PirateQ 
Veterans Day is set aside to honor and celebrate the service of Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. Originally celebrated as Armistice Day to mark the end of World War I, November 11th was later expanded to commemorate the service all who have served in the U.S. Military.
The Pensacola Veterans Day Parade starts at 9:00 a.m. and will line up at Garden and Spring Streets and end in front of Veterans Memorial Park, with Captain Lee Hansen USN (Ret) serving as both the Grand Marshal and the Keynote Speaker at the Veterans Memorial Park presentation at the end of the parade. Dr. John Woods, Director of TRiO Veterans Student Support Services, will also be driving a PSC van in front of a pirate ship float from the Krewe of Vixens. He said, “Participation in the Veterans Day parade gives me the opportunity to acknowledge my military service and to recognize the service and dedication of my fellow veterans.” TRiO Veterans Upward Bound (VUB), TRiO Veterans Student Support Services (VSSS), Pensacola State College Student Veterans Association and the Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) will all be participating in the parade, riding on the pirate ship float, along with PSC mascot Pete the Pirate.
Pensacola State College offers valuable services and support to our U.S. veterans and active-duty military men and women with three important organizations on campus. Led by Director Rob Gregg (USN Ret), TRiO Veterans Upward Bound is “a college preparation program designed to prepare veterans for success in higher education through tutoring and mentoring. Our connections with community entities makes us a viable community partner for our veterans on and off campus. We build college-ready veterans,” shared Gregg.
Not only is Gregg the Co-CEO of Gulf Coast Veterans Advocacy Council (GCVAC) and Board Member of the Veterans Memorial Park Foundation as well as VP National Association of Veterans Upward Bound (NAVUB) and Project Director for VUB, but he also is the G.I. Jobs EDU Awards 2024 Veteran Champion of the Year in Higher Education for his leadership of VUB at PSC. In response to this award, Gregg said, “As a retired veteran, it is a privilege to continue to serve veterans and their families as they traverse the issues that they confront daily. None of this would have been possible without the support of the faculty and staff at Pensacola State College, National Association of Veterans Upward Bound and various community partners that continue to inspire and help veterans in need. The Veterans Center team is the foundation of my success and without them, this award would not be possible.”
TRiO Veterans Student Support Services offers and array of services to veterans whose discharge was other than dishonorable and are enrolled or accepted for enrollment and meet at least one of the following criteria: first-generation student, low income, disability, evidence of academic need. Dr. John Woods (USAF Ret) is grateful for his role as the director of this organization: “As the VSSS Director, I am provided the privilege to continue my service by assisting other veterans in meeting their educational goals.”
Academic Advisor and Life Skills Coach of the PSC Student Veterans Association Tilden Whitfield said, “The mission of the SVA is to act as a catalyst for student veteran success by providing resources, network support and advocacy to, through and beyond higher education. As an advisor, I appreciate the opportunity to serve the people who have been protecting me my whole life. Whether it’s grilling on campus or raising funds to go to national conferences, my goal is to ensure the institution gives adequate support to the program, and PSC answers that call every time.”
The Veteran and Military Family Service Center, currently under renovation and soon to hold a grand opening, provides a “full-service PSC experience to the entire active duty, veteran, and military-connected student population,” according to Center Coordinator Abe Clark. Associate Vice President, Institutional Research and Enterprise Solutions Michael Johnston added, “The Center is going to be working with the population of ‘military affiliation.’ Whether someone is a military veteran dependent, the actual veteran using the benefit, or someone is active-duty, it’s going to be a ‘one-stop shop’: they can get academic assistance, get life coaching and get certifications done to make sure they get paid [while going to school].”
According to the Department of Defense Education Activity website www.dodea.edu, “Military Family Appreciation Month was established in 1993 by the Armed Services YMCA, with the U.S. Government recognizing the occasion every year since…During Military Family Month, we thank military families for the tremendous contribution they make in support of our service members, the military mission and the nation. Military life imposes unique demands on them, and during these difficult times, they have exhibited exceptional sacrifice, resiliency and courage.”
The Pirate salutes those men and women in military service, as well as their families. We enjoy our freedom and rights as U.S. citizens because of the sacrifices you make for us all, each and every day.