The 24^TH Annual Veterans Vigil will take place Nov. 5 and 6 on the Texas A&M University – Commerce.

The Veterans Vigil has become an honored tradition for faculty and staff. The opening ceremony will begin promptly at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 5 on the second floor of the Rayburn Student Center in the conference room. A reception will follow at 10 a.m. with the traditional lighting of the Vigil flame. The speaker for this year will be Jacques L. Fuqua Jr., executive director for Global Programs.

“We hope to have a great number of both students and faculty members to attend as well as some of the Commerce citizens themselves,” Dustin Pearson, veterans and military specialist, said.

Fuqua served in the Army as a second lieutenant, received several awards for his service, retired in 2000 and has been at A&M-Commerce since January 2015.

The closing ceremony will be held at the Vigil site at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 6. The University Choir will perform as the Vigil candle is extinguished.

All Veterans can be eligible to get 10 percent off at the campus bookstore on gifts or clothing supplies during Nov. 9-13. In order to reap the benefits, one must have valid proof of their military service. The veterans can also eat in the cafeteria for free on Nov. 11 if they show a valid Military ID or DD214.

The Student Veterans Association sponsors the Appreciation Ball, scheduled Nov. 6 at 7p.m. in the Rayburn Student Center.

Advanced tickets are available from Jessica Gossett by Nov. 1.

“This is a time when we can honor all our military veterans for the job that they did for the United States of America. While participation is not required, it is highly encouraged,” Pearson said.

“This marks the 24^th annual Veterans Vigil for the university and each year brings a sense of unity and patriotism to our campus. We would like to invite everyone to come pay homage to those who have sacrificed so much for this great nation, ” Gossett said.