Each year, Georgia Military College brings its cadets, students, faculty and community together to remember September 11, 2001, and honor the Americans who lost their lives that day and in the years of service that followed.
This year's observance falls on the 25th anniversary of the attacks, and it marks 10 years since NewDay USA and GMC first joined forces. On September 10th and 11th, we will join the GMC community in Milledgeville, Georgia, to mark both milestones.
The Event
The program opens on September 10th at the NewDay USA Center of Leadership with a ribbon-cutting for GMC's new Caldwell Theatre. That evening, we will present a Lifetime Achievement Award to Rear Admiral Thomas C. Lynch (USN, Ret.) in recognition of his career and his service to the GMC community.
September 11th begins with a reception honoring local law enforcement and first responders, followed by GMC's Patriot Day ceremony on Grant Parade Field. Admiral Lynch will serve as guest speaker as students, cadets and families gather to remember those lost on September 11th and to recognize the service members and first responders who carry that legacy forward.
Later that day, NewDay USA will join GMC students and families for our annual scholarship presentation, a tradition that has run alongside the Patriot Day ceremony since our partnership began in 2016. The day will close at Caldwell Theatre, where retired Navy SEAL officer Jocko Willink will join GMC students for the latest installment of the NewDay USA Leadership Speaker Series.
A Decade of Investment in GMC Students
Our partnership with GMC started in 2016, when we awarded scholarships to eight students at the GMC Prep School. Ten school years later, that support has grown into more than $1.66 million in scholarship awards and 339 individual scholarships.
Heading into the 2026-27 school year, GMC will have 40 NewDay USA scholars, including 23 Diversity in Leadership Scholars and 17 Allan B. Posner Scholars. Each of these students comes from a family connected to military service, and each scholarship is a direct investment in that student's future.
"Georgia Military College has been part of the NewDay USA family for a decade," said Rob Posner, founder and CEO of NewDay USA. He said NewDay USA keeps coming back because of the impact on students and their families, and that Patriot Day is a chance to honor service while investing in the young people who will carry those values forward.
A Home for Leadership
In 2022, we opened the NewDay USA Center of Leadership on GMC's campus. The Center brings nationally recognized leaders from the military, public service, business, sports and the arts to GMC to speak with students. Jocko Willink's visit this year will be the latest stop in that Leadership Speaker Series.
The Center gives GMC students direct access to people who understand service, responsibility and sacrifice. That access has been at the heart of our partnership with GMC from the start.
Remembering Through the Next Generation
Remembrance is built into how GMC students learn and grow. Over the years, GMC students have recorded the names of those killed on September 11, taken part in wreath-laying ceremonies, and carried out other military traditions as part of the school's annual observance.
That mission lines up closely with our own commitment to military families. Through the NewDay USA Foundation, we have provided scholarships to children of fallen and severely disabled Veterans, including students at GMC. Our support for GMC is part of a broader effort to invest in military families and in the students who will become tomorrow's leaders.
This year, GMC will mark 25 years since September 11th and 10 years of partnership with NewDay USA. We are proud to stand alongside the GMC community as it honors those who were lost and the spirit of service that continues to define GMC.
FAQ
When is this year's Patriot Day program at GMC?
The program runs September 10th and 11th at GMC's Milledgeville campus.
How long have NewDay USA and GMC been partners?
The partnership began in 2016 and 2026 will be its 10th year.
How many scholarships has NewDay USA given to GMC students?
NewDay USA has awarded 339 scholarships totaling more than $1.66 million over 10 school years, with 40 scholars entering the 2026-27 school year.
