SCC to host week-long veterans celebration

Published: 10/26/2017

St. Charles Community College will bring the community together by hosting a week-long celebration in honor of Veterans Day, Nov. 6-9. Events are free and open to the public, and will take place on the college’s campus in Cottleville.

Veterans and community members from across the county gathered at St. Charles Community College for the 2016 Veterans Celebration. This year’s Veterans Celebration will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 6, in the SSB auditorium.

The events kick off with the college’s annual Veterans Celebration at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 6, in the Daniel J. Conoyer Social Sciences Building (SSB) auditorium. 

The ceremony will include a keynote from Ms. Elizabeth “Betty” Gonzales, the first female Commander of American Legion Department of Missouri, and will include participation from local veteran organizations and their color guards. Gonzales served in the United States Marine Corps from 1968-1970, and is a past Commandant of Marine Corps League Detachment 725. As a member of American Legion St. Louis Service Women’s Post 404, one of only five all-women posts in Missouri, Betty served in every position except Adjutant including Commander for three years, and as a member of the Post’s Military Funeral Honors Team, Color Guard and Tribute to Women Veterans Committee. In 2010, Gonzales became the first woman to serve as Commander for the 11th/12th District of St. Louis and in 2015 was selected as District Legionnaire of the Year. She currently serves the American Legion Department of Missouri as chairperson of Operation Comfort Warriors, a program that provides assistance and comfort items to wounded service members. She also serves as National Legislative Liaison to Congresswoman Ann Wagner, as a member of Senator Claire McCaskill’s Veterans Council and as a member of the American Legion National Americanism Commission. 

The Veterans Panel: “Boots to Books: The Transition Experience” takes place at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7, in the SSB auditorium. 

The film “Restrepo” shows at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8, in the SSB auditorium. A roundtable discussion on combating suicide is slated for 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, in the College Center rotunda. 

A Veterans Week Ceremonial March starts at 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, starting on the Campus Plaza by the flags.  

For more information on Veterans Week events, visit stchas.edu/veteransweek.  

To learn more about services for veterans on campus, the Student Veteran Organization and Honoring Military Families Scholarship, contact Andrew Gates, veterans services coordinator, at 636-922-8268. 

St. Charles Community College strives to provide reasonable accommodations to all people at any SCC-sponsored event. Please contact Disability Support Services at dss@stchas.edu or 636-922-8581 as early as possible to discuss your needs.

St. Charles Community College is a public, comprehensive two-year community college with associate degrees and certificate programs in the arts, business, sciences and career-technical fields. SCC provides workforce training and community-based personal and professional development as well as cultural, recreational and entertainment opportunities. For more information, visit stchas.edu.