Charlie and Hazel Daniels To Be Honored At MTSU

Aug 21, 2016 at 08:58 am by bryan


It's no secret, country music superstar Charlie Daniels is a flag waving patriotic citizen. Charlie and Hazel Daniels will be honored by Middle Tennessee State University at 10:00 o'clock this coming Tuesday morning (8/23/2016) in a special unveiling ceremony on the second floor atrium of the Andrew Woodfin Miller, Sr. Education Building at 503 East Bell Street.

The Daniels are co-founders of the non-profit The Journey Home Project that was developed to connect donors to veteran organizations that help returning warriors with healthcare, education, and job opportunities.

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MTSU has one of the highest numbers of student-veterans, and the university's Veterans and Military Family Center is helping with this mission. The country music legend's $120,000 gifts through The Journey Home Project helped to make this a reality at the university.

The local facility is located on the first floor of Keathley University Center. The 2,600-square-foot veterans center serves about 1,000 student-veterans and their family members, offering one-stop services to help them acclimate back to a non-military life.

The program includes:

  • Welcome by Keith M. Huber, senior adviser for veterans and leadership initiatives and retired U.S. Army lieutenant general
  • Singing of the national anthem by Dr. H. Stephen Smith, interim associate dean in the College of Liberal Arts
  • Remarks by MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee
  • Remarks by Mike Krause, new executive director, Tennessee Higher Education Commission
  • Remarks by Nashville Mayor Megan Barry
  • Remarks by Hazel Daniels
  • Remarks by Charlie Daniels
  • Unveiling of a plaque honoring the Danielses, who also will be given their own MTSU Blue Raider football jersey

Last week (Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016), the Daniels hosted a barbecue for approximately fifty new Blue Raider veteran-students and their families at the Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Family Center.

MTSU's Senior Adviser for Veterans Keith M. Huber, retired Lieutenant General, indicated that the new and returning student-veterans learned about opportunities through the center (G.I. Bill, VetSuccess on Campus, tutoring and more) and marketing outreach from athletics, Campus Recreation Center, Health Services/Promotions and more.

Center Director Dr. Hilary Miller said, "A goal for the orientation was to make sure they have on-campus contacts for all offices that can help them be successful, and to know the center staff, be connected to us and get to know other student veterans."

A press release from the university noted, "MTSU is committed to developing a community devoted to learning, growth and service. We hold these values dear, and there's a simple phrase that conveys them: I am True Blue." Learn more at www.mtsu.edu/trueblue.

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