Air Force Flyover, U.S. Navy Officer on Tap for WT, Canyon Veterans Day Celebration

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — West Texas A&M University and the City of Canyon again will join forces to commemorate Veterans Day.

The joint celebration for veterans, active-duty military and Gold Star families will begin at 11 a.m. Nov. 11 at the Veterans Memorial on the WT campus.

“Hosting the Veterans Day celebration on our campus is a highlight for me each year,” WT President Walter V. Wendler said. “Shortly after arriving at the University, I worked with alumni, veterans and community leaders to realize a long-overdue dream of a campus memorial to honor WT alumni and their families who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. The memorial ensures WT remembers the price that servicewomen and men, and their families, pay for the freedoms we often take for granted.”

Honoring the courage and sacrifice of veterans is a profound duty, Canyon Mayor Gary Hinders said.

“This Veterans Day ceremony is not just a tribute to those who have served; it’s a reminder of the freedoms we enjoy because of their bravery,” Hinders said. “By coming together as a community, we can honor those who served our country and now serve Canyon as neighbors and students.”

The celebration will include remarks from Lt. Corey Todd Jones, an Amarillo native and deputy public affairs officer in the Office of the Secretary of the Navy. Jones’ father, Stephen Jones, is a member of the WT Alumni Association board of directors.

The event also is scheduled to include a flyover provided by the 7th Bomb Wing from Dyess Air Force Base.

A wreath will be laid at the memorial to commemorate members of the WT family who gave their lives in military service.

Rylan Dove, a junior education major from Amarillo and U.S. Army veteran, will deliver the invocation. The Canyon High School Choir will perform the national anthem and an armed forces tribute, and the Tascosa High School Junior ROTC will present colors.

Free hot dogs and Buffalo cookies also will be served.

WT currently serves nearly 600 military and veteran students, offering access to a variety of educational benefits programs for them and their dependents.

“At WT, we have the opportunity to play a crucial role in the transition of veterans back to civilian life and to further the education of our nation’s active-duty servicemembers,” said Amy Criss, director of military and veteran benefits. “We aim to ensure that active military, veterans and their families receive the resources they need not only to be successful but also to thrive.”

WT’s Office of Military and Veterans Services was one of 19 institutions receiving a gold 2023 Veteran Education Excellence Recognition Award by the Texas Veterans Commission. WT ranked No. 25 for Best Colleges for Veterans in recently released rankings from U.S. News & World Report.

The office also will cohost a Military Appreciation Night at the Nov. 9 WT football game in Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium. The WT Student Veterans organization will volunteer at High Plains Food Bank, as well.

WT’s goal to be a leading institution in the United States for enrolling military personnel is a key metric in the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign’s new goal is to reach $175 million by 2025; currently, it has raised more than $160 million.

About West Texas A&M University

WT, a Regional Research University, is redefining excellence in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers 58 undergraduate degree programs, one associate degree, and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor’s and master’s degree, a specialist degree and two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

Photo: TheTascosa High School Junior ROTC present colors at the 2023 Veterans Day Celebration at West Texas A&M University. The 2024 celebration is set for Nov. 11 at the Veterans Memorial on WT's campus.

—WT—