As part of MTSU’s “Red, White and Blue Weekend” two days before the nation honored its former service members and active-duty personnel on Veterans Day, the university rolled out the red carpet Nov. 9 at the 32nd annual Salute to Armed Services for hundreds who served or continue to serve their country.

Activities included a ceremony at the MTSU Veterans Memorial site outside the Tom H. Jackson Building; a picnic and presentation of the 24th annual Joe Nunley Award at the Emmett and Rose Kennon Hall of Fame; and a musically inspired halftime full of patriotism in Floyd Stadium.

Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Ed Smith of Brentwood, Tenn., received the Nunley Award.

“It really hasn’t sunk in. I’m still really surprised,” said Smith, who was joined at the event by his wife, Molly, son Greg and daughter-in-law Jan.

“I’m really excited about receiving the award,” Ed Smith added. “It really is a great honor, not just an honor for me, but it’s an honor for everybody that’s ever worn the uniform.”

Past Nunley recipients Warren King and Em Ghianni of Nashville and Charles Jones of McMinnville sat with Smith during the ceremony.

Col. John Furgess, an MTSU alumnus, announced that the Nunley award committee has decided that the 2014 award will be in honor of all World War II veterans and will be the final Nunley presentation.

Before the ceremony, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Joel Miller, the chair of the military science department, swore in eight MTSU ROTC cadets. They included: Brevan Addington and Ryan Shoemaker of Kingsport, Tenn.; Anthony Duncan of Lebanon, Tenn.; Jeffrey Enderson of La Vergne, Tenn.; Paul Moret of New Orleans, La.; Seth Williams of Woodbury, Tenn.; Jonathan Wright of Murfreesboro; and Reed Honken of Knoxville, Tenn. All are juniors except Honken, who is a sophomore.

Enderson said the swearing-in ceremony “gave me a sense of pride to show my support for veterans who came before me, and continue a tradition of service for my country.”

You can see complete coverage of the day’s events at http://mtsunews.com/2013-events-to-honor-veterans.