The weather over the Memorial Day weekend was perfect for visiting the Stones River National Battlefield Cemetery (2552 Old Nashville Highway) as well as Flags of Remembrance Healing Field next to First United Methodist Church (265 West Thompson Lane).

Stones River Battlefield

Retired Lt. Gen. Keith M. Huber was the Memorial Day speaker at the Stones River National Battlefield at 1:30 Sunday afternoon (5/24/2015). He is MTSU's senior adviser for veterans and leadership initiatives.

A retired U.S. Army three-star general, Huber spent nearly 40 years in the military serving his country and now lives in Franklin, Tennessee.

The Memorial Day program was held at the rostrum in the Stones River National Cemetery. In remembering the sacrifices of soldiers past and present, the moving presentation included patriotic music, a wreath-laying ceremony and the reading of names of veterans who have died since Memorial Day, 2014.

Huber has been at MTSU since January, and he is helping to bridge the gap between student veterans population and the campus community. Statistics show that segment of the student body now numbers around 1,000--including their families.

MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee announced recently the university plans to create a 2,600-square-foot center specifically for student veterans. The construction in Keathley University Center will coincide with a suite of new student services.

To assist veterans and their families in a variety of ways, MTSU unveiled the state's first VetSuccess on Campus program in March 2012. The VetSuccess office will move to the new center. Learn more about MTSU's student veterans' services at www.mtsu.edu/military.