The Hattiesburg Veteran of the Year Selection Committee has officially begun the nomination process for its 31st annual Veteran of the Year program. Veteran of the Year seeks to recognize veterans who served their country, returned home and continued the legacy of service to their community.
Anyone within the greater Hattiesburg area can nominate a veteran for consideration, and the requirements are as follows:
1. Must be a resident of the Hattiesburg area, specifically within Forrest and/or Lamar counties, for the last five years.
2. Must be a veteran of any service branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.
3. Must have received an honorable discharge for military service [Must provide a copy of DD Form 214].
4. Must have demonstrated the spirit of good citizenship and patriotism.
5. Must have made some significant contribution to not only fellow veterans, but to the overall betterment of the larger Hattiesburg community.
The selected veteran will be introduced at the City of Hattiesburg’s annual Veterans Day Program on Nov. 11, 2025. For more information on the nomination process and to request an application template, contact retired Colonel Sheila Varnado, chair of the Hattiesburg Veteran of the Year Selection Committee, by email to varnados@comcast.net. The deadline for completed applications is Oct. 25, 2025.
