Veterans Day Ceremony

This Friday, November 5, Fresno City College will hold its traditional Veterans Day Ceremony at 12:00 p.m. at the Veterans Peace Memorial. 

While all veterans are honored at the ceremony, each year the college chooses a special group of people who are veterans or people who help veterans to recognize.  This year, the event theme is “Heroes to the Rescue” recognizing the heroes who are frontline COVID-19 fighters helping veterans and the California Army National Guard members who helped rescue people stranded during last summer’s Creek Fire. They are encouraged to attend and be recognized along with all veterans.

Fresno City College traditionally holds the Veterans Day Ceremony on the Friday before Veterans Day to give students and employees the opportunity to attend while classes are in session and the campus is open. This year, students from the Design Science Middle College High School, located on the FCC campus, will be in attendance and will also participate in the ceremony. This is the first in-person ceremony since 2019. Last year, it was held virtually due to the pandemic.

This year’s Citizen Soldier Award recipient is Chief Master Sergeant Lynn E. Williams, who was recently promoted to be the State Command Chief for the California Air National Guard. Chief Williams is also an adjunct instructor in the Fresno City College Police Academy.  Chief Williams has served in the United States Air Force for 32 years. In his new position, he serves as the principal advisor to the Commander of the California Air National Guard on mission effectiveness, professional development, military readiness, training, utilization, health, morale, and welfare of the state’s 4,175 enlisted airmen. Prior to his current assignment in Sacramento, Chief Williams was assigned as Wing Command Chief, 144th Fighter Wing, in Fresno. In his civilian life, he also spent 21 years in law enforcement and is now a retired parole agent.

SCCCD Interim Chancellor, Dr. Douglas Houston is the keynote speaker. The ceremony will include the Presentation of Colors by the JROTC of Design Science Middle College High School. A musical Salute to the Military by the FCC Band with narrative by faculty emeritus Dennis Adkins, singing of the National Anthem and America the Beautiful, bagpipes, a wreath laying, rifle salute and taps are also part of the ceremony.

All are welcome to attend. Parking is free.