DANBURY, CONN. — Western Connecticut State University will salute all those who served in the nation’s military with a Veterans Day observance at noon on Tuesday, Nov. 11.

The ceremony will begin in Ives Concert Hall, located in White Hall on the Midtown campus, 181 White St., Danbury, with honor guards from the WCSU Police Department and the National Guard. Dr. Jefferson Wiggins of New Fairfield, an educator, author and veteran of WWII, will give the keynote address. WCSU student Derek Roy, who is a member of the National Guard, will also speak.

The second part of the ceremony will feature the presentation of a wreath of remembrance and reading of the Gettysburg Address at the flag pole outside Old Main, also on White Street. Refreshments will be provided in the first floor lobby of Old Main.

“We want the veterans attending the university as well as all the veterans in the community to know that we value their service,” said Dr. Walter Bernstein, WCSU vice president for Student Affairs. “Our student veterans are an integral part of the university, and it is important for us to say thank you in a visible way.”

The event is free and open to the public. Attendees who wish accommodations should call Deborah Cohen, coordinator of AccessAbility Services, at (203) 837-8946.

Veterans and active military members receiving their education at Western, Central, Eastern and Southern — the universities of the Connecticut State University System — are a valued and vital component of our campus communities.

Under state law, 100 percent of tuition is waived at the four CSUS universities for full-time students who are veterans or members of the National Guard.

WestConn has staff members designated to provide support for veterans and members of the military attending classes. The mission is to assist veterans, guardsmen and reservists in taking full advantage of the educational benefits available to them — and to assist individuals in making the transition from active military duty to the CSUS universities or from our universities to active military duty.

WestConn is in the process of designating drop-in locations for veterans to gather in causal settings to informally make connections with other veterans enrolled as students.

For more information, call the Office of University Relations at (203) 837-8486.

Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England’s best small private universities.