By Harriet Laird
STARKVILLE, Miss.—National Veterans and Military Families Month at Mississippi State is beginning with the special November exhibit “Student Salutes: A Visual Tribute to MSU Veterans.”
Open through Nov. 14 in Colvard Student Union’s Art Gallery, the display features mixed media art pieces by MSU students given names of university alumni who served in the armed forces. Provided by MSU Libraries’ University Archives and Special Collections, the alumni names and historical information gave the student artists the chance to immerse themselves in research on each veteran, bringing their stories to life through platforms ranging from charcoal to textiles.
Along with student artwork, memorabilia spanning the history of the university is presented by University Archives, Mississippi Political Collections and Manuscript Collections. A cadet jacket, cap, belt and buckle point to the military roots of the first decades of then Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical College.
Other pieces reflecting alumni military service include a set of spurs from World War I, journal kept by a prisoner of war during World War II, and a 105mm Howitzer ammunition shell from the Vietnam War.
One of the most well-known alums highlighted in the exhibit is the late U.S. Congressman G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery whose Presidential Medal of Freedom presented by President George W. Bush is included, along with Montgomery’s Bronze Star earned for exceptional courage in combat during World War II.
Students with art in the exhibit are:
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO—Kadence Lewis, senior art major
CUSHING, TEXAS—Abby Reeves, junior sociology major
CARRIERE—Aspin Hearty, junior information technology services major
DEKALB—Kendrell Daniels, senior photography major
FLORA—Gabriella Sutherland, junior interior design/psychology double major
HERNANDO—Lily Scrivener, sophomore geosciences major with an environmental geosciences concentration
JACKSON—Breunna Manuel, senior architecture major
OLIVE BRANCH—Niki Ye, senior chemical engineering major with a chemical engineering practice concentration
STARKVILLE—David Roman, senior fine arts major
A public reception with refreshments will be held Nov. 7 at 3 p.m. in the gallery on the Union’s second floor. Regular gallery hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
MSU also will recognize veteran service during its annual Veterans Day Program scheduled for Nov. 7, at 2 p.m., on the Drill Field.
For more information on this exhibition or any gallery programs, contact the Rob Butler in the Center for Student Activities at 662-325-2930 or reb552@msstate.edu.
Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.
