Milton Courtney, a 70-year member of American Legion Post 70 in Konawa, will be honored to highlight East Central University’s Veterans and Military Appreciation Day on Thursday, May 17, in ECU Foundation Hall of the Chickasaw Business and Conference Center.
More than 40 vendor tables will accommodate attendees at 9 a.m. and the official program begins at 10 a.m. The event is free and open to the public.
“We invite the community to join us at this event where we honor and thank veterans, military members and their families for their service,” said Mary Meeks, director of ECU Veterans Upward Bound Program.
The 92-year-old Courtney served as a Navy Second Class Petty Officer on the U.S.S. Iowa in the Pacific, beginning in October of 1943. He will be recognized by Bobby Hatter, commander for American Legion Post 70.
Other activities during the event will be the annual presentation of the Bret D. Isenhower Scholarship among other award presentations. Jerry McKane, part of ECU’s Veterans Upward Bound Program, will be honored in being chosen for an exclusive Veterans Entrepreneurship Program at Oklahoma State University.
Bart Culver, from the Department of Veterans Affairs in Muskogee and education liaison for the State of Oklahoma, will also be present and ECU’s own Jill Williamson will be recognized for earning the Marshall Webb Award from the Oklahoma Association of Veterans Coordinators and Counselors (OAVCC).
The vendor tables will include V.A. members and representatives of organizations which serve military members and their families. The event will wrap up with a free lunch.
“This is a great opportunity to learn more about the resources available in the area and across the state,” Meeks said. “The Veterans Families Wellness Alliance will facilitate a vendor speed sharing during the lunch.”
For more information on ECU’s Veterans and Military Appreciation Day, contact Meeks at 580-559-5541.
-ECU-