Eternal flame to be lighted September 27

An eternal flame monument honoring Mississippi State supporters will be unveiled on campus Saturday, Sept. 27.

The monument will be located in front of Allen Hall where ceremonies will begin at 3:30 p.m., prior to the kickoff of the Mississippi State-University of South Carolina football game.

The game is set to begin at 6 p.m., but if the time is changed to accommodate television, the ceremony will begin two-and-a-half hours before kickoff.

The flame-a visual symbol of The Campaign for Mississippi State-is a tribute to all persons who have supported the university throughout its 120-year history, including those who made contributions to the recently completed major gifts campaign. More than $143 million was pledged or contributed during the five-year campaign, which ended June 30.

Also honoring campaign donors is the Walk of Honor, where the last of more than 6,400 bricks will be laid in the coming weeks. The bricks, which stretch from the statue of Stephen D. Lee to the flag pole on the historic Drill Field, contain the names of those donors-or the names of their loved ones-who contributed $500 or more during the campaign.

"There was a tremendous response from our alumni, friends, faculty, and staff to the Walk of Honor project," said Dr. Billy C. Ward, vice president for institutional advancement. "This is a new tradition we've started at Mississippi State, and it will serve as a constant reminder to all who walk across the Drill Field as to the success of The Campaign for Mississippi State."