FAMU to Host Reception Celebrating 'The Veterans Legacy Project: A Digital Tribute' Ahead of America’s 250th Anniversary
Reception at the Meek-Eaton Research Center and Museum will formally showcase the exhibit on July 1, 2026
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) Department of Military and Veteran Affairs and the Meek-Eaton Research Center and Museum will host a reception formally showcasing The Veterans Legacy Project: A Digital Tribute, an exhibit honoring the military service of FAMU alumni, faculty, students, and staff, on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Meek-Eaton Research Center and Museum on the FAMU campus.
“This exhibit gives long-overdue recognition to the Rattlers who have served, and continue to serve, our country,” said Louis Dilbert, Ph.D., director of Military and Veteran Affairs at FAMU. “As we mark 250 years of American independence, it felt essential to bring our community together and shine a spotlight on these stories of service for generations of Rattlers to come.”
Louis Dilbert, Ph.D., director of Military and Veteran Affairs at FAMU, and Pia Woodley,
DBA, expressed the importance and significance of paying tribute to military veterans.
(Photo special to FAMU)
The exhibit opened on February 1, 2026, and the reception, timed ahead of Independence Day and the 250th Anniversary of American Independence, will celebrate its place in the historical record and showcase the rich and long-unheralded contributions of the Rattler community to the U.S. Armed Forces.
“The Meek-Eaton Research Center and Museum is honored to host this reception,” said Timothy Barber, director of the Meek-Eaton Research Center and Museum. “This exhibit ensures that the historical record reflects the full measure of service and sacrifice within the FAMU community, and it strengthens our mission to preserve and share these stories with the public.”
The reception is hosted by the Meek-Eaton Research Center and Museum in partnership with the Veterans Museum and the Florida Veterans Foundation, with support from FAMU’s Department of Military and Veteran Affairs and School of Allied Health Sciences.
The Veterans Legacy Project honors members of the FAMU community for the military
service. (Photo special to FAMU)
“Partnering with FAMU on this project reflects exactly the kind of community collaboration the Florida Veterans Foundation strives to support,” said Pia Woodley, DBA, Chair of the Florida Veterans Foundation. “Recognizing the service of the Rattler community adds an important chapter to the broader story of veterans across our state.”
No RSVP is required to attend the reception. FAMU students, faculty, staff, and alumni who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces are invited to sign up for an interview to be featured in the exhibit by visiting www.vetsmuseum.org.
About the FAMU Department of Military and Veteran Affairs
The Department of Military and Veteran Affairs at Florida A&M University supports the academic and personal success of military-connected students, including veterans, active-duty service members, and their dependents, through dedicated programming, advocacy, and federally funded student success initiatives.
Media Contact:
Rachel James-Terry
Senior Director of Strategic Communications
rachel.jamesterry@famu.edu
