UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State, State College Borough and Centre County will honor military service members, veterans and their families when their service and sacrifices are recognized during a series of military appreciation events in October and November.
Penn State’s Military Appreciation Week officially kicks off with the annual Military Appreciation Game at Beaver Stadium on Oct 27. The football game, which will celebrate the 100-year anniversary of women in the U.S. Armed Forces, begins two weeks of events and festivities through the observance of Veterans Day on Monday, Nov. 12.
The planned events, including a community tailgate for military service members, speaker events and more, provide an opportunity for the Penn State community to join together to honor service members, veterans, their families and the Families of the Fallen.
Military appreciation events include:
- Oct. 1 — State College Borough Military Appreciation Week Proclamation: State College Borough will recognize Military Appreciation Week in the Borough, to be held from Nov. 2 to 12, during an event at the State College Municipal Building at 7 p.m.
- Oct. 27 — Military Appreciation Tailgate and Football Game: Penn State will recognize 100 years of women in the U.S. Armed Forces during the football team’s game against Iowa. Prior to the game, Penn State will host a tailgate for military service members and their guests.
- Oct. 27 — Women’s Volleyball Military Appreciation Game: The Nittany Lion women’s volleyball team will celebrate its military appreciation game when they welcome Purdue to Rec Hall at 8 p.m.
- Oct. 30 — Centre County Military Appreciation Month Proclamation: Centre County will recognize November as Military Appreciation Month during an event held at the Willowbank Office Building in Bellefonte at 10 a.m.
- Oct. 30 — Student Veterans Luncheon: Penn State student veterans and female veteran faculty, staff and alumni are invited to attend the third annual Student Veterans Luncheon from noon to 2 p.m. Oct. 30 in Robb Hall in the Hintz Family Alumni Center at University Park. RSVPs are required by Oct. 23. Along with a ceremony celebrating local female veterans, retired Col. Priscilla Hamilton, Penn State alumna and professor emerita of the Uniformed Services University, will deliver a talk.
- Oct. 30 — Today’s Women Warriors: Marine Corps Maj. Paige Kennedy and former CIA case officer Shannon McCombie will headline a seminar and Q&A forum about their experiences as women in historically male-dominated fields beginning at 5 p.m. in the Flex Theater at the HUB-Robeson Center.
- Nov. 1 — Library keynote address and pop-up exhibit: On Nov. 1 beginning at 9 a.m., the public is invited to a keynote address by Yvonne Gaudelius, associate vice president and senior associate dean for Undergraduate Education, followed by a pop-up exhibit of Special Collections materials titled "Penn State Women and the Military," both in Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library. A future exhibit on the history of American women in the military, featuring University Libraries materials available for checkout, will be on display later in November in the foyer and study areas of the Music and Media Center, part of the Middlemas Arts and Humanities Library, second floor Pattee Library.
- Nov. 2 — First Friday: November’s First Friday will take place in Downtown State College from 5 to 8 p.m. on the 100 block of South Fraser Street and will feature live performances on the MLK Plaza Stage, prizes, military discounts at participating businesses, and military vehicles and organizations. Downtown State College will provide free parking validations for the Fraser Street Garage to all military service members and veterans. This event helps support Penn State's Military Student Fund, offering financial assistance to military-affiliated students as a needs-based scholarship.
- Nov. 5 — Featured Speaker: Bryan Anderson: Anderson is an Army veteran of the Iraq War, triple amputee, spokesperson and author of his memoir, “No Turning Back.” He will speak in the Flex Theater at the Hub-Robeson Center from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
- Nov. 11 — PTSD Run: Penn State’s Aerospace Studies Student Organization will host the 3rd annual Freedom 5k for PTSD to help raise money and awareness for post-traumatic stress disorder beginning at 11 a.m. at the Westgate Building (332 Info Science and Tech, University Park).
- Nov. 11 — Women’s Basketball Military Appreciation Game: The Lady Lion basketball team will celebrate its military appreciation game when they welcome California at the Bryce Jordan Center at 2 p.m.
- Nov. 12 — Military Appreciation Breakfast: Penn State students, faculty and staff who currently serve or have served in the U.S. Armed Forces are invited to attend the 10th annual Military Appreciation Breakfast from 9 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. on Nov. 12 in Heritage Hall in the HUB-Robeson Center at University Park. RSVPs are required by Nov. 2. The theme of this year’s breakfast is “Penn State and Military Service: A Common Thread.” The event will feature Carolyn Foust, a volunteer with Happy Valley Quilts of Valor, who will award five quilts of valor during the event.
- Nov. 12 — Veterans Day Ceremony: The Penn State Student Veteran Organization welcomes the public to attend their annual Veterans Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. on the front steps of Old Main to honor and thank all who served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Visit the Penn State Military Appreciation website for more information.