Southern Miss Student-Veterans to Participate in Veterans Day Parade

Student-veterans from The University of Southern Mississippi will participate in the City of Hattiesburg's annual Veterans Day Parade set for Friday, Nov. 11. The parade will begin at 10 a.m. at Hardy Street Baptist Church and will make its way east to Veterans Memorial Park in downtown Hattiesburg.

The USM Marching Band and Dixie Darlings are also expected to take part in the parade, which is sponsored by the Armed Forces Top Enlisted Association. A special ceremony, sponsored by Trustmark Bank, will follow the parade. Former Hattiesburg Fire Chief George Herrington will be honored as Veteran of the Year.

Maj. Gen. Jeff Hammond (ret.), director of the Center for Military Veterans, Service Members and Families at USM, says the nation's citizens owe a debt of gratitude to all the men and women who serve in the U.S. armed forces.

“I am an American Veteran and I thank God that he blessed me with his will to serve the people of the United States of America,” said Hammond. “In this regard, tomorrow on the 11th day of the 11th month, we honor the sacrifices of the remarkably brave, honorable and caring men and women who served our nation so that we may know peace, and live with the freedom of choice and accomplishment.” 

Hammond spent 32 years in the U.S. military where he served as the commanding general of the 4th Infantry Division and commander of U.S. forces in Baghdad, Iraq.

“On the 11th hour tomorrow at 11 a.m., I humbly and most respectfully ask all of South Mississippi to take a private moment to reflect, and offer a prayer of thanksgiving for our veterans and those on the front line in harm's way this very moment serving our nation,” said Hammond.”