By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
A special Veterans Day ceremony on the St. Joseph campus of Missouri Western State University as the university cuts the ribbon to open its Center for Military and Veterans Services.
Major General Levon Cumpton, Adjutant General of the Missouri National Guard, says it is appropriate to celebrate on Veterans Day the opening of a center to serve military college students.
“It’s such a special day,” Cumpton tells those gathered at Missouri Western. “It’s an honor to be here with you on this special occasion. I want to start by thanking all the veterans in attendance. It is you that we are here to celebrate and it is you that we are here to recognize with the ribbon cutting of the Center for Military and Veterans Services.”
Cumpton says those who serve deserve the recognition.
“Veterans Day is an important day as it reminds our nation of the men and women who signed on the dotted line, agreeing to go as far as laying down their own life if necessary, to preserve our freedom,” Cumpton says.
The center will provide information specific to military students and help navigate the various financial assistance available to college students who are serving or who have served in the military. It also will provide a place for military students and veterans to gather.
Gov. Mike Parson also attended the ribbon cutting and takes time to thank Missouri Western Interim President Elizabeth Kennedy for reaching out to military students.
“I just want to thank you for what you’ve been doing at Missouri Western, what you continue to do, and some of the things that we’ll be working on together as we move forward in this state,” Parson tells Kennedy. “And, again, for honoring our veterans today. I appreciate that.”