College to host Veterans Day Program Tuesday
To honor those who are serving and those who have served in the nation’s military, Meridian Community College will hold its annual Veterans Day Program on Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. in the College’s McCain Theater.
The event is open to the campus and community.
The program will showcase the college’s commitment to recognizing the sacrifices of veterans and active military members, said Shaquita Hopson Alfonso, associate director of military and veterans services at MCC.
“This Veterans Day Program continues MCC’s tradition of honoring those who serve, reinforcing the college’s support for veterans among its student body, faculty, and broader community,” said Hopson.
The ceremony will begin with the Presentation of Colors by the Naval Air Station Meridian Color Guard. MCC Director of Bands Christopher King will lead the audience in the National Anthem, followed by an invocation by Mallory Hardy, workforce project manager. The welcome address will be delivered by MCC student Marsha Coleman.
Highlighting the event will be the keynote speech by Lt. Col. Charles Schellbach, commander of the 186th Operations Group at Key Field Air National Guard Base in Meridian. Over 250 personnel are assigned to this operations group.
Lt. Col. Schellbach joined the Mississippi Air National Guard in 1996 in the 186th Maintenance Group and was later commissioned in 2005 as a graduate of the Academy of Military Science at McGhee Tyson ANGB, Knoxville, Tennessee. During his enlisted career, he performed maintenance on the KC-135R as a crew chief, attaining a seven-level in that AFSC. He graduated from undergraduate pilot training in 2006 at Vance Air Force Base, winning the Top Stick Award in the T-1 aircraft.
He later joined the 186th Operations Group to fly the KC-135R. His duties have included several office chief positions including current ops, tactics, scheduling, and standards and evaluations. He has supported operations at home and overseas, operating as both aircrew and staff, supporting. In addition, Lt. Col. Schellbach participated in operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Inherent Resolve, and Freedom’s Sentinel. He is a command pilot with over 5,500 hours in the KC-135R, C-12, MC-12W, and C-27J. Before assuming his current position, he was the 153d Air Refueling Squadron Commander at Key Field.
Also during the ceremony, the Dimensions will sing, “We Say Thank You,” and Mitch Brantley, division chair of communications and fine arts and guitar instructor, will perform the roll of honor.
Dr. Cedric Gathings, MCC vice president for student affairs and dean of students, will provide special recognition for veterans.
The Veterans Day program is one of the events hosted by the College in observing Military Appreciation Week.
For more information, visit meridiancc.edu/military.