Every name comes with a story.  Every story ends the same way.

VSU’s chapter of Student Veterans of America is sponsoring a veteran’s event at 8 a.m. on Monday in front of the Student Union in honor of Veterans Day.

VSU’s students, faculty and staff will participate in the reading of the 6,600-plus men and women who lost their lives while serving America in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operating Iraqi Freedom in the past decade. Valdosta-Lowndes County residents are invited to participate in the readings.

VSU President William McKinney will give opening remarks at the event which is expected to last about seven hours. Each volunteer will read 125 names in 15 minutes.

VSU is one of 93 schools in 37 states doing a name-reading event for Veteran’s Day.

According to retired Master Sergeant Mark A. Smith, the success of last year’s event is the reason they are doing the event again.

“Last year was successful so we had to do it again,” Smith said. “We have a total of 56 readers that include faculty, staff, members of the ROTC, veterans and locals.”

If you are interested in volunteering to read names you can contact the Adult and Military Program office at 253-2873 or Mark Smith at 229-834-0313.