HPU's Annual Veterans Day Celebration

HPU’s Annual Veterans Day Celebration will be held on Friday, November 8, 2024 at 8:00am in the Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena and Conference Center. President Qubein and the entire HPU family warmly invite local veterans to celebrate their sacrifice and service to our nation with a Patriotic Salute and breakfast for military heroes.

Veterans Day 2024
Guest Speaker: General Dan K. McNeill

Raised in the eastern North Carolina township of Warsaw, General McNeill was commissioned a second lieutenant of Infantry through the ROTC program upon his completion of the requirements for a Bachelor of Science at North Carolina State University in 1968. Within his forty years of commissioned service, he had repetitive assignments with Airborne infantry, Special Forces, mechanized infantry, and aviation units. He served as Assistant Division Commander, 2nd Infantry Division; Chief of Staff, XVIII Airborne Corps; Deputy Commanding General, I Corps; Commanding General, 82nd Airborne Division; Commanding General, XVIII Airborne Corps; Commander, Combined Joint Task Force 180 in Afghanistan; Deputy Commanding General/Chief of Staff, US Army Forces Command; Commanding General, US Army Forces Command; and Commander, International Security Assistance Force(NATO) in Afghanistan. Since his retirement from active service in July 2008, Dan and Maureen have resided in Fayetteville NC where both have been continuously involved in serving with community and veteran focused organizations.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Army Distinguished Service Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Bronze Star Medal with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Army Commendation Medal with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Army Achievement Medal
National Defense Service Medal with 2 Bronze Stars
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with Bronze Star
Vietnam Service Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal with Bronze Star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korea Defense Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon with Award Numeral 2
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Army Superior Unit Award with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Expert Infantryman Badge
Master Parachutist Badge with 1 Combat Star

Additional Information:

Complimentary parking and shuttle service will be provided from the Qubein Center parking lot located at 1315 N. University Parkway. Wheelchair accessible vans will also be provided. Shuttle service will begin at 7:30 a.m.

All guests and items are subject to a consent inspection upon entering the facility. This consent inspection may involve metal detectors. All small purses and bags will be subject to consent inspection, without exception. Guests who have a medical condition or do not feel comfortable being scanned by the metal detectors can notify event staff and participate in an alternative screening process.