Each year around Veterans Day, Virginia Tech recognizes employees who served their country as members of the military. This year, approximately 325 employees who self-identify as military veterans received a gift of appreciation.

In light of the pandemic, the gift, which is normally hand-delivered to veterans by members of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, was mailed to each veteran’s home.

“Thank you, Hokie veterans, for your service to the country, community, and our great university,” said Bryan Garey, vice president for human resources. “Your service and dedication exemplify our motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), and we sincerely appreciate your sacrifice and contributions.”

“I am sure that all veterans appreciate the recognition, and we hope to have the cadets involved in the process again next year. As you would expect, cadets have a special connection to veterans as they represent the ethos of service that is the motto of the university and at the heart of the Corps of Cadets as a senior military college,” said Commandant of Cadets Maj. Gen. Randal Fullhart.

The Corps of Cadets will honor Veterans Day with a small, outdoor ceremony Wednesday morning at the Pylons that includes the traditional placing of a wreath at the cenotaph, the firing of a rifle salute, and the playing of Echo Taps.

Employees who have served in the military are encouraged to update their employee information if they did not self-identify as a veteran when they were hired. Veteran classification can be updated by logging into Hokie SPA, clicking on Hokie Team then Veterans Classification. For questions or more information about self-identifying as a military veteran, contact the HR Service Center at 540-231-9331 or hrservicecenter@vt.edu.

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