PRCC audience encouraged to assist military families

HATTIESBURG – The military and their families deserve and appreciate support from the community, Lt. Col. Joseph E. Worley Jr. told the audience at the Pearl River Community College Veterans Day Observance at the Forrest County Center.Worley, Army ROTC commander at the University of Southern Mississippi, was featured speaker at the Nov. 10 event, which included patriotric music and presentations by students and faculty.Being an Army family is hard, Worley said. The military spouse and immediate family endure a great deal when their service member is deployed. There a great deal of having to shoulder the burden. The strength of our soldiers comes from the strength of their families.Worley reminded the audience that November is Military Family Recognition Month and listed several ways civilians can help military and veterans families:nHire veterans, especially wounded veterans, or encourage others to do so.nSpread the word about military families or veterans who need assistance.nVolunteer with local organizations that assist the military.nVisit Camp Shelby, especially the Mississippi Armed Forces Museum.I encourage you to see the changing face of veterans and how you can help them, he said. Dont just say thank you to a veteran. Show them.The program included recognition of PRCC students, faculty and staff who are veterans or currently serving in the military.It means a lot that people still recognize people who served and are still serving, PRCC student Margaret Lovett of Hattiesburg said. It shows the community cares.Lovett, who plans to pursue a career in criminal justice and forensic science, is a specialist in the Mississippi Army National Guard 114^th Military Police Company in Clinton and served in Iraq from August 2009 to August 2010.Dr. Benny Hornsby, a retired Navy chaplain and a PRCC sociology instructor, presented a devotion he originally used while serving in the Philippines and veteran Eddie Hodges, a PRCC student, read an original poem entitled Worst Day in His Life. The program also included the national anthem performed by The Voices, PRCC vocal ensemble, and a slide show of service members and veterans with a connection to PRCC.