Inauguration week activities continue this morning with a Military Appreciation Breakfast at 8 a.m. in the Mountainlair. Guests will preview photojournalist Joel Beeson?s documentary on African American World War II veterans from West Virginia. More about the project

You can watch a live webcast of the event. Note: Quicktime is required to view video and can be downloaded at http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/. Please refer to the event program to follow along with the webcast.

Notes from the event will be posted below as the morning progresses. Refresh your Web browser for the latest information.

Jack Bowman

Jack Bowman, Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for West Virginia and Jackson & Kelly Professor of Law Emeritus at WVU, made opening remarks to start this morning’s event, followed by presentation of the colors by WVU ROTC cadets, singing of the national anthem, and a POW/MIA tribute by members of the WVU Arnold Air Society.

WVU ROTC Color Guard

WVU Arnold Air Society POW/MIA Tribute

President Mike Garrison

President Mike Garrison also welcomed those in attendance, saying, “Each day thousands of Mountaineers pass by the mast of the U.S.S. West Virginia, which we all know was dredged up from the waters of Pearl Harbor half a century ago?I think it says a lot about us as Mountaineers and West Virginians that we keep this memorial in front of us every day and teach each succeeding generation of why it?s here?.On behalf of WVU, I would like to express the profound gratitude of each member of this community for your service.”

Garrison also noted that the WVU student body includes 284 students who have returned from active service, 395 students who are members of the Reserves and National Guard, and 172 students who are dependants of disabled and deceased veterans.

“To you I say thank you for the sacrifices you have made for this country and this University,” he said. “I will do my best to honor the sacrifices you have made on all of our behalf.”

The program resumed after breakfast with remarks from Jennifer McIntosh, Executive Officer for Social Justice. As part of annual Diversity Week activities, the President’s Office for Social Justice is sponsoring the Military Appreciation Breakfast. “No matter where we started from, we are all Mountaineers,” McIntosh said, pointing out that audience members have come from all over the country.

“This is the second time we have had this event. Earlier this year, when we planned this breakfast, we never knew that President Garrison would identify this as part of his official inaugural events. This has made this morning?s event very, very special,” she added.

McIntosh also encouraged participation in the many other Diversity Week events, which include lectures, films, and other activities.

The highlight of today’s Military Breakfast program was a presentation by Joel Beeson, who showed brief excerpts from his documentary on African American World War II veterans from West Virginia. Fighting on Two Fronts: The Untold Stories of African American WWII Veterans will air this Veterans Day on West Virginia Public Television. The documentary tells the story of five ?Greatest Generation? veterans who were forced to fight two battles?against racism at home and against an enemy on foreign sands.

This concludes today?s webcast and blog from the Military Appreciation Breakfast. Please join us for more Inauguration week webcasts.

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