October 27, 2017
East Central Community College will honor military veterans by hosting its Military Appreciation Breakfast Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017, on the Decatur campus.
The annual event begins with a complimentary breakfast at 7 a.m. in the Gold Room of Mabry Cafeteria.
All community veterans are encouraged to attend.
The keynote address for the breakfast will be given by Maj. Gen. Janson D. Boyles, Adjutant General of Mississippi.
Boyles was appointed Adjutant General of Mississippi by Gov. Phil Bryant on Sept. 1, 2016. He also serves as the Commanding General of both the Mississippi Army and Air National Guard.
He is responsible for providing the state of Mississippi and the United States of America with a ready force of more than 12,275 citizen soldiers and airmen, equipped and trained to respond to any contingency, natural or manmade. General Boyles directs the Mississippi Military Department and oversees the development and coordination of all policies, plans, and programs of the Mississippi National Guard in concert with the governor and state legislature.
General Boyles was commissioned in 1982 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Mississippi State University. Initially commissioned as an Army Medical Department of the United States Army officer, he later re-commissioned in the United States Army Engineer Corps.
In 2005, as the Deputy Commander, 168th Engineer Group, General Boyles managed the engineer response to Hurricane Katrina in Mississippi. In 2008, he deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom with the 168th Engineer Brigade as Deputy Commander overseeing Engineer Sustainment operations in Regional Command—East and Regional Command—South for the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions. In 2012, he was assigned as Commander, 184th Sustainment Command, overseeing all subordinate unit missions ranging from state disaster relief to federal combat rotations executed under his command. In 2015, he was assigned Chief of Staff, Headquarters Kosovo Forces.
General Boyles is the recipient of the Bronze Star Medal, among many other awards and honors.
In addition to Boyles’ address, members of the college’s vocal music ensemble Voce’ will sing the national anthem and trumpeter Grace Addy of Carthage, a member of the Wall O’ Sound Marching Band, will play Taps.
Posting of the Colors will be by Boy Scout Troop 46 from Decatur United Methodist Church.
For more information on the annual ECCC Military Appreciation Breakfast, contact Dr. Randall E. Lee, vice president for student services, at 601-635-6375 or rlee@eccc.edu.
