 to complete phase one — the memorial and flagpole. Their goal was achieved with help from the campus development office. The flag will be illuminated and visible 24 hours a day. Future plans include personalized paver bricks and park benches around the memorial.
A schedule for Sept. 11 includes:
-- Welcome Address, by Brian Hall, president, campus student Veterans Club
-- Greeting, by David Gnage, chancellor, Penn State Mont Alto
-- Flag Raising, by Penn State Mont Alto Veterans Club
-- Memorial Dedication, by Maj. Bill Lloyd, ’82, Penn State Mont Alto alumnus
-- Placing of the Wreath, by Penn State Mont Alto Veterans Club
-- Special Music, by April Howard, student, Penn State Mont Alto
The dedication ceremony is open to the public.
Penn State Mont Alto participates in the Veterans Administration's Yellow Ribbon G.I. Education Enhancement Program, a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act of 2008. This program allows our campus to partner with the V.A. to extend a higher benefit to veterans. Specifically, this program allows institutions of higher learning to enter into an agreement with the V.A. to fund tuition expenses that exceed the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition rate. Participating institutions can contribute up to 50 percent of those expenses and the V.A. will match the amount.