Sept. 23: “Military Appreciation Day”
When: Saturday, Sept. 23, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Where:
WCU, soccer field parking lot
William Carey University will host its annual “Military Appreciation Day” on Saturday, Sept. 23, before the start of a soccer double-header between the Carey Crusaders and the Toppers of Blue Mountain Christian University. The event is free and open to the public, students, military veterans – and children are welcome!
Camp Shelby’s 150th Military Intelligence Company will display military vehicles, talk about their function, and answer questions. Children and adults will be able to touch the vehicle and, in some cases, see them from the inside:
- Light Medium Tactical Vehicle (LMTV)
- Military All-Terrain Vehicle (MATV). This is a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle that incorporates the TAK-4 independent suspension system to provide proven, durable, best-in-class mobility. It is mainly used by forward controllers.
- Shadow Reconnaissance, Surveillance, Targeting Vehicle (RST-V)
- Bradley Fighting Vehicle, a tracked, armored fighting vehicle named for U.S. Gen. Omar Bradley
- Possibly an example of “The Buffalo,” a wheeled, mine-resistant, ambush-protected armored military vehicle built by Force Protection, Inc., a division of General Dynamics. It is the largest vehicle in Force Protection's line-up.
Staff Sgt. Kiffy Nixon is the leader of this operation and also the Carey representative.
At the end of the military exhibit: U.S. Air Force ROTC Detachment 432 (a joint WCU-USM program) will present colors on the soccer field shortly before the 1:30 p.m. start of the women’s soccer match-up between William Carey University and Blue Mountain Christian University. The second part of the double-header, the WCU-BMCU men’s soccer game, follows at 4 p.m.
In the photo:Pam Shearer, director of alumni engagement, waves during a military appreciation event last year for Lamar County Vo-Tech students.