Collegian T he Cameron University
www.aggiecentral.com
Monday, November 13, 2023
Volume 109 Issue 8
Photo by Ramona Villegas
Cameron's Vet VetFest Fest Brittney Payette Managing Editor
At 10:15 a.m. on Nov. 6 in the Bentley Gardens, Cameron University’s VetFest celebration began with the firing of the Salute Howitzer, the French 75 cannon and Cameron’s Big Ollie. Coordinator of Veterans Affairs (VA) Vickie Henson, who has been at Cameron for 38 years was in charge of organizing the VetFest activities and works in the Veterans Affairs office. “We’re a full-service VA office,” Henson said. “So, we do a lot of events that revolve around benefits that are available to service personnel and to veterans, so that they know what’s available … we have a lot of veterans who don’t necessarily know what their educational benefits are, but they also don’t know about other types of VA benefits that are available.” She said that one of the goals of the VetFest resource fair that is to provide diverse information to people, including information about benefits and services that their organization provides. “We have over thirty organizations representative from the federal level, from the state level, and also from the community,” Henson said. “All of them are related to things that are either military or veteran related subjects.” Some of the organizations present at the event included representatives from the Muskogee VA educational office, representatives from the VA’s human resources department and
service organizations such as the and a learning station where the Veterans of Foreign Wars group medicine park aquarium was here.” among others. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. She also said Cameron’s VA office 6-7 in the McMahon Centennial started the resource fair in 2011 and Complex’s parking lot there were decided to expand from that and have outside displays including the French VetFest. 75 Cannon, robotics and humvees. “This is our fourth time to do Also present was Fort Sill’s mascots VetFest,” Henson said. “We’ve tried Big Deuce the donkey and Shortround to take it and turn it into a, literally the goat. a celebration of our military and our Other events included a discussion veterans that occurs during the entire about current events affecting week. So, we have 7,000 flags that are Oklahoma veterans from John Nash, flying on campus.” the State Secretary of Military and She said Cameron’s VA department VA, a discussion about famous Native hosted a third and fourth grade class American Veterans from Kevin from Bishop elementary school. Pohawpatchoko, the Comanche “They were able Indian Veterans to come, and we Association had the Southwest Commander “The goal is that Institute of Martial and Carry veterans and our Arts (who) did a 45Metkowski, an military personnel executive officer minute program for them, teaching them and their families from Chick-Fil-A about the martial who discussed get information that arts,” Henson said. leadership. will improve their “They are led by a “The goal is veteran … he was that veterans lives.” gracious and they our military - Vickie Henson and came and did the personnel and Coordinator of their families get show for us for free Veteran Affairs information that for the kids. From there, we invited will improve their the Cameron family lives,” Henson to be able to join in and watch that said. “That’s what it’s all about. So, martial arts presentation.” sharing information that will improve She said after the martial arts the quality of lives of the people that presentation finished, they broke up we are here to serve.” into learning stations. She said she loves all of CU’s “I had a living historian from the VetFest events for different reasons. Fort Sill artillery museum,” she said. “I get to interact with so many “That taught them about revolutionary people that are just awesome,” she war, I had the learning station where said. “I love all of it because the they got to color a patriotic football, resource fair, we have so many people
that give up their time to come share information with others. I love that we have speakers up here that are available that can share information that can change lives.” Henson said seeing the 7,000 American flags out on campus honoring the veterans brings a smile to her face. “I hope it touches hearts,” she said. “And lets them know that we love and appreciate them. And that’s what this entire week’s celebration is about … We care about them, and they’re special, and we appreciate their service to our country.” Henson said that there is another VetFest happening in the Spring. Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) post 1193 representative Veronica Lewis said they participated in Cameron’s resource fair during VetFest last year too. “Different veterans or their family members came through,” Lewis said, “asked us questions, and when we found out about it this year, we called to make sure we’d be able to set up again this year.” She said the VFW does a lot of fellowshipping. “Our mission is to help the veterans, their family members and their dependents and orphans,” Lewis said. VFW’s other representative present at the resource fair was John Morgan, who said he enjoyed interacting with other organizations at VetFest. “We put out a lot of information about the VFW," Morgan said. For more information about the VA at Cameron, contact the office at va@ cameron.edu.
Photos by Brittney Payette
What’s Inside Cameron's VetFest Photos
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Featuring: CU esports' Sarah Monk
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