The Public Service Organization (PSO) at the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University is recognizing veterans and active members of the US military who are members of the Bush School community with a wall display in the center of the School. The wall features photos of each active service member and veteran along with his or her name and a brief bio. The wall, which will be on display during the two weeks leading up to Veteran’s Day, is one of several ways the Bush School seeks to honor the sacrifices made by those who serve in the military.
“The PSO wanted to create the Veteran Recognition Wall to highlight the service aspect that is so fundamental to the Bush School,” said Erica Cottingham, PSO president. “We wanted this wall to create a personal connection for Bush School students and faculty to those who have served, so we chose to highlight our appreciation for their service and to honor them on Veteran’s Day.”
In addition to the wall, the Bush School PSO will host a “Write a Letter to a Soldier Campaign” on Veteran’s Day in order to support the service men and women who are spending time away from their families during the holidays. A booth will be set up at the Bush School for students to write letters to any member of the US military; the letters will then be sent to soldiers overseas.
The Bush School PSO serves the greater Bryan/College Station community through various service projects throughout the year. Since the beginning of the school year, PSO has been involved in work that includes building homes for Habitat for Humanity, cleaning up beaches in the Corpus Christi area, and assisting with the Brazos Valley Food Bank.
The Bush School and Texas A&M have a long history of recognizing the sacrifices of veterans and current service members in addition to helping them achieve their educational goals. Each year, through the Scowcroft Institute for International Affairs, the School hosts officers in the US Army as a part of the United States Army War College’s Senior Service College Fellowship Program.
Earlier this year, USA Today announced that Texas A&M was named the best institution in the nation for providing services to veterans transitioning into civil service careers after their military service. Texas A&M is home to more than 1,100 veterans and at least 2,200 military dependents who are able to take advantage of A&M’s generous scholarships and financial aid for members of the military. The University also has two offices dedicated to assisting students affiliated with the military and provides programs designed to support veterans in their educational pursuits.
