Wayne Community College invites the public to join it in honoring America’s veterans and military service members.
The college will hold its annual Veterans Celebration at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 9 in Moffatt Auditorium in the Wayne Learning Center (main building) on its Wayne Memorial Drive campus.
Retired Army 1st Sgt. Sylvania Wilkerson Sr., a Purple Heart recipient, will be the guest speaker. He will talk about the importance of remembering the service of others.
Wilkerson enlisted in the U.S. Army at age 17 and served in the Korean War. He returned to civilian life and re-enlisted twice more. He fought in Vietnam where he was shot down three times. He was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries sustained in the first of those helicopter crashes and gun battles. His duty stations stateside included Fort Sheridan in Illinois, Fort Knox in Kentucky, and finally Fort Bragg in North Carolina. After 22 years of military service, he retired from the 5th Special Forces in 1975.
He is currently the commander of the Goldsboro Chapter 657 of the Military Order of the Purple Heart and judge advocate of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Department of North Carolina.
Wilkerson is active in the community. He has served with such organizations as Crime Stoppers and Foster Grandparents and has run for public office.
College employees and students and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Honor Guard will also participate. A reception with refreshments will follow the program.
The college will also host a Military and Partners Expo in the Atrium of the Wayne Learning Center from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. which is also open to the public. Veterans groups, service branch representatives, and organizations that provide services to military members will have displays and provide information.
Wayne Community College encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing accommodations or have questions about access, contact the Disability Services Counselor at (919) 739-6729. Allow sufficient time to arrange accommodations.
Wayne Community College is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, the college serves 14,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 70 college credit programs. WCC’s mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.