Branson Veterans of America to host Veterans Week Opening Ceremony at College of the Ozarks

College of the Ozarks
Media Contact: Valorie Coleman, Public Relations Director
Office: (417) 690-2212 Cell: (417) 365-2727

Email: vcoleman@cofo.edu
 
NEWS: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
October 15, 2024
 
Branson Veterans of America to host Veterans Week Opening Ceremony at College of the Ozarks
 
POINT LOOKOUT, MO. — On Tuesday, Nov. 5, at 10 a.m., Branson Veterans of America 913 will host the Veterans Week Opening Ceremony at College of the Ozarks Patriots Park to honor those who have served and sacrificed for our country.
 
The public is invited and encouraged to attend the ceremony.
 
The ceremony will be held at College of the Ozarks Patriots Park located next to the Welcome Center on the College of the Ozarks campus.
 
The ceremony will include a welcome by Dr. Brad Johnson, president of College of the Ozarks; a posting of the colors by the Branson Veterans of America 913 Honor Guard; a reading of proclamation by Larry Milton, Branson Missouri mayor; a Missouri Vietnam memorial story by Dr. Jerry C. Davis, president emeritus College of the Ozarks; a keynote address by Brigadier General James Schreffler; and a wreath laying ceremony and rifle volley by the Branson Veterans of America 913 honor guard. 
 
“I feel the presence of patriotism every time I enter the gates of C of O and pass by The Empty Cross^™,” said Robert Sarver, College of the Ozarks associates chairmen and member of BVA 913. “Veterans Day is the one day a year that our nation pays tribute to the many men and women who served this great country. Here in Branson, we honor Veterans every day. Last year, our mayor, Larry Milton, made a proclamation proclaiming Branson as the most patriotic city in America. That is very evident when you attend the many shows in Branson and when you enter Hard Work U.”
 
More About Branson Veterans of America 913
 
The Branson Veterans of America 913 (BVA 913) is a 501-C organization in Branson with the goal of sustaining the history of service to the community, Veterans, and their families. Their special programs support all of America’s Veterans and serve our local communities through Memorial Day services, college scholarships, Veteran parades, and color guard and honor guard presentations.
 
More About College of the Ozarks Patriots Park
 
The Patriotic Pillar at College of the Ozarks is to encourage an understanding of American heritage, civic responsibility, love of country, and willingness to defend it. Patriots Park at College of the Ozarks is a recent addition to the College, which encompasses Veterans Grove and other memorials built by the College to honor those who have served and sacrificed for this country. Guests are welcome to visit Patriots Park daily, from sunrise to 10 p.m. The memorials on campus were made possible by the generosity of Johnny Morris, founder and CEO of Bass Pro Shops, and the Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf at Big Cedar Lodge golf tournament. The College was one of the charitable beneficiaries of this tournament.

About College of the Ozarks

College of the Ozarks is a private, Christian, liberal arts college, located in Point Lookout, Missouri, on a 1,000-acre campus. Christian values, hard work, and financial responsibility comprise the fundamental building blocks of the “Hard Work U.” experience. The College earns numerous accolades yearly, including No. 2 Best Performers on Social Mobility-Regional Colleges in the Midwest and No. 4 Best Regional College in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report for 2024-2025 and No. 3 Best Bang for the Buck by Washington Monthly, 2024. To achieve its vision, the College pursues academic, vocational, Christian, patriotic, and cultural goals. These goals are mirrored in School of the Ozarks, a laboratory school that completes the K-college model.
The Keeter Center — the College’s award-winning lodge, restaurant, and conference facility — earns awards consistently, including the TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice Award 2024 and the Best of the Best and Readers’ Choice Awards 2023 from ConventionSouth magazine. The Keeter Center features historic lodging, fine dining, and meeting rooms. With more than 350 student workers, it is the largest workstation on campus.