Rhode Island College, named a “military friendly school” by G.I. Jobs magazine, opened a new Veterans Resource Center in Building 5 on the east campus Nov. 9. The center serves as a clearinghouse of information for all student veterans and their families as they transition from military service to academia.

Monica Darcy, coordinator of veterans programs at RIC, said that the center will support veteran students, provide information about degree requirements and help students find the resources to succeed.

RIC has 90 academic programs approved for veterans, and employs a Veterans Administration certifying official who verifies enrollment for veterans’ educational benefits for more than 140 student veterans. About 47 are receiving the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill benefits and the number is rising, according to Cindy Salzillo, RIC’s VA certifying official.

For more information about the Veterans Resource Center and programs, call Monica Darcy at (401) 456-2710 or send e-mail to mdarcy@ric.edu.

Air Force Band to play

The United States Air Force Band of Liberty will give a free public concert on Dec. 6 at 3 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium. The concert, kicking off the holiday season, will showcase performances from the big military band sound to individual solos. Advance tickets are available in person, while supplies last, at the Providence Performing Arts Center box office at 220 Weybosset St. in Providence on Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Also, a ticket order mail form may be downloaded from the VMA Arts and Cultural Center Web site at www.vmari.com by clicking on the event.

War veterans honored

A Dec. 7 program honoring veterans from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan will be held at Bishop Hendricken High School. The program will include a remembrance of the 10 Rhode Islanders who have lost their lives in the conflicts, a salute to all veterans present and a special remembrance of Sgt. 1st Class Jared A. Monti, of Raynham, Mass., for his valor in service in Afghanistan.

Monti was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by President Obama at a Washington ceremony last September and his family will be present for the program.

The keynote speaker will be veteran Richard August, father of Matthew August, a Hendricken and West Point Military Academy graduate, who was killed in Iraq in 2004. A brief reception will follow the program. Any interested veteran, family member or friend is invited to attend. Call Jan O’Donnell at (401) 739-3450 or send e-mail to jan@hendricken.com to confirm your attendance by Nov. 30.

Recognition reception

Rhode Island soldiers from the Army, Army Guard and Army Reserve who have been selected as NCOs, Soldiers and Recruiters of the Year by their units will be recognized for their achievements on Dec. 3 at the Quonset Officers Club, starting with a 6 p.m. reception.

The Rhode Island Chapter of the Association of the United States Army will host the event which includes a speech by Maj. Gen. Robert Bray, adjutant general and commanding general of the R.I. Army National Guard. Dress is business casual and a framed military print will be raffled.

The event is free and open to anyone interested in supporting the Army, its soldiers and their families, and reservations must be made by Nov. 30 by calling Anthony Ferri at (401) 861-2997 or by e-mail to him at afnf458673755@aol.com.

Author seeking veterans

Rhode Island author Eric Ethier is writing a book about the 3rd Marine Division’s involvement in World War II and would like to interview any interested Marine veterans of that conflict. If interested, call Ethier at (401) 783-4540 or write to him at 51A Narragansett Ave., Narragansett, R.I. 02882.

Meetings

Reunion: The annual holiday breakfast of the 102d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron Association will be held on Dec. 13, at Chelo’s Restaurant on Post Road in Warwick, starting at 9:30 a.m.

Reservations cost $12 and must be made by Dec. 6 by calling Hank Connors at (401) 437-1482 or send e-mail to hank.connors@cox.net.

Governor’s Veterans’ Affairs Advisory Council will meet Tuesday at 1 p.m., at the Rhode Island Veterans Home, south building conference room, 480 Metacom Ave., Bristol.

Italian-American War Veterans’ monthly meeting will be on Wednesday at the VA Medical Center, 830 Chalkstone Ave., Providence, at 7:30 p.m. in classroom 3.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of R.I. will hold a service officer training school on Saturday, from 8 to 11 a.m., at Kelley-Gazzerro Post 2812 in Cranston. It will be led by state service officer James Boardman. All post commanders and senior and junior vice commanders should attend and must call (401) 751-8200 for reservations.

The 43d Infantry Division Rhode Island Winged Victory Division will meet on Nov. 28, at 1 p.m. at the Arsenal, 176 Benefit St., Providence.

Tri-city Elks Lodge, 1915 West Shore Rd., Warwick, will honor veterans from World War II up to the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan at a fundraiser baked ham dinner with all the fixings on Nov. 28, beginning at 6 p.m., with music and dancing to follow. Tickets cost $10 and may be purchased at the Lodge bar from dinner chairman Bill Reynolds. Proceeds will go toward the veterans’ program fund.

Send veterans’ meeting and news items to George W. Reilly at VeteransColumn@verizon.net or write to The Veterans’ Journal Column at The Providence Journal, 75 Fountain St., Providence, R.I. 02902. Veterans’ meeting and feature items can be read and posted for free at http://projothebeat.com/.