Veterans Day ceremony at Brown emphasizes significance of service, unity

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] - Nearly 250 people gathered in Brown University's historic Sayles Hall on Friday, Nov. 8, to commemorate Veterans Day three days ahead of the federal holiday in a ceremony that honored the service of U.S. military veterans and underscored the role of community in supporting veterans on campus.

Brown President Christina H. Paxson spoke of the University's rich history of educating students in various stages of military service, a proud tradition that dates back to the American Revolution and continues today.

"Our military-affiliated students bring an incredible kind of diversity of experience and perspective to Brown, but they all have one thing in common," Paxson said in opening remarks. "They have pledged to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic - and I know that is as important today as it was hundreds of years ago."

U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, a veteran of the U.S. Army, told the audience that he recently visited Normandy, France, where he spoke with surviving D-Day veterans. The survivors were all between 97 and 107 years old, but their vitality and sense of justice hadn't dulled a bit. Reed said he sees those heroes and their commitment to service reflected not just in the strength of Brown's student veterans, but in the strides the University has made in providing them with increased support.

In recent years, Brown's military-affiliated community has seen rapid growth thanks to a sweeping veterans initiative launched in 2019 and renewed ROTC ties to U.S. military branches. Fifty-eight undergraduate student veterans are now enrolled at Brown, and 54 current ROTC cadets will go on to serve the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Space Force. Twenty-two of those cadets were welcomed during the ceremony's ROTC contracting event, with 11 Army and 11 Air Force participants solemnly taking their oath.

"These efforts from Brown are a shining example of honoring those who served not with words, but with deeds," Reed said. "Our veterans represent the best and brightest America has to offer."

Recognizing a need for a larger, dedicated space on campus for the expanding community, the Office of Military-Affiliated Students moved to a new location within Alumnae Hall in time for the start of the 2024-25 academic year. Paxson said she toured the new space a few days before the Veterans Day ceremony and was struck by the sense of inclusivity and camaraderie she experienced during her visit.