By SAM HATCHER

There will be an important event on the campus of Cumberland University Tuesday that indeed should raise the patriotic emotions of all of us.

It will be a program honoring those who served in World War II and trained here and in other Middle Tennessee counties in preparation for deployment to Europe.

As many as 850,000 soldiers participated in the World War II maneuvers in Middle Tennessee and it was Cumberland University that served as the headquarters for those military operations.

Veterans of this war who were here training during this period have been invited back to Cumberland on Tuesday to receive Honorary Masters Degrees in Military Science.

Now, as years have passed, the members of this great generation are few and so have dwindled the number of those who are veterans of this war.

The presentation of degrees to those attending, the posting our nation’s Colors, a fly-over by vintage airplanes and other highlights planned for the hour-long program will surely instill for us all a better appreciation for what these and those who passed before them did to preserve our freedoms and keep our nation independent and strong.

The event, titled Remembrance and Respect, will begin at 10 o’clock. There will be a reception to follow at 11. The public is invited and encouraged to attend.