WHAT: Rio Hondo College will mark Veterans Day with a week of events that begin with an opening commemoration, efforts to highlight veteran suicide issues, ways to thank veterans for their service, free barbecue for the campus community and concluding with a celebration of the U.S. Marine Corps’ founding.

WHEN: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7 to Thursday, Nov. 10

WHERE: Rio Hondo College Lower Quad, 3600 Workman Mill Road, Whittier

PROGRAM: The week will include different events each day.

MONDAY

  • Opening Commemoration, 11 a.m.: National Anthem sung by theatre arts/fine arts student and veteran Jess C. Hernandez, Jr. Remarks by Veterans Club President Matthew Keels; Rio Hondo College President/Superintendent Teresa Dreyfuss; Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. JoAnna Schilling; and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Public Safety Don Mason.
  • Barbecue, noon: Lucille’s Smokehouse BBQ lunch for campus community, funded by the Veterans Club.

TUESDAY

  • Veterans Resource Day, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: 11 groups will provide resources to veterans. Power 106 will broadcast from the campus and the Veterans Club will provide free lunch to veterans. Campus community members can purchase lunch as a fund-raiser for a veterans food bank.

WEDNESDAY

  • Veterans Note of Thanks, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Campus community members are encouraged to post notes of gratitude to veterans to a rolling Wall of Courage available in the lower quad.
  • Canned food drive, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Campus community members who donate a can of food will receive a soda and bag of chips.

THURSDAY

  • Veterans Day Ceremony, 11 a.m.: Remarks by Veterans Club President Matthew Keels; political science professor and veteran Manual Baca; female veteran students Donna Stubblefield and Lillian Forsythe; and former student Mark Tavera, who received a 2016 Veterans Service Award from state Sen. Ed Hernandez.
  • Marine Corps Anniversary, noon: The club also will provide cake to the campus community to mark the 241st birthday of the Marine Corps.

DAILY

  • 22 Push-up Challenge, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Campus community members will be encouraged to do 22 push-ups to raise awareness of suicide issues for veterans. A video will be posted to Facebook and YouTube.
  • Wall of Courage, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: A rolling wall located near the Veterans Memorial will include military photos of campus veterans and notes of thanks to veterans.