Heartland Community College will honor veterans, current members of the U.S. Armed Forces and recognize the 251st Anniversary of the Marine Corps on Tuesday, November 10, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the Community Commons Building (CCB) Gregg Chadwick Board Room on the Main Campus (1500 W. Raab Rd., Normal).
The Veterans’ celebration is a community-wide event, bringing together students, faculty, staff, and residents in appreciation for all who have served in the United States Armed Forces.
The program will feature a keynote from Sal Gonzalez. While serving overseas in the United States Marine Corps in 2004, his truck was hit by an improvised explosive device (IED). The blast left him with a traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and ultimately caused him to lose his left leg below the knee. Gonzalez credits the Wounded Warrior Project with helping him recover from external and internal wounds and pursue a career that combines two of his passions: music and helping his fellow warriors.
Following the keynote address, veterans will be honored with a formal cake-cutting ceremony featuring serving members of the military.
Attendees are invited to enjoy refreshments, visit with veteran service organizations and community vendors, and participate in tours of the Penn Family Veterans Center located in the Workforce Development Center of Heartland’s campus.
The Penn Family Veterans Center was established in 2024. The purpose of the center is to establish a space on campus for soldiers to transition to students in a welcoming environment specifically geared toward those who simply need support in pursuing their education. The Center already serves over 150 Armed Forces veterans and active service members who attend Heartland Community College.
