RCC Honors United States Veterans

RAMAPO: Rockland Community College will be closed for Veterans Day this November 11, so special events to honor US veterans are planned throughout the month. These include a luncheon on November 14, an exhibit honoring local heroes who have received Purple Hearts, and a campaign to collect snacks and toiletries to send to our troops currently serving overseas.

The Technology Center exhibit (2^nd floor rotunda) will be on display through November 18, and includes framed posters listing Purple Heart recipients from this area, as well as photos and archival documents of historically significant local headstones and memorials. The exhibit was curated and developed by Beth Robinson, chair of Communication Media Arts and assistant professor at RCC. Robinson serves on the College’s Veterans Advisory Board and has an abiding interest in history and genealogy. She researched and photographed local sites, studied archives and visited the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor to gather the photos and data.

Other members of the Veterans Advisory Board (VAB) include representatives from RC Vietnam Veterans of American, Chapter 333, RC Marine Corps League, RC Military Order of the Purple Heart, Kearsing Edwards American Legion Post # 1600 (Pomona), RC Jewish War Veterans, RC Korean War Veterans, VA/Hudson Valley Health Care, the RC American Legion # 130 (Thiells), the RC American Legion, # 859 (Suffern), the RC American Legion # 797 (Nanuet), State Senator Dave Carlucci, and RCC faculty, staff and student veterans. The Advisory Board is sponsoring a service and luncheon to be held on Monday, November 14, from 12:30-2:30 p.m., with representatives of each organization attending. The service is dedicated to the memory of RCC faculty member Ray Coffey, a decorated US Army Ranger and combat veteran who served on the Veterans Advisory Board until his recent passing in October.

RCC is again participating in United for the Troops, collecting snacks and toiletries for troops serving overseas. Last year, RCC donations filled 6x 62 liter containers. Desired items include: Pringles, Trail Mix, Slim Jims, Fruit Roll-Ups, Gum, Kleenex, Socks, Lip Balm, Deodorant, Q-Tips and more, with collection bins in several areas around campus through November 23. Outside, RCC student veterans have placed 153 small American flags around the 9/11 Memorial Garden, each representing a current student veteran or faculty/staff member who served the nation. The flags will remain on display through the month, with additional commemoration flags available for a donation of $5.

RCC is a Military Friendly school and included as a TOP Military Advanced Education & Transition Colleges & Universities. There are approximately 140 student veterans attending the College this semester, and RCC veterans’ programs include a dedicated lounge, several designated scholarships, a unique “Combat to Career,” program for career counseling, and many other special resources. Please contact Jonathan Barnwell, Coordinator of Veterans Affairs at Rockland Community College for additional information or questions about services for veterans at RCC or about any of these events: jbarnwel@sunyrockland.edu