This Veterans Day, join HACC in welcoming guest speaker Colonel (Ret) Frank Hancock. Colonel Hancock served in the United States Army for 30 years and commanded the 1st Battalion, 327th Regiment during Operation Desert Storm. He has a long and distinguished career in the U.S. Military and has won numerous awards, including Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Bronze Star, Valorous Unit Award and Bronze Arrowhead, which his battalion earned during Operation Desert Storm. Come by Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 4 p.m. to hear Colonel Hancock’s presentation and celebrate Veterans Day here at HACC! To learn more and get the Zoom link, click here.

HACC offers numerous services for both current and prospective students who have served in the military. To learn more about the application process for those who are veterans or currently serving, click here. HACC is also a part of the VetSuccess on Campus program through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The VSOC works to provide resources for veterans, current service members and eligible dependents throughout their education and to help them meet their goals as they transition from service to school. They help students connect with VA resources in their area and work as liaisons between the students and the services available to them, including medical care, scholarship and tuition services, and personalized career counseling.

If you are a veteran, Active Duty service member, or eligible dependent who is interested in or currently attending HACC, there are many options for you here. Feel free to reach out to HACC’s Military and Veterans Affairs Offices. For a complete list of MVAO contact information by campus, click here. They will be able to answer questions about funding, the application process, resources for veterans, and any other questions or concerns you may have about attending HACC.

For those who are not veterans but want to support them this Veterans Day, there are options! Instead of just saying “thank you for your service,” consider donating to and volunteering for organizations that serve our veterans the way they have served us. If you’re interested in volunteering, check out this link to view organizations across Pennsylvania that need help right now. From there, you will be able to view organizations by area and need. Whether you want to donate money, specific items, or volunteer your time, you’re sure to find something there.

If you want to support national organizations through donations, you can view a list of accredited and respected military organizations here. Here are some ideas if you aren’t sure where to start:

• United Through Reading, an organization that provides Active Duty military personnel the opportunity to connect with their children and families back home through reading. Soldiers and their children are given books by age group, which the children read along with their parents to foster both a bond and love of literature for soldiers and their children.
• Puppies Behind Bars, an organization that gives incarcerated individuals the chance to love, train, and raise service dogs for veterans who have been debilitated physically or mentally as a result of their service. Inmates get the chance to nurture and provide stability for the dogs they raise, improving their mental health and morale as they prepare to reenter society. Once trained, the service dogs are provided to veterans free of charge.
• The Mission Continues, an organization that seeks to foster a greater sense of community and camaraderie for veterans through local community service. Veterans are trained and connected with nonprofits in underfunded areas to become community leaders. From there, they work as community advocates, builders, food bank workers, and more based on the needs of the area. Currently, many veterans are working on the frontlines of COVID-19 to ensure their communities’ safety and wellbeing.
• Project Sanctuary, an organization that provides counseling, financial resources, therapeutic retreats, and more to veterans and their families. Through their work, they seek to create an open dialogue within military families about struggles with PTSD, mental health, and support for every member of the family with a focus on healing.

Thank you to all who have served! We here at HACC support our veterans.