Fayetteville State University is once again opening its doors to the broader community with its fourth annual Military Appreciation Luncheon on April 30, an event designed not just as a celebration, but as a strategic gathering of the people and organizations that make up the region’s military support ecosystem.

Hosted on the FSU campus, the luncheon brings together service members, Veterans, military families, community leaders and partners from across Cumberland County and beyond. What began as a single-themed event has grown into one of the university’s signature traditions and a key touchpoint between Fort Bragg, Fayetteville and the broader network of organizations committed to serving those who serve.

Each year, the luncheon is organized around a specific focus. Previous themes have included military spouses and the role of higher education in supporting the Department of Defense. This year, the lens shifts to “community partners” — the often-unseen coalition of organizations working in tandem to support active-duty soldiers, Veterans and their families.

To showcase that ecosystem, FSU has invited four key partners whose work spans the full arc of military life: active duty, transition, Veteran care, and policy and advocacy.

From the Fort Bragg community, the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Fort Bragg–North Carolina chapter will be represented by Major General (Ret.) Al Aycock. AUSA is widely known as the “voice of the Army,” and locally it plays a pivotal role in supporting active-duty service members, spouses, and dependents. 

On the Veterans’ side, Dr. June L. Roberts, Chief of Staff at the VA hospital, brings the perspective of the institution responsible for caring for those who have transitioned out of uniform. Her presence underscores that support for military-affiliated populations does not end at separation; it evolves into a different, equally critical phase.

The North Carolina Military Affairs Commission will also be at the table, represented by LTG (Ret.) Kevin Vereen. The commission advises both legislators and the governor on issues affecting service members.

Rounding out the panel is LTC (Ret.) Jim Whaley, CEO of Mission Roll Call, a national advocacy organization that has elevated Veterans’ mental health challenges to the federal stage. By engaging with leaders in Washington, Mission Roll Call works to ensure that the lived experiences of veterans inform programs and policy at the highest levels.

Together, these four partners illustrate what FSU describes as a “military and Veteran ecosystem” that surrounds Fort Bragg, Fayetteville and Cumberland County. The luncheon is designed not only to honor this work, but also to connect it — highlighting best practices, surfacing resources and helping community members and local organizations understand how they can plug in.

The event itself is open to the public, free of charge and typically draws around 200 attendees. It also serves as a showcase for FSU’s own students and programs. The university’s ROTC cadets present the color guard, a jazz ensemble performs, and the program is framed by ceremonial elements such as the national anthem. These touches reinforce FSU’s identity as an institution deeply intertwined with the military community.

Fayetteville State University is the largest institution in the UNC system in terms of the percentage of military-affiliated enrollment (nearly 34%), a distinction that shapes both its mission and its offerings. The university has invested in expanding partnerships, advocacy and awareness around military and Veteran needs, including offering free tuition for eligible service members and their families and creating regular touchpoints like the luncheon and the campus’s military appreciation football game each September.

This year’s luncheon is especially timely given the high operational tempo at Fort Bragg and the number of soldiers currently deployed. In that context, the event serves as both a statement and a promise: that the community stands behind its service members and their families, and that a network of organizations is working in concert to support them.

The Military Appreciation Luncheon is a focal point for an ongoing commitment. By convening partners, educating the community on available resources and celebrating those who quietly sustain the region’s military families, Fayetteville State University is reinforcing a simple but powerful message: supporting Fort Bragg is a collective mission, and Cumberland County is united in that service.