The College Senior Complex will host its annual Veterans’ Day Breakfast at 8 a.m. Friday at the complex on East Elm Street in Troy.

Catherine Jordan, complex director, said all veterans and their families are invited to attend.

“The Veterans’ Breakfast is one small way that we can show the community’s appreciation to our veterans for their service, their commitment to keeping America safe and for making it possible for us to enjoy the many freedoms that we have. We wish we could do more to show our appreciation. We can never say thank you enough to our veterans.”

The Veterans Day Breakfast is also an opportunity for Pike County area veterans to get together for a time of fellowship and reflection.

“We encourage our veterans to come around 7:30 Friday morning and we’ll have a pot of coffee on so they can enjoy the company of each other,” Jordan said. “It will be an informal time of fellowship. And, those who want to stay and visit after the program are welcome to do so. This time will be all for them.”

Maj. Gen. Walter Givhan, USAF Retired, will be the featured speaker at the Veterans’ Day Breakfast. Givhan is the Senior Vice Chancellor, Advancement and Economic Development at Troy University.

“We are honored to have Major General Givhan as our keynote speaker,” Jordan said. “I’m sure he will speak to the heart of our veterans. I’m sure he will have words of meaning for all of us.”

Givhan served as vice commander of the Air University in Montgomery. With the exception of the Air Force Academy, Givhan oversaw all of the Air Force’s higher education, including the Community College of the Air Force, which is the world’s largest community college system.”
Givhan also served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in charge of U.S. global assistance programs and as Commandant of the Air Force Institute of Technology in Dayton, Ohio, which is the Air Force’s largest graduate school of engineering and management.

Givhan is a native of Safford. He earned a master’s degree from Troy University.

Randy Ross, Veterans Service Officer, Department of Veterans Affairs, will be the emcee for the event. Posting of the colors will be by the Charles Henderson High School JROTC. Girl Scout Troop No. 9084 will lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Invocation will be by Rev. Willie Henderson, associate pastor, First Missionary Baptist Church.

Special music for the program will be presented by Shelia Jackson, Troy tourism and public relations director.