Citizen Soldiers will be honored at Veterans Ceremony on Friday, November 6 at Fresno City College. All current and retired National Guard and military reservists will receive special recognition at this year’s ceremony.

This year’s ceremony will be held on Friday, November 6 at 12 p.m. at the Veterans Peace Memorial, located near the Free Speech Area. All veterans and the public are invited to attend.

Reservists and all Citizen Soldiers who will be attending the ceremony are asked to RSVP to the FCC College Activities Office by calling (559) 265-5711 or by emailing fcc.collegeactivities@fresnocitycollege.edu.

The ceremony will include a helicopter flyover, a rifle salute, and the playing of Taps. A reception will follow.

This year's keynote speaker is Colonel Jonathan S. Flaugher, Commander of the144th Fighter Wing, California Air National Guard, Fresno. Colonel Flaugher assumed command of the 144th at Fresno in October 2004. He is a "Command Pilot" with over 4000 hours of Air Force jet and fighter time and is currently an F-16 Instructor Pilot. He graduated from North Carolina State University with a BA in history in 1977 and entered the USAF through the ROTC program.

Special honoree is Mr. Robert E. Fox, retired FCC vice president of Student Services. Mr. Fox enlisted in the Indiana National Guard in 1962 and was the first African American to be commissioned as a second lieutenant by the Officer Candidate School at the Indiana Military Academy. In 1980 he received a direct commission as a Captain and was assigned to the 49th Military Police Brigade of the California Army National Guard. After assuming the Dean’s position at Fresno City College in 1980, he was transferred to the 185th Transportation Battalion in Fresno where he served as a staff officer and was subsequently selected to command the 2668th Transportation Company. He retired from Fresno City College earlier this year.