Vanderbilt University will celebrate the many ways that military veterans strengthen and enrich our community with several initiatives marking Veterans Day 2023.
Since Veterans Day, Nov. 11, falls on a Saturday this year, the university will host its annual breakfast honoring campus veterans on Monday, Nov. 13. The event will be from 7:30 to 9 a.m. in the E. Bronson Ingram College Great Room. (E. Bronson Ingram College is located on West End Avenue between 23rd Avenue South and the Kirkland Esplanade.)
Chancellor Daniel Diermeier and Vice Chancellor for Athletics and University Affairs and Athletic Director Candice Storey Lee will offer remarks, as will representatives from the Bass Military Scholars and Army ROTC programs.
All campus veterans are invited to attend.
Veterans Day talk and military exhibit Nov. 9
Eden Murrie, chief executive officer of Operation Stand Down Tennessee, a nonprofit organization that provides resources for military veterans, will speak on Thursday, Nov. 9, beginning at 8 a.m. in Light Hall, Room 214. Murrie’s talk can be watched virtually at https://bit.ly/vumcveteransday2023.
In addition, a selection of World War II artifacts and photos from the 300th General Hospital Unit Collection, part of the Eskind Biomedical Library’s History of Medicine Collections, will be on display Nov. 9 in the Light Hall lobby from 8:30 to 11 a.m.
2023 Vandy Vets lapel pins
For a fourth year, Vanderbilt’s Army and Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps programs and the Bass Military Scholars Program have commissioned an updated “Vandy Vets” logo that’s been made into a lapel pin. These pins will be distributed to university students, faculty and staff who are veterans, as well as to alumni, on or after Nov. 13.
Veterans may request a pin by contacting robert.b.hulette@vanderbilt.edu. Veterans who attend the Nov. 13 breakfast event will receive a pin.
Veterans Day Zoom backgrounds
The Vandy Vets logo also appears in virtual backgrounds for use on Zoom to show users’ status as veterans or their support for veterans on campus. The Zoom backgrounds are available for download now.
Nashville Heroes Breakfast
Vanderbilt’s Bass Military Scholars Program and the division of Government and Community Relations are sponsors of Operation Stand Down’s 13th annual Nashville Heroes Breakfast to be held at the Music City Center on Friday, Nov. 3
For more information, visit osdtn.org/nhb.
Vanderbilt Athletics to honor veterans at Salute to Service basketball games
Recognition of veterans will be the theme of the Vanderbilt men’s basketball game on Friday, Nov. 10, versus USC Upstate and the Vanderbilt women’s basketball game on Sunday, Nov. 12, versus Fairfield, both in Memorial Gym. Campus and local veterans groups will be spotlighted during the game, among other military-themed recognitions and activities.
Veterans and veterans’ groups who want more information about attending the Nov. 10 men’s basketball game should contact jacob.nicely@vanderbilt.edu.
Veterans may claim complimentary tickets to the Nov. 12 women’s game through Vet Tix.
Military and Veterans Employee Affinity Group
Vanderbilt employees who are affiliated with the military, as well as their family members, are invited to join the Military and Veterans Employee Affinity Group. The group holds monthly Zoom meetings and quarterly in-person events.
Veterans can get day off work Nov. 11
Former members of the U.S. Armed Forces and former or current members of a military reserve or Tennessee National Guard unit may request the day off from work on Saturday, Nov. 11, in accordance with a law signed into effect by Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee in April 2022.
Employees who are eligible and request the day off for Veterans Day can choose to take the day unpaid or use their paid time off (PTO). Qualifying employees must submit a written request to their supervisor at least 14 days in advance and may be required to provide proof of their veteran status (form DD-214 or other comparable certificate of discharge). View the updated holiday policy and Veterans Day off request procedure.
For questions, please contact Human Resources at human.resources@vanderbilt.edu.
For additional information and resources, visit the Military at Vanderbilt website.
