Kalamazoo Valley Celebrates Veterans Day

Kalamazoo Valley Community College will honor our nation’s veterans with a morning of events November 11 on its Texas Township Campus.

The day begins at 7:50 a.m. with a flag raising ceremony led by staff from the college’s Police Academy: Command Sergeant Major Paul Bianco, Master Sergeant Todd Christensen, Sergeant First Class Keaton Nielsen and Sergeant Phillip Goodrich. They will be joined by eight student veterans enrolled in the academy. The flag raising ceremony takes place in the college’s Veteran’s Tribute Garden located outside of Room 4240, near the Student Commons parking lot.

The garden features a ceramic tile mural, designed by Kalamazoo Valley ceramics instructor Francis Granzotto and his assistant Elijah Potter. The garden also includes a flagpole with the emblems representing the five branches of the military surrounding it. The military emblems were created on campus, by CNC instructor Bill Kring, using new advanced technology equipment. Tiles in the garden’s mural were purchased by community members to honor their loved one’s military service. In addition to contributions from the community, the Veterans Tribute Garden received funding and support from the Kalamazoo Valley Community College Foundation, The Jim Gilmore Jr. Foundation and the SVA. A ribbon-cutting for the garden took place on Veteran’s Day 2015.

College President Marilyn Schlack will offer a brief welcome following the flag raising ceremony. Russ Panico, athletic director and student relations coordinator as well as a U.S Navy veteran, will provide a history of Veteran’s Day.

A breakfast, donated in part by Kalamazoo County Veteran’s Affairs Office and Water Street Coffee Joint, follows at 8 a.m. The reception, held in Room 4240, is open to all current service members and veterans at Kalamazoo Valley, including students, faculty and staff. A panel discussion featuring student veterans will begin after breakfast.

The college’s Veteran Lounge, located in Room 6044, will be open to the public from 9-10 a.m. It provides a space for student veterans to study, connect, relax, and access veteran-specific resources at a centralized location. The morning concludes with a walk through Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s nature trails. Those interested in participating should meet in the Veteran’s Tribute Garden at 10 a.m. Veteran Coordinator Michael Morehouse will lead the one hour walk.