Arkansas Tech University to Host Veterans Day Flag Raising and Lunch

A flag-raising ceremony on the lawn between Tucker Coliseum and the Doc Bryan Student Services Center will mark the start of Veterans Day 2026 at Arkansas Tech University. The event, scheduled for 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 11, serves as a central observance for the university community and the public, according to arkansastechnews.com.

The ceremony is organized by the ATU Major General William E. Harmon Office of Veteran Services. Beyond the formal morning proceedings, the university has arranged for a community meal to follow the flag raising. Starting at 11:30 a.m., a free lunch will be provided for all veterans who present a valid identification card. This meal will be hosted in the Chambers Cafeteria through a partnership between the Office of Veteran Services and Sodexo, the university’s food service provider.

Community recognition and veteran support

Tammy Dougan is scheduled to serve as the speaker during the lunch period. Dougan holds a dual role within the campus community, serving as a first sergeant in the Arkansas Army National Guard and as the chief of public safety for the ATU Department of Public Safety.

Major General William E. Harmon recalls being a student at what was then known as Arkansas Polytechnic College in the 1950s and watching as United States military veterans who had served in Korea returned home to pursue higher education. He observed many of them struggle to make… pic.twitter.com/pHlSCyaGQC

— https://x.com/ArkansasTech/status/2052506003707707849

The observance highlights the ongoing work of the Major General William E. Harmon Office of Veteran Services. The office operates with a specific mandate to assist veterans, guardsmen, reservists, and their dependents. Their primary focus involves helping these individuals navigate educational benefits and managing the transition into student life to ensure they reach their academic goals.

For those seeking more information regarding the office’s resources or the upcoming observance, the university maintains a dedicated information portal at www.atu.edu/veterans.