Centenary College celebrates Veterans Day Friday, November 11
SHREVEPORT, LA — Local veterans are encouraged to attend Centenary’s annual Veterans Day Tribute on Friday, November 11. Veterans Day has been observed on this date in the United States for more than 100 years, with the first celebration occurring on November 11, 1919.
The solemn ceremony honoring the service and dedication of all veterans will begin at 11:11 a.m. in Anderson Auditorium at Centenary's Hurley School of Music. The tribute is free and open to the public. Parking is available along Woodlawn Avenue or in Lot 1.
Brigadier General Robert W. VanHoy II, mobilization assistant to the commander, Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central), will be the keynote speaker for the tribute. As the Mobilization Assistant, VanHoy assists with the development of contingency plans and the execution of air operations for the 20-nation U.S. Central Command area of responsibility covering Central and Southwest Asia.
VanHoy earned his commission through Reserve Officer Training Corps from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 1990. After serving 12 years on active duty, he transitioned into the Air Force Reserve in 2002. He has held a variety of flying, staff, and command assignments, including command of the 93rd Bomb Squadron and the 307th Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. He has participated as a Traditional Reservist, Air Reserve Technician as well as an Active Guard Reserve member. VanHoy is a command pilot with more than 5,800 flying hours in the B-52H, B-1B, C-130E/H, T-38, & T-37, and other civilian aircraft, including combat time in both the C-130 Hercules and B-52H Stratofortress in support of operations Southern Watch, Joint Endeavor, Joint Guard, Joint Forge, and Enduring Freedom.
Prior to his current assignment, VanHoy was the Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Strategy, Plans, and Programs, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.
The tribute includes music from the Centenary College Choir and showcases veterans among Centenary’s student body as well as the faculty and administration.
Guest parking for the Veterans Day Tribute is available in Centenary Lot 13 at the corner of Centenary Boulevard and Rutherford Street.
For more information, please contact Connie Whittington at cwhittington@centenary.edu or 318.869.5101.