Veterans Day Recognition Ceremony November 8

McHenry County College will host a Veterans Day Recognition Ceremony beginning with patriotic music by the MCC Concert Band and Chorus on Thursday, November 8 at 9 a.m. in the College’s Gym/Multi-purpose Room in Building A, 8900 U.S. Hwy. 14 in Crystal Lake.

The event’s keynote speaker will be McHenry County College accounting instructor, Don Curfman, a retired Navy lieutenant commander. Curfman joined the Navy in 1968 following a long family tradition.

He served over 10 years of enlisted service on several ships and aviation squadrons, including serving in the Vietnam conflict. After completing his bachelor’s degree from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, Don received a commission in the Navy Supply Corps and served aboard several aircraft carriers and naval air stations throughout the world.

He earned his Master of Business Administration from Chaminade University in Honolulu, Hawaii.

In 1994, after 26 years of service, Curfman retired from the Navy with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. His final assignment was to assist in closing down the Naval Air Station in Glenview. He was awarded the third-highest peacetime medal for his outstanding naval service.

In 1991, Curfman started teaching accounting at McHenry County College and was hired full time in 1994. He has served as chairperson of the MCC Accounting Department for over 15 years. He also helped to start the MCC Veterans Day Recognition program and is the faculty advisor for the Military Students and Veterans Club (XGI). 

He was chosen as Faculty of the Year by his peers in 2005 and was a National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence Award winner in 2011.

Curfman is a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose and has served on the Board of Directors for the McHenry County Federal Credit Union for almost 20 years. He is a lifetime member of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) and American Legion. He is a strong supporter of Honor Flight for World War II veterans. Curfman is a native of Portland, Oregon.

The 2012 Veterans Day Ceremony will also include an address from Micah Barcus, vice president of MCC’s Military and Student Veterans Association, as well as posting of the colors by the Combined Service Color Guard, and bagpipe music.

The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served following the program. For more information, contact the MCC Veterans Day Committee at (815) 479-7635.