5X社区 held its annual Veterans Day Commemoration on Thursday, Nov. 7, in the Kent Student Center Kiva.
The program, Honoring All Those Who Serve, included a flag-raising ceremony conducted by a joint color guard from the Army and Air Force ROTC programs on the Student Green at Risman Plaza, the national anthem performed by Corinne VanNatta, the 鈥淪ervice Song Medley,鈥 an invocation by Rev. John Schluep and remarks from Kent State President Todd Diacon.
Serving as master of ceremonies was N.J. Akbar, Ph.D. Akbar is an Army veteran who currently serves as assistant dean of University College at Kent State. He is responsible for the strategic academic success of students from limited income and racially diverse backgrounds who are first in their families to attend college.
This year鈥檚 guest speaker was Lt. Col. Colleen VanNatta. A graduate of Kent State鈥檚 Air Force ROTC detachment, VanNatta served as a media escort for joint information bureaus in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, during Operation Desert Storm. She was also the first female public affairs officer for the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.
Learn more and watch the 2019 event