West Virginia University is hosting two separate events on the Morgantown campus that will honor military history and veterans. The public is invited to attend both events, which will take place at the Mountainlair and Oglebay Hall.

Former prisoner of war Jessica Lynch, a native of Wirt County, will speak about her capture in Iraq and subsequent rescue in 2003. Her presentation is scheduled from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Mountainlair, Gluck Theater, Room 114. The Center for Veteran, Military and Family Programs, alongside REACH Student Success, is hosting the event, with sponsorship from Azimuth Inc.

Additionally, the university will observe the anniversary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor with its annual Pearl Harbor Day Ceremony. This solemn event, set for 10 a.m., will take place at the USS West Virginia mast and bell, Oglebay Hall, located in the downtown area of campus. A 21-gun salute will be executed by members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 548 and Post 9916, offering a fitting tribute to the lives lost on December 7, 1941.

The keynote speaker for the ceremony will be Maj. George Davis, a retired Military Intelligence/Aviation Officer in the U.S. Army. He currently serves as the commander for Chapter 45 of the Disabled American Veterans in North Central West Virginia. His address is expected to provide an insightful reflection on the historical significance of Pearl Harbor Day.