November 10, 2009

California State University, Fresno – including a new student veterans club – will join forces with the local community by participating in the Fresno Veterans Day Parade downtown beginning at 10:45 a.m. on Wednesday (Nov. 11).

The Bulldog Marching Band will again lead the parade, complete with its new platoon of Bulldog Dancers, while cadets from the university’s two ROTC units – the award-winning Air Force Detachment 35 and the Army Bulldog Battalion – also will march.

The Fresno State Student Veterans Organization was formed this semester and is targeting the university’s 350 veterans, reservists and active-duty personnel enrolled this fall for recruitment.

Led by president Denise Harris, a third-year history major from Fresno, the club recently elected officers and is holding meetings on the first Tuesday of each month at 4 p.m. and the third Wednesday of each month at 1 p.m. in the Psychology Building, Room 106. About 35 have joined so far.

“The purpose of the club is to facilitate communications between veteran students, veteran services and resources and various organizations available to them,” said Harris. “The club plans to develop social and professional relationships among its members as they continue to serve their country.”

Other officers of the new club are: Angelica Capuchino, a senior electrical engineering major from North Fork; Brad Kendzora, a senior business major from Fresno; Vincent Trillo, a senior business major from Fresno; and Steve Miller, a third-year business major from Danville. The Veterans Club adviser is Robyn Gutierrez, veterans benefits coordinator in Student Affairs.

The officers also will be honored at the Nov. 21 Bulldogs football game – the final home game of the year, which will include a salute to the nation’s veterans with a flyover by the 144^th Fighter Wing of the California  Air National Guard in Fresno. The flyover will be just prior to kickoff at the 2 p.m. game as part of the Bulldog salute.  

At the Oct. 21 Homecoming game, the Naval Air Station, Lemoore Strike Fighter Squadron 122 - “Flying Eagles” conducted the flyover with base commander Capt. James Knapp present as a guest of honor for the university. He stood on the field to observe the flyover with Dr. Peter Smits, Fresno State vice president for Advancement. At the Veterans Day Parade Wednesday, Capt. Knapp will serve as grand marshal.

Fresno State participates in the CSU’s Troops to College program, which is a project designed to attract more veterans to California’s public universities and colleges by making campuses more veteran-friendly. 

The Veterans Affairs office on campus provides various services such as facilitating the veteran student in maximizing educational benefits and understanding the process required in processing veterans’ educational benefits. For more information: 559.278.7030.