November 11 is an annually recognized day in which the nation pauses to honor those men and women who sacrificed in the military service of their country. Created in 1919 by President Woodrow Wilson as Armistice Day to commemorate the end of World War I, the day has now become known as Veterans Day.

But during the last few years, Temple has begun a campus-wide movement to honor veterans not just on a single day, but throughout the entire month of November.

“The entire month of November is Military Appreciation Month at the university,” said Laura Reddick, associate director for adult and veteran student recruitment in Temple Veterans Affairs Office. “This year, we’re really trying to get the entire university on board.

“We are asking all of the schools, colleges and departments at the university to display signs of appreciation that salute our faculty, staff and students who are veterans, as well as our active service men and women, and just thank them for their service to our country,” she said. “And it seems like more and more people around the university are starting to do that.”

One way the university has honored its veterans for the past five years — whether they are faculty, staff or students—is through a Veterans Appreciation Day ceremony held in conjunction with Sodexo, the university’s dining services, each year on Nov. 11.

This year, ceremonies will be held from 11 a.m.-noon on both the Main and Ambler campuses. The Main Campus ceremony will be held in Founder’s Garden, the final resting place of university’s founder Russell Conwell, who himself was a Union veteran of the American Civil War.

Since 2009, Temple has been proactive in reaching out to returning servicemen and women who are seeking educational opportunities using their G.I. benefits, as well as making it easier for veterans once they enroll at the university. The Temple Veterans Task Force which is co-chaired by Reddick, William Parshall, executive director of Temple University Ambler and Temple University Center City, and Debbie Campbell, senior assistant dean for the Fox School of Business and faculty advisor to the Temple Veterans Association, was created to help to streamline the process from enrollment to graduation to help Temple veterans successfully pursue their career and professional goals.

In 2010, the Temple Veterans Association (TVA) was established to provide a support group to assist veterans as they transition from military life to academic life when they enroll as students at Temple.

This month Temple will hold several activities and events aimed at veterans looking for higher education opportunities or already enrolled at the university. They include:

• Nov. 15 – TVA will host a luncheon and network session to discuss career and employment opportunities with Lincoln Financial Group. 12-1 p.m., Alter Hall.
• Nov. 15 – Career Services Center will offer free professional head shots for veterans to use on their profiles on LinkedIn, the professional social networking site. 12-2 p.m., Alter Hall. No reservation required.
• Nov. 17 – A veteran information session during Temple’s Admissions Open House. 10:30-11:30 a.m., Suite 113, Liacouras Center Concourse.
• Nov. 21 – Veteran information session. 5-7 p.m. 2nd Floor of Temple University Center City, 1515 Market Street.
• Nov. 26 – Virtual veteran information session. 4 p.m.

Temple is a member of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Yellow Ribbon Program, which assists veterans with tuition benefits under the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill. For the fifth consecutive year, Temple has also been designated as a “Military Friendly School” by G.I Jobs Magazine.

Reddick encourages everyone at Temple to take the opportunity during November to salute and thank our veterans for their service, as well as their sacrifices.

“If you know someone in your department, whether they are a faculty member, a staff member, a student or even an alumni, just thank them for their service to our country,” she said. “It shows that Temple really does care about its veterans.”

For more information about education opportunities, support services or events visit the Veterans Affairs website.