Last month, Mississippi State University proudly welcomed current and former servicemen and women and the campus community to a ceremony celebrating the unveiling of the newly installed World War II memorial. MSU President Mark E. Keenum said the monument dedication is one way for the university to say “thank you” to veterans and all who have served.

The monument, situated outside Nusz Hall, home of the G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Center for America’s Veterans, honors WWII veterans, including a number of former students who gave all they had to defend freedom around the world in the early 1940s. Montgomery, the center’s namesake, was an MSU alumnus and WWII veteran who authored the Montgomery G.I. Bill as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Recognized as a top 10 Military Friendly School for the fourth consecutive year, MSU has long been recognized as one of the nation’s most veteran-friendly universities. From the first cadets enrolled at Mississippi A and M College to the over 3,000 veterans, service members, and dependents enrolled today, MSU’s commitment to supporting military-connected students remains steadfast. Furthermore, the university seeks to honor their dedicated service in meaningful ways.

The “Dough Boy” statue, donated by MSU’s class of 1932, sits near the northeast corner of Lee Hall and honors MSU students who gave their lives in World War I. Similarly, fundraising efforts led by the MSU Student Association in the 1980s resulted in the addition of the Vietnam Veteran Memorial to campus in 1991.

Following the relocation of the Vietnam Veteran Memorial to a position of prominence behind Nusz Hall in 2018, the university began efforts to secure support for additional monuments to recognize the veterans of WWII, the Korean Conflict and the Global War on Terrorism.

Thanks to the generous support of alumni and friends, the WWII project is now complete. The permanent monument stands as a fitting tribute to the service and sacrifice made by many.

For more information on the memorial projects or to make a gift to a particular monument, contact Georgia Banes, director of annual giving for the MSU Foundation, at 662-325-5975 or gbanes@foundation.msstate.edu.