Each November, the university and Oxford community celebrate our troops with a month dedicated to Military Appreciation. Here are four ways you can support our veterans and soldiers in and around the community this month:
1. Come to the Game. On Saturday (Nov. 8), Ole Miss will take on Presbyterian College at home during the 2014 Military Appreciation Game. Veterans and military personnel will be honored throughout the game and, with proof of service, will be able to attend the game for free. We encourage all students, faculty and football fans to come out for this game as a sign of appreciation for our nation’s troops. As if you wouldn’t already be in attendance?
2. Greek Houses: Show out on Game Day. If you’re a member of a Greek organization on campus, you might have some trouble thinking of a witty house banner this week. Instead of racking your brain coming up with a random ‘Blue Hose’ reference, salute our troops with creative military appreciation-themed banners. Think red, white and blue to show our troops how much you love them and our Rebs.
3. Check out the Chancellor’s Review. If you’re like me, you’ve probably never heard of it before, but it’s an important event for the men and women affiliated with Ole Miss ROTC. Essentially, it’s an inspection and ‘Pass in Review’ ceremony that will be held Tuesday (Nov. 11) in the Circle. It has a longstanding history in the military and has been an annual campus event since the 1990s.
4. Welcome the game ball to Oxford at the Egg Bowl Run. Never heard of the Egg Bowl Run? Members of the Ole Miss Army ROTC make the impressive 47-mile run from Calhoun City to Oxford to retrieve the game ball from their counterparts at Mississippi State. This year’s run will take place Nov. 24, and the cadets will begin in Calhoun City. They are expected to be back in Oxford around 8 p.m. and need our support along the route. Once back in Oxford, the ball will be on display in the Ole Miss Student Union until Saturday’s showdown.
I know I’ll be there decked out in my red, white and blue. We hope to see all of you there, too.