A tree depicting liberty, a stone celebrating the US' 250 years dedicated at USM

The University of Southern Mississippi honored veterans and service members and celebrated the nation's freedoms Wednesday at a ceremony outside the Center for Military Veterans, Service Members and Families. The event was co-hosted with the Hattiesburg Twentieth Star Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, whose members Susan Perry and Norma Williamson brought the idea last year to university President Joseph Paul. "About a year ago (they) burst into my office unannounced, saying we're going to do this tree thing, and you're going to support...