MANSFIELD, PA— Mansfield University honored students, faculty and staff who are serving or have served in the U.S. military with a Veterans Appreciation Luncheon on Monday, November 10 in North Manser Hall.
Pennsylvania Senator Joe Scarnati, President Pro Tem of the state Senate, will be the guest speaker.
Remembering back to the time just after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, Scarnati recalled pundits and analysts were raising questions about the will of American leaders to fight a war and the willingness of “this generation of young men and women to rise to the occasion.”
Looking out into an audience that included several Mansfield ROTC
students plus students, faculty and staff who currently serve in the National Guard or Reserves, Scarnati said, “I can say, and I can say proudly, that our national leaders rose to the occasion. Democrats and Republicans came together as they should. The American public did endorse and stand behind our military in what has proven to be a very costly military effort. And yes, without a doubt, this generation not only stepped up to fight and defend this nation, it was done with pride and it was done with willingness.”
“To each of you who have served and continue to serve, I want to say thank you,” Scarnati added. “Thank you for protecting our freedoms and for your sacrifice and all you do.”
The luncheon also featured the awarding of two new scholarships.
The first Shirey-Cromley Yellow Ribbon Scholarship was presented to Rachel Horvath, a senior Nutrition and Dietetics major
The scholarship, endowed by Brenda (Shirey) Cromley, a 1977 Mansfield graduate, and her husband Marlin Cromley, an Air Force veteran who stationed at Headquarters Pacific Air Force, Hickam Air Force Base, Honolulu, Hawaii and Wake Island during the Vietnam era, is to provide recognition and financial assistance to veterans to assist and enabled them to pursue a college education and find lasting success on the home-front.
The first scholarship from the Members of the Military Scholarship Fund was presented to Breyann Campbell, who serves in the Air force and is first year Criminal Justice Administration major.
The Mansfield VFW was instrumental in establishing the Members of the Military Scholarship Fund. The purpose of this scholarship is to provide recognition and financial assistance to veterans and active-duty personnel to assist and enable them to pursue a college education.
Both scholarships are administered by the Mansfield University Foundation.
For information about academic programs and support for Military and Veterans at MU, go to mansfield.edu/military-veterans
The luncheon was provided by the Mansfield VFW Post 6757, Friends of Joe Scarnati, Citizens & Northern Bank, Troy VFW/American Legion, Mansfield University Foundation and PSECU.