Event recognizes veterans

On Wednesday, Nov. 6, Kankakee Community College will commemorate Veterans Day with a reception and recognition ceremony.

The day will begin with a reception from 10:30-11:30 a.m. in the KCC Cavalier Room. A ceremony honoring veterans will be at 11:30 a.m. in the college’s auditorium. Both events are free and the public is invited. 

At the recognition ceremony, posting of the colors will be from the Marine Corps League Detachment 1253. 

Guest speakers will be Eric Carlson, a U.S. Army veteran and Eric Peterson, an Illinois Army National Guard veteran.

Carlson is program director and Treasurer of 1PET1VET and president and a volunteer for Task Force 75. 1Pet1Vet provides emotional support to military veterans coping with the effects of post-traumatic stress by pairing them with specially trained service dogs. Carlson also is the president and a volunteer for Task Force 75, a non-profit, charitable organization founded to respond to disasters and emergency situations.

Peterson is co-founder of Project Headspace and Timing, which promotes positive mental health practices to veterans by unifying them with their communities, nature, and themselves.

From KCC, Dr. Professor Cari Stevenson, a co-advisor of the college’s Veteran’s Association, will speak about the Mark Rodriguez Memorial Scholarship; and the college president, Dr. Michael Boyd, will also make remarks.

For more information, contact Kendra Souligne, co-advisor of KCC’s Veteran’s Association, at ksouligne@kcc.edu or phone 815-802-8556.

A related art exhibit, featuring veterans’ works, will be on display throughout November in the college’s Arts and Sciences Building first floor gallery area.
KCC is located south of downtown Kankakee near River Road, off U.S. 45-52, or take Interstate 57 to Exit 308 and follow the signs. Directions are at www.kcc.edu/directions. 

Pictured above: Members of the audience and those on stage stand during the national anthem during the 2018 Veterans Recognition Ceremony at KCC.