ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — Elizabeth City’s three higher education institutions—Elizabeth City State University (ECSU), Mid-Atlantic Christian University (MACU), and College of the Albemarle (COA)—came together Thursday in a tribute to local veterans. The Veterans Recognition Ceremony, held at the College of the Albemarle’s Performing Arts Center, brought together students, faculty, and community members to honor military service members.
Veterans from each institution also shared their stories, adding a personal touch to the ceremony. ECSU’s Michelle Barns, a U.S. Navy veteran; MACU’s Bobby Martin, also a Navy veteran; and COA’s Wendra Costley, a U.S. Army veteran, each offered reflections on their service and the importance of support from their academic and local communities.
ECSU's interim chancellor, Catherine Edmonds, says that collaboration among the colleges and their combined efforts to honor those who served are everyday cultural norms, especially on Veterans Day. “Although we work every day to assist and honor our veterans, today, we set aside specifically to recognize all of our veterans for their sacrifice,” said Edmonds.
Edmonds discussed ECSU’s close ties to military service, noting that many in the ECSU family are veterans, including her son, who served in the Coast Guard. “Many of our ECSU faculty, staff and students—to include my very own son who is a Coast Guard veteran—have served, continue to serve, or are part of a military family,” she shared. “This event is yet another example of our higher education team here in Elizabeth City working together to better serve the students, faculty, and staff of our institutions and our community,” Edmonds added.
COA President Jack Bagwell discussed Elizabeth City’s unique setting, with three higher education institutions in close proximity, a rarity for small communities. “We appreciate that we are in a community rich in higher education institutions,” Bagwell said. “That’s not that common for a community this size.”
Through speeches, personal stories and moments of reflection, the ceremony reflected the collective effort to acknowledge the sacrifices of veterans while encouraging community collaboration.