Dear UW Community,
Each year, as a community and a nation, we proudly honor those who have served in the United States military. In the days surrounding Veterans Day, our three campuses will be hosting a variety of Veterans Appreciation events and activities to acknowledge and support our veterans and their families.
As part of these events, I invite you to join our Veterans Day celebration at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 11, at the Medal of Honor Memorial at the University of Washington in Seattle. Together, we will thank our UW veterans and honor the generations of UW alumni, students, faculty and staff who have served and sacrificed for our nation.
This is also an opportunity to recognize the UW Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumni Veteran Award (DAVA) recipient, who this year is Elizabeth Bridges, ’91, ’98, a retired United States Air Force colonel. Col. Bridges earned both her master’s degree and Ph.D. in nursing from the UW. Throughout her distinguished military career and lifelong commitment to public service, she has made major contributions to scientific research, including groundbreaking work in battlefield medicine and aeromedical evacuation. The recipient of both the Legion of Merit and multiple Meritorious Service Medals, she has inspired generations of service members in her roles as ROTC liaison, mentor and leader. We are so proud to count her as an alumna and to honor her as this year’s DAVA recipient.
To our veterans, whether you are earning a degree or have reentered the civilian workforce, we know you can face unique challenges. You also bring invaluable perspectives and life experiences to our community, and we are committed to creating a welcoming environment where you can thrive and excel. Our Office of Student Veteran Life in Seattle, the UW Tacoma Veteran & Military Resource Center and the UW Bothell Veteran & Military Resources Office are here to support you. Public service is the core of the UW’s mission, and you have proven your extraordinary commitment to that ideal, for which we are truly grateful. As a community, it’s our privilege to mark this day as a public expression of the deeply held values that we seek to embody throughout the year.
Sincerely,
Robert J. Jones
President
University of Washington