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On Monday, May 26th, our nation will observe Memorial Day—a time to reflect, remember, and express deep gratitude to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the armed forces of our country. Memorial Day stands as a powerful reminder of the brave individuals who gave their lives to protect our freedoms, ensuring that we—and generations to come—may live in a just and free society. In recent weeks, we have had the honor of celebrating and remembering the contributions of our military community in meaningful ways:

• In late April, a commemorative wooden flag and plaque were unveiled at the Military Veteran and Returning Adults Center in honor of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Shane Barnes—a beloved alumnus, ROTC cadet, decorated Army aviator, and devoted husband and father. Shane answered the call to service with honor and valor before tragically losing his life in a helicopter crash while deployed with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.
• During Commencement weekend, we proudly commissioned 11 Íø±¬ÃÅ Cadets as Second Lieutenants in the U.S. Army during the 76th annual ROTC Commissioning Ceremony.
• We also recently received word that our university has been elevated to a Gold Military Friendly Designation, now ranking No. 9 for Military Friendly Schools and No. 7 for Military Spouse Friendly Schools among private institutions offering doctoral degrees.

Our servicemembers and their families give generously of themselves in service to our nation and the debt we owe those who have made the ultimate sacrifice cannot be measured. This Monday, I invite you to pause and remember all who have died in service to our country, as well as those who continue to mourn their loss. They must never be forgotten.