November 11, 2024
Dear Campus Community,
Each year on Nov. 11, we honor all who have served in the United States Armed Forces and reflect on their dedication and sacrifice in defense of our nation.
Here at the Ñý¼§Ö±²¥, Veterans Day has special significance. UM has long been recognized as a campus that values service, and Griz alumni have served in every major conflict our country has faced since World War I. We're proud that this fall we celebrated a 10.8% increase in Veteran student enrollment. Military-affiliated Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ now make up 12% of our student population. Today, we honor their - and all veterans' - service and sacrifice in defending the freedoms we enjoy.
Our University aspires to be a national leader in the ways in which we support and serve the members of our military - past and present - and their families. If you are looking to have a direct impact on the lives of service members and their families, I would encourage you to engage with our Military and Veteran Services Offices and to to build our military-affiliated student community here at UM.
Veterans Day also provides a valuable moment to reflect on the importance of service in our own lives and how each of us can contribute to improving our communities and our nation. Personally, my military service was a formative time in my life when I learned about hard work and the values of service and cooperation. I learned that when we serve others, it inevitably leads to our own growth.
There are, of course, many ways to serve, and I'm proud to be part of a UM community recognized nationally for its commitment to national and community service. Each act of service leads not just to a better community, but compounds into a life well lived.
So today, as our nation commemorates Veterans Day, I invite you to join me not just in honoring and remembering those who've served in uniform, but also in recommitting to making service to others a key part of our lives.
Seth