he HUD Veterans Affinity Group (VAG), the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Chapter of the Veterans Employee Association (VEA), the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHS), and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs VACO (VAG/Center for Minority Veterans) will host the 2018 Veterans Day Ceremony and the theme is: ‘Honoring All Who Serve - WWI Centennial’ (1918 - 2018)’.
The 2018 Veterans Day Ceremony will honor, recognize, and remember the WWI Centennial: https://www.worldwar1centennial.org/: (The United States World War I Centennial Commission was created by an Act of Congress in 2013. This Act was passed in order to honor and recognize the centennial of America's involvement with World War I, beginning in 1914, and continuing until 1918. ‘World War I remains America’s forgotten war, even though there were a significant number of American casualties during that war equal to the number during Korea and Vietnam and it profoundly shaped the rest of “the American century.”
We are honored to have, in attendance, the Honorable Dr. Ben Carson, Secretary, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Honorable Pamela H. Patenaude, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Honorable Dr. Paul Lawrence, Undersecretary for Benefits, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, (Keynote Speaker), the Honorable Chip Fulghum, Deputy Under Secretary of Management, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and Mr. Sam Shellenberger, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Veterans Employment and Training (VETS), U.S. Department of Labor.
Other honored guests include the Military District of Washington (MDW) Joint Forces Ceremonial Color Guard, and Bugler, the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS): Junior ROTC: (John F. Kennedy High School Naval JROTC Cadets) and the District of Columbia Public Schools Junior ROTC (Ron Brown College Preparatory School).
A reception for all invited guest is scheduled for 10:15 A.M. (EDT), in the Brooke – Mondale Auditorium C, and the 2018 Veterans Day Ceremony will begin, promptly, at 11:00am. (EDT).
A Veterans Resource Fair is also scheduled for Thursday, November 8, 2018 (9:00a.m. – 1:00p.m. EDT) on the Brooke-Mondale Food Court – Atrium. An array of Vendors whose services focus primarily on Military Veterans and their families, including but not limited to: Veterans Benefits, TRI-CARE, Military Veterans Eligibility, Military Veterans Claims Processing, Women Veterans Services, VAOC - VAG Center for Minority Veterans Services, The American Legion, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), and Veterans Legal Services, will be on hand to answer questions, and provide services were applicable.