UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State faculty, staff, student and alumni veterans are invited to attend a luncheon celebrating World War II veterans as part of the University’s ongoing military appreciation efforts recognizing the service and sacrifice of service members, veterans and military families.

The lunch will take place at noon Wednesday, Nov. 13, in Robb Hall at the Hintz Family Alumni Center. All Penn State students, faculty, staff and alumni who are veterans are invited to attend and are required to RSVP by Nov. 1.

The luncheon is organized by the University’s Military Appreciation Committee in conjunction with Military Appreciation Week from Nov. 8-16 celebrating America’s Greatest Generation. Each year, the luncheon focuses on a select subset of the military to recognize during the event. In past years, local Vietnam and women veterans have been honored.

At the event, Richard Hamp, special assistant to the deputy adjutant general of veterans affairs at the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, will deliver a talk to attendees and honor local World War II veterans, including Penn State alumni Leon Kneebone (Army), Garrett “Mitch” Mitchell (Army Air Corps) and his wife Laura Mitchell (registered nurse at Richmond Army Hospital), and Alexander “Lew” Parry Jr. (Army Air Corps).

Hamp, who served in the Army for 30 years before retiring in 2003, currently leads efforts to serve and provide resources to veterans and their families within the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Within the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, he previously served as the division chief for outreach and reintegration and as the director for the Bureau of Veterans Programs, Initiatives, Reintegration and Outreach. Hamp joined the Army after high school and began his military career with the 82nd Airborne Division. He also served as a squad leader in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard 1st Battalion, 112th Infantry and as the division operations sergeant major with the 28th Infantry Division. Hamp was selected to deploy with the first Army Guard Command of Task Force Eagle in Bosnia-Herzegovina in 2001-02.

Penn State has a longstanding and proud tradition of serving the men and women of the military through education benefits, resources, support and more. Visit the Penn State military appreciation website to learn more about the ways Penn State continues to honor service members, veterans and their families.

The luncheon is made possible by support from Penn State’s Office of Veterans Programs and local businesses, including The Tavern, Harrison’s Catering, Sheetz, Sam’s Club, Insomnia Cookies, Wegmans and more. To help support events organized by the Penn State Military Appreciation Committee, visit http://c-fund.us/mz2.

For more information and to RSVP, contact Kristin Harpster at kmm21@psu.edu by Nov. 1.