MSU President Keenum honors military, veterans with campus memorial tour on America’s 250th anniversary

Contact: Mary Pollitz or Sid Salter

STARKVILLE, Miss.—As the United States celebrates its historic 250th anniversary of independence on July 4th, Mississippi State University reaffirmed its deep-rooted commitment to its nation’s veterans on Friday [July 3].

MSU President Mark E. Keenum and First Lady Rhonda Keenum marked the Semiquincentennial with a personal tour of the campus’s historic landmarks and memorials that honor the generations of veterans and military service members who have defended American democracy over the nation’s history. The university’s 19th president laid memorial wreaths at two of the sites on behalf of the university’s students, faculty, staff and alumni.

“This is a special time to honor American exceptionalism and global leadership and certainly Mississippi State’s important role in that as a comprehensive land-grant research university,” said Keenum. “Our scholars and researchers have significantly contributed to scientific discovery, consistent improvements in the human condition, and the hard and steady work of building a nation and growing an economy. But at this juncture, it is important to pause and remember the sacrifices of the thousands of MSU students who faithfully answered the call of their nation in times of global peril and uncertainty.”

Keenum began his tour at Nusz Hall, home of the G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Center for America’s Veterans, the hub for MSU’s robust veteran and military community. Montgomery, the center’s namesake, was an MSU alumnus and WWII veteran who later authored the GI Bill of Rights as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee. The late U.S. Sen. John C. Stennis, a distinguished MSU alum from Kemper County, was known as the “father of the modern U.S. Navy” and is the namesake of the USS John C, Stennis aircraft carrier, the lead ship in a Naval carrier group that projects American military might around the world.

Honoring the nation’s “Greatest Generation” who served from 1941-1945, the World War II Memorial outside Nusz Hall pays tribute to the bravery of the men and women who fundamentally shaped the modern world. The memorial was dedicated in 2023.

Originally established as Mississippi A & M College, the land-grant institution maintained military instruction in its curriculum from its inception. Since MSU’s founding, former members of the university’s ROTC program have participated in every conflict in which the U.S. Armed Forces have been called to fight - including more than 130 members who served as volunteers during the Spanish-American War and over 6,000 who served in World War I.

Outside the veteran’s center, the Vietnam War Memorial is dedicated to the more than 600 Mississippians who lost their lives during the conflict, and the profound impact felt across the MSU community as students, staff and alumni put their lives and educations on hold to enlist.

Concluding Keenum’s stops at Nusz Hall, the university’s 19th president laid a wreath at the Blue Star Memorial, which serves as a universal salute to all men and women in the armed forces who have defended the United States.

Moving across campus, Keenum visited the northeast corner of Lee Hall, where the historic “Doughboy” statue stands watch. The monument pays homage to the young MSU students who made the ultimate sacrifice during World War I, a period when the entire campus transformed into a military training ground to fill the growing need for combat officers.

“It is important that all of us not merely walk by these memorials, but that we acknowledge the sacrifices of the soldiers, sailors, and airmen they honor,” said Keenum. “The central green space on our campus, our beloved Drill Field, is a place where thousands of cadets trained to serve their country, and they did so with honor, courage, and a profound sense of duty. As we celebrate today, those solemn facts should be part of our thoughts.”

MSU’s dedication to the military extends to its foundational roots as a premier military-friendly institution. Consistently ranked in the top 10 nationally for its support of the veteran community, MSU earned a Top 5 designation in the latest Military Friendly® Schools rankings.

MSU carries its military legacy forward with extensive financial resources, including specialized scholarships and out-of-state tuition waivers for military members, veterans, and their dependents. From the first cadets enrolled at Mississippi A & M College to the more than 3,000 veterans, service members and dependents enrolled today, MSU’s commitment to supporting military-connected students remains steadfast.

For more information about Mississippi State’s military history and veteran resources, visit www.veterans.msstate.edu.

Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.