Numerous Events Slated to Honor Veterans

To honor the military at Thomas Nelson and in the community, the College has scheduled a series of events and activities for Nov. 11. Some of the events are new, while others are similar to past activities, with minor changes.

The formal portion of the virtual event will be from 11 a.m. until noon. It will get started with an online rendition of the national anthem led by Michael Sundblad, chair of the Performing Arts department, and performed by the Thomas Nelson choir. There also will be student speakers, a minute of silence at 11:11 a.m., an art show, a volksmarch and a Steps for Vets event.

Here's a closer look at some of the events:

Volksmarch

This sport might not be familiar to a lot of people, but it's non-competitive fitness walking that was developed in the 1960s in Europe. There's even a local chapter of the sport, the Peninsula Pathfinders, which will be helping with the event. It will be held at Sandy Bottom Nature Park in Hampton from 9 a.m. until 4. All participants have to start by 1 p.m.

"They helped us put on our first volksmarch a year ago at the Historic Triangle campus," said Gary Pounder, Assistant Director of Veterans Affairs at the College.

He's hoping they will be able to increase the numbers from last year, which attracted more than 50 participants. Pounder said there will be T-shirt sales at the volksmarch event to raise money for a military and veterans scholarship program at Thomas Nelson.

Steps for Vets

Brandie Weaver, the College's Veteran Services manager, will be walking 10,000 steps, about five miles, and taking along interested viewers. She'll be outfitted with a GoPro camera as she goes on a tour of the Hampton campus, beginning at 11:45 a.m. She will then work her way to Sandy Bottom Nature Park to take part in the volksmarch.

The Steps for Vets is similar to the Walk in our Socks event that has been held at the College the past two years. But this year, you don't have to get in all of your 10,000 steps in one day.

"They can do it in a combination of days, however they want to do it," Weaver said. "It's just a matter of getting out there honoring our vets. And they can post pictures to social media using #steps4vets."

She noted anyone who is participating in the volksmarch is automatically included in the Steps for Vets program.

"We're just encouraging people to get out there," she said.

Weaver will provide a live feed from the volksmarch event.

Art show

The College started a military art show in November 2018, but the previous two were held in person on campus. For this show, Kathy Carbaugh is putting together a PowerPoint presentation, which she will unveil online shortly after the national anthem, moment of silence and student speeches.

The idea for an art show had its roots when she was working on a photography and design degree from Tidewater Community College a few years ago. There were a lot of veterans and military affiliated students in her classes.

"What I discovered is that a lot of our veterans, in particular, were using art to work to give them a balance to other things," said Carbaugh, a Veterans services coordinator at the College.

So she started an art show at TCC in 2014, and when she came to Thomas Nelson in 2018, she decided to do the same thing here. She said the previous shows at the College have drawn between 10 and 25 pieces of work from 10 to 20 artists. Two of the best things about the show, she said, are that it's not a competitive event and it's not limited to just military artists.

"The parameters of who can participate are kind of broader than other things that the College offers," she said, adding she requests only "that the participant be associated with Thomas Nelson in some form or fashion."

That includes any staff member at Thomas Nelson, along with spouses and family members of College employees.

"It isn't cut and dry you have to be a veteran … you just have to want to submit art and participate," she said.

The deadline to submit work has been extended to Nov. 6. Carbaugh asks that those interested take a picture of their work, put it into a PowerPoint presentation and submit it to va@tncc.edu. She also wants the words "ART SHOW" in the subject line. Please make the first slide a bio along with your military affiliation (mother, brother, sister, spouse, significant other, etc.) and why art is important to you.

For more information on the art show, go to https://www.vpcc.edu/admissions/veteran-services/.