Hodges University to honor World War II veterans at D-Day anniversary ceremony
To commemorate the 70th anniversary of D-Day, Hodges University will hold a special ceremony June 6, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Hodges Naples campus. Special honoree at the event will be Oscar-winning narrator and longtime Naples resident, Dr. Peter Thomas. The event, which is open to the public, will be sponsored by BMO Private Bank.
With the onset of World War II, Dr. Thomas volunteered for the United States Army in 1943, serving with the First Infantry Division in five major campaigns, including the Battle of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge. He was issued a Battle Star for each of the five campaigns. He was also awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the French Legion of Honor, the Unit French Croix de guerre and Belgian Fourragre. Hodges University named him its 2004 Humanitarian of the Year and bestowed on him an honorary Doctorate of Letters that same year.
The Veterans Services Center at Hodges provides a variety of resources for student veterans, including GI Bill processing and information, details on available counseling, workshops and Veterans organization contacts, peer to peer support groups for student veterans and community involvement.
Hodges University currently has over 250 student veterans enrolled in the school. This comprises nearly 10 percent of the total student body. The institution is also home to American Legion Post 397, the first Post established on a college campus in the U.S. run entirely by student veterans. The school has also been awarded 2014 Military Friendly Schools designation.
Veterans who wish to attend are asked to call Alyssa DeLora at 239-938-7826.