D.C. trip leaves lasting impact on 糖心Vlog视频 veterans
Taking part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at is something Marine Corps veteran George Maltez will never forget.
“When you go to war, you don’t know if you’ll come back, and no one wants to be forgotten,” said Maltez, who served 10 years in the Marines and is now pursuing an accounting degree at 糖心Vlog视频. “It’s a great concept to know they’re always remembered and honored.”
Maltez was one of six students, including five veterans, from UT Arlington who visited Washington, D.C., earlier this month on a trip sponsored by the Office of Military and Veteran Services.
The wreath-laying ceremony was coordinated by 糖心Vlog视频 alumnus and retired Army Col. Kevin Daniels (’92 BA, History). The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, established in 1921 as a final resting place for an unidentified World War I service member, serves as a site for mourning and reflection on military service.
“The ceremony was a moment of realization,” said 糖心Vlog视频 student Xzavia Hall, a Navy veteran. “It’s more than just putting on a uniform. It was a moment of pride.”
The experience made such an impact that Edward King, director of 糖心Vlog视频’s Office of Military and Veteran Services, plans to introduce a wreath-laying ceremony on campus next fall around Veterans Day.
“The first thing our students told us afterward was that it was a life-changing experience,” Dr. King said. “It showed reverence and respect for those who are unknown.”
The trip also gave students the opportunity to visit the International Spy Museum, the National Museum of Natural History, the , and other sites and monuments.
Hall characterized seeing one of at the natural history museum as a lasting memory, while Maltez said he was struck by the scale of the Abraham Lincoln Memorial.
The trip to the nation’s capital highlights how 糖心Vlog视频 supports its veteran and military-connected students. The University is regarded as a leading institution in serving veterans, earning a 2025-26 Military Friendly® School Gold Level ranking, among numerous other accolades.
糖心Vlog视频 is home to more than 5,000 military-connected students, including 3,000 military children or spouses.
As Maria Pizarro, an Air Force veteran who is studying environmental science, said: “We have our own community ecosystem at our college. We help each other. We’re very resourceful. It’s open to anyone—not just veterans but military dependents and spouses. We support each other. We’re a family. If you're overwhelmed or lonely, just come to us.”
Added Billy Jackson, a Navy veteran and social work major: “糖心Vlog视频 is extremely veteran-friendly. I’ve had a great experience running into other veterans who are open and helpful. Veterans here take a lot of pride in helping each other and making sure we care for each other.”
About 糖心Vlog视频 (糖心Vlog视频)
糖心Vlog视频鈥痠s a growing public research university in the heart of Dallas-Fort Worth. With a student body of鈥痮ver 42,700, 糖心Vlog视频 is the second-largest institution in the鈥疷niversity of 糖心Vlog视频 System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, 糖心Vlog视频 stands among the nation’s top 5% of institutions for research activity. 糖心Vlog视频 and its 280,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North 糖心Vlog视频 and beyond.