A&M-Victoria plans third annual Patriot Palooza
As Veterans Day approaches, Texas A&M University-Victoria is planning to host a celebration to honor veterans in the community’s education organizations and others across the region.
The third annual Patriot Palooza will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Nov. 14 in the lobby of University South, 3007 N. Ben Wilson St. The celebration will feature live music by The Texas Continentals, as well as food and drink for attendees. This year’s event will put particular focus on honoring veterans who work at the university, Victoria College and the Victoria Independent School District. All other veterans are welcome.
“As we celebrate the third year of Patriot Palooza, we are proud to once again honor the service and sacrifice of our local veterans,” said Jennifer Ortiz Garza, A&M-Victoria interim vice president for enrollment management. “This event has become a meaningful tradition for our campus community, and now, as part of the Texas A&M University System, we are especially encouraged by the strong support and commitment the System demonstrates to those who have served. It’s an honor to recognize our A&M-Victoria, Victoria College, and Victoria Independent School District Patriots and to continue building a culture of respect and gratitude for our Veterans.”
In addition to the music, food and drink, the event will feature a keynote address by Col. Patrick Seiber, director of public relations for the George H.W. Bush Combat Development Complex at the Texas A&M–RELLIS Campus. Seiber retired from the U.S. Army in 2019. While serving, he worked as a public communications leader for senior levels of the military. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in speech communication from Texas A&M, a Master of Strategy from the U.S. Army War College and a Master of Military Art and Strategy from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. Seiber will speak with a few A&M-Victoria classes throughout the day before coming to Patriot Palooza to speak to area veterans.
“We started Patriot Palooza three years ago in response to a need for more opportunities for veterans to connect on campus and in the community,” said Daniel White, interim associate provost of curriculum and student success. “Now we have an event that brings veterans from every generation together with no agenda. We just want them to meet others who have shared the experience of military service and have a good time.”
In addition to the event, the university will observe Veterans Day weekend with the posting of U.S. flags along Ben Wilson Street and the unfurling of a huge U.S. flag on the front of University South. University veteran employees also will participate in the Victoria Veterans Day Parade on Nov. 11.
“A&M-Victoria is proud to support Victoria’s veterans, especially those who went from serving their country to now serving in education and higher education,” said Kelsey Norgard, director of alumni relations and annual giving. “We are excited to welcome them to campus to celebrate their service. We also are grateful to our past and present sponsors, including H-E-B, Warrior’s Weekend, The American Legion and Atzenhoffer Auto Group for their support.”
For more information about Patriot Palooza, contact White at whitedw@tamuv.edu.
Texas A&M University-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 50 academic programs in the colleges of Business, Education & Health Professions, Liberal Arts & Social Sciences, and Natural & Applied Science. A&M-Victoria provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as online classes that students can take from anywhere. The university supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.