ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – Join North Carolina Wesleyan University on Thursday, November 10 for a day full of pre-Veterans Day events celebrating and honoring the men and women of our armed forces. The morning will start off with a Veterans Day Salute in the Garner Lobby of The Dunn Center at 10:00 a.m. with guest speaker, Mr. Denny Hair. As a living historian, Hair is regarded as one of the world’s foremost experts on General Patton.

During the ceremony, Ms. Dawn Cash-Salau will present the Christopher S. Cash Memorial Scholarship in memory of her late husband. Army National Guard Capt. Christopher S. Cash was a 1993 alumnus of NC Wesleyan and an infantry company commander who deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was killed in action during combat operations in 2004. To honor her late husband’s legacy of selfless service, Cash-Salau created a 10-mile race, Reindeer Dash for Cash, held each December in downtown Greenville, NC. The proceeds from each race are awarded to college students at Chris’ alma maters, North Carolina Wesleyan University and East Carolina University, and to the North Carolina National Guard Educational Foundation. To date, over $450,000 has been raised and over 125 students have been awarded scholarships.

“We are excited to have so many great events planned to honor our Veterans. At North Carolina Wesleyan, we understand the commitment veterans and their families make for our great country and we aim to continuously offer acknowledgment at every opportunity,” stated Laura Estes Brown, Associate Dean of Veteran Services.

Later in the evening, Mr. Hair will hold a signing event for his book, “The Third Army Goes to War,” followed by a reception in the Mims Gallery of The Dunn Center at 6:00 p.m. At 7:00 p.m., he will present “An Evening with General Patton” in Powers Auditorium. This free event is open to the public with no ticket required.

Rounding out the evening, The United States Air Force Heritage of America Concert Band will perform a free concert at The Dunn Center in Minges Auditorium at 8:00 p.m. This “Salute to our Veterans” will be a fun evening of military tradition and honor. For six decades, the USAF Heritage of America Concert Band has educated, inspired and entertained over 1.5 million people annually by providing music for events that support Airmen and their families, honor our Nation’s veterans and build relationships of trust between the American people and the Air Force. The Concert Band is comprised of over 40 professional Airman-musicians who captivate audiences on regular tours throughout the East Coast with a variety of renditions of great orchestral classics, marches, Broadway hits, jazz standards, movie music and patriotic favorites.

Veterans Day Salute Events

• 10:00 a.m.- Veterans Day Salute in the Garner Lobby of The Dunn Center, guest speaker, Mr. Denny Hair
• 6:00 p.m. – Book Signing with Mr. Hair and Reception in the Mims Gallery of The Dunn Center
• 7:00 p.m. – “An Evening with General Patton” in Powers Auditorium
• 8:00 p.m. – The United States Air Force Heritage of America Concert Band, free concert at The Dunn Center in Minges Auditorium

About North Carolina Wesleyan University

North Carolina Wesleyan University (NCWU) is a small, private Methodist-affiliated institution with a liberal arts-based core curriculum that prepares students for professional advancement, life-long learning and responsible participation in their communities. NCWU offers liberal arts, professional and graduate degree programs for traditional, transfer and working-adult students. The skills cultivated by faculty and built into the curriculum include critical thinking and reflection, communication, collaboration, and information technology. North Carolina Wesleyan University delivers education that is personal, practical and purpose-driven. Personal…through mentoring and the connections that are provided. Practical…by helping students develop lifelong skills. Purpose-driven…by helping them fulfill their purpose in life. With students from all over the United States and more than 40 different countries, the University has immense cultural diversity. To learn more, visit ncwu.edu and follow on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok and Instagram.