Veterans Day ceremony honors contributions of veterans to the nation and to the Brown community

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] -Hundreds of community members gathered in Brown University's historic Sayles Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 11, for a Veterans Day ceremony that both honored the service of U.S. military veterans and reaffirmed the University's support for a growing number of military-affiliated students on campus.

Brown President Christina H. Paxson recognized the significance of recognizing veterans in a year in which two branches of the U.S. Armed Forces celebrate 250 years and as the 250^th anniversary of the nation's founding approaches in 2026.

"Each Veterans Day, we gather to honor the outstanding service of veterans, and we reflect on their contributions to our nation and to the Brown community," Paxson said. "Our campus is rich with military significance dating back to the American Revolution. I want to recognize that history in a special way this year, because we're celebrating Brown 2026, which is the University's initiative to observe the 250th anniversary of the birth of our nation. I'd also like to give a special congratulations to the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps, who are celebrating their 250th anniversaries."

Veterans Day offers an opportunity to look back, said U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, a U.S. Army veteran who delivered remarks during the ceremony - to remember and honor the generations of men and women who showed a willingness to risk their lives to defend the Constitution, freedom and American values.

"But here at Brown today, we also must look forward," Reed said. "We are surrounded by student veterans who have recently transitioned back to civilian life and are taking the next step in their careers, and also students who are participating in Brown's ROTC programs or preparing to lead the military of tomorrow."

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. Seventy-five student veterans are now enrolled as undergraduates, and 38 student veterans are pursuing graduate degrees. Twelve Brown students in the U.S. Navy ROTC program took their oath of enlistment during the ceremony.

The Veterans Day ceremony, too, has grown in size and significance, noted Reed, who has been participating in the event for more than a decade. He has witnessed the expansion firsthand, from the earliest events in which a small group of around 15 people marched to the War Memorial on Simmons Quad, to a robust program with a packed auditorium and many rows of ROTC cadets.

"I am continually impressed by Brown's commitment to its student veterans," Reed said.

The increase of military-affiliated students deserved an expanded commitment of resources, said Paxson said, as she shared details on two new initiatives during the ceremony: The University will expand its participation in the federal Yellow Ribbon Program for veterans pursuing graduate degrees at Brown, and a generous gift from the Gilbert and Jacki Cisneros Foundation will transform a successful Office of Military-Affiliated Students peer-mentorship program into the Cisneros Veterans Scholars Program, expanding its programming.

Staff Sgt. Kloey Albertson, who served on active duty with the U.S. Army for four years and currently serves in a reserve capacity as an intelligence instructor, came to Brown last year to study biomedical engineering. At the ceremony, she talked about how creating community as president of Brown's Student Veterans Society, and helping other veterans apply to Brown and then find their place on campus, helped her feel like she belonged. She urged fellow student veterans to find ways to continue serving their country by getting involved at Brown.

"Service is at the core of who we are," Albertson said. "The skills we learn in the military are not going to waste. We continue to use them every day, through mentorship, through advocacy and through community… Let's not only honor what we have done, but commit to what we will do next - to serve, to lead and to leave this place a little bit better than we found it."

A spirit of service binds together veterans past, present and future, Rear Admiral Darryl L. Walker, president of the U.S. Naval War College and a career naval aviator, who served as the ceremony's keynote speaker.

"That commitment to service is deeply rooted at Brown, and it continues today with student veterans and our dedicated ROTC students," Walker said. "The foundation of military service is the oath that we heard, the solemn pledge to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, a vow to support the enduring ideals of justice and liberty. These are the same ideals that shaped my 40-year career of military service, giving me a unique perspective as I grew and I became a leader. And these are the same ideals that empower intellectual freedom and the pursuit of knowledge here at Brown."

Walker emphasized the importance of respecting and appreciating veterans and all who serve their country.

"Those who spend time at sea - sailors, Marines, Coast Guard - we understand service is often characterized by the unforgiving vastness of the ocean, where teamwork and strategic foresight are only constants," the admiral said. "But regardless of what branch you serve in, every veteran here today understands the definition of high-stakes responsibility. To every veteran in the audience, whether you served in the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the Marine Corps, or the Coast Guard or Space Force, whether you are alumnus, a dedicated staff member or one of our incredible student veterans, thank you for upholding the pledge."