ECC Board Member and Veteran to Keynote Veterans Day Recognition Ceremony

Other ECC events in honor of veterans also announced

William “Kenny” Parker

“It’s an honor to have served,” Tarboro resident William “Kenny” Parker stated without hesitation after being asked about his time in the US Army. The veteran can vividly recall when he was drafted to enter the Vietnam War—Jan. 2, 1969. Now, the Edgecombe Community College Board of Trustees member and pastor will share his experience and the significance of recognizing all veterans, as the keynote speaker for the ECC Veterans Day Recognition Ceremony. The event will take place on Nov. 11 at 12 p.m. in the Fleming Building’s Mobley Atrium on ECC’s Tarboro campus.

“How fortunate we are to have a military force that has served and is serving 24/7 while we enjoy freedom,” says Parker, who also received a Bronze Star Medal for his service in the Vietnam War.

The recognition ceremony is just one of the initiatives ECC has launched to recognize the valor of veterans. In 2023, the college joined Operation Green Light. According to the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners’ website, counties are asked to light their buildings and infrastructure green to show support for the more than 700 thousand veterans residing in the state’s counties. Meg Brown, a financial aid advisor and VA certifying official at ECC, says in 2023, the lobby of the McIntyre building on ECC’s Tarboro campus was illuminated green. This year, more buildings have been added, including the Mobley Atrium and the Barnhill-Jenkins Center for Innovation on the Tarboro campus. The ECC sign and the barbering building on the Rocky Mount campus will also be illuminated green Nov. 4-11.

“Not only do we have veterans on campus, but people drive by our campuses every day, and we wanted to show support to all of our veterans,” says Brown. “This also gives us the ability to educate our students that all of our freedoms depend on the sacrifices of our veterans.”

The ECC Barbering Club will also offer free haircuts for veterans. On Wed., Nov. 6 from 10am to 5pm at the ECC Barber Building on the Rocky Mount campus, veterans can get free haircuts, a facial shave and a shampoo. All services will be provided by ECC students. For more information, call (252) 618-6572.