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The school, which will be closed Friday as the event planning continues, will offer a luncheon on Nov. 14, an exhibit honoring local heroes who have received Purple Heart decorations, and a campaign to collect snacks and toiletries for troops serving overseas.
The Purple Heart exhibit is to be held in the Technology Center on the 2nd floor rotunda through Nov. 18, according to a statement from the school.
Included in the exhibit will be framed posters listing local Purple Heart recipients, photos and archival documents of historically significant local headstones and memorials, the school said, adding that the exhibit was curated and developed by Beth Robinson, chair of Communication Media Arts and an assistant professor at Rockland Community College.
According to the school, Robinson serves on the College’s Veterans Advisory Board, has a strong interest in history and genealogy and has studied and visited the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor to gather photographs and data.
The Advisory Board also is sponsoring a service and luncheon from 12:30-2:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14, according to the school, which said that representatives of multiple organizations involved with the Advisory Board are expected to attend.
According to the school, this year’s service will be dedicated to the memory of Rockland Community College faculty member Ray Coffey, a decorated Army Ranger and combat veteran who served on the Veterans Advisory Board until his death last month.
Rockland Community College also will be collecting snacks and toiletries for United for the Troops, which will send the items to soldiers overseas, according to the school. Last year, collection efforts allowed the organization to send six, 62-liter containers of items to servicemen and women across the globe.
Desired items include Pringles, Trail Mix, Slim Jims, Fruit Roll-Ups, Gum, Kleenex, Socks, Lip Balm, Deodorant and Q-Tips. Collection bins will be available at several areas around campus through Nov. 23, according to the school.
Rockland Community College, which currently counts scores of veterans among its enrolled students, also plans to place 153 small American flags around its 9/11 Memorial Garden with each flag representing a current student veteran or faculty/staff member who has served the country.
The flags will remain on display throughout the month with additional commemoration flags available for a donation of $5.00.
For more information about Rockland Community College’s scheduled Veterans Day events this month, contact Jonathan Barnwell, coordinator of Veterans Affairs, at jbarnwel@sunyrockland.edu.
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