By Melody Mendoza
Ten percent of A&M-San Antonio students are veterans or spouses of veterans. That distinction allowed the university to rank No. 61 of 100 in the category of Best for Vets: Colleges 2010 by the Military Times EDGE, a magazine published 10 times a year and posted online for the military community.
Suitably, the university will participate during Celebrate America’s Military, a local series of events to honor active duty military.
The 17-day event is designed to recognize and honor active duty men and women, including guard and reserve, wounded warriors and veterans for their service to the nation, according to the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce website.
As part of CAM, the university will host “Saluting America’s Heroes” at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 11. The event will precede the official ribbon cutting ceremony of Main Campus Building at One University Way.
Richard Delgado, manager of military community relations, said “it’s a way to showcase military veterans since we are a military city.”
Delgado said this year’s CAM is longer than events in previous years with 13 events scheduled Oct. 28 through Nov. 13.
Delgado said the military affairs office discussed having an event at A&M-San Antonio. As a member of the planning board for CAM, Delgado was able to schedule an event on the CAM event calendar.
According to the CAM website, the Chamber created CAM in 1970 “as a way for the business community to say thank you to men and women who serve and have served in the military.”
Events include:
Oct. 28: CAM will kickoff with a luncheon 11:30 a.m. with Ken Fisher, chairman of Fisher House Foundation, at the Marriot Rivercenter Hotel. To register or for more information about prices, call 210.229.2119 or visit the event site.
CAM night at the San Antonio Rampage game 7 p.m. versus Houston Aeros at the AT&T Center. This is an affordable, student-friendly event.
Oct. 29 and Oct. 30: Airshow 2011 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at Randolph Air Force Base. The military affairs office from this university will have a booth. Delgado said there will be aircrafts that attendees can board. All military branches will be present. Children events will be available. To view the schedule of events visit http://www.randolph.af.mil/airshow2011/index.asp.
Nov. 3: The Greater Chamber CAM mixer 5:30 p.m. at the San Antonio Botanical Garden.
Nov. 7: CAM Birdies for the Brave Golf Tournament 9:30 a.m. at TPC San Antonio at JW Marriot.
Nov. 9: Spirit of America dinner with Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, vice chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force, 7 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Cocktails will be served at 6:15 p.m. To register or for more information about prices, call 210.229.2119 or visit the event site.
Nov. 11: Veterans Day ceremonies will begin at 9 a.m. at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery.
Following the Veterans Day ceremonies, there will be a commemorative ceremony for the Bexar county Buffalo Soldiers 1:30 p.m.
The Texas Patriot Festival 4 p.m. at MacArthur Parade Field at Ft. Sam Houston. The event is free.
Nov. 12: The veterans parade and wreath laying ceremony 10:30 a.m. followed by the parade at noon at the Alamo Plaza. This is a student-friendly event.
Nov. 13: The Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon and half marathon 7:30 a.m. downtown. Military members with code “MILITARY2011” will get a $15 discount.
CAM concludes with a veterans concert “Salute to Service” with the San Antonio Symphony and USAF Band of the West 7 p.m. at the Majestic Theater. The concert is free.
For more information about CAM, visit http://www.celebrateamericasmilitary.com/. To see a list of the events, visit http://www.celebrateamericasmilitary.com/schedule.html.
