Three days of activities at the 18th annual Texas A&M University-Commerce Veterans Vigil that began Monday morning at a reception at Sam Rayburn Student Center concluded Wednesday with a candlelight vigil and the extinguishing of the Eternal Flame.  The critical roles Reservists perform were highlighted during this year's Vigil.

Dr. James Nicholson was the keynote speaker Monday, November 9, followed by the traditional lighting of the Vigil Flame that would burn throughout the ceremonies.  The afternoon featured the swearing-in of new recruits and Freedom, the United States Navy Mid-South Band gave a complimentary performance Monday evening at Ferguson Social Studies Auditorium.

After a busy slate of events on Tuesday, the Texas A&M University-Commerce Veterans Vigil culminated in dramatic fashion Wednesday when four F-16 Fighting Falcons came screaming in from the south and one of the fighter jets pointed its nose to the sky to leave the others below to fly on in the "missing man" formation.

The F-16s were from the 301st Fighter Wing, based at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth Carswell Field, Texas.

As the Vigil Flame was extinguished, the18th annual Texas A&M University-Commerce Veterans Vigil drew to a close Wednesday evening with a candlelight vigil.