On this Veterans Day, we would like to honor those in the Simmons community and beyond who have chosen to serve our nation. This Veterans Day comes at an extraordinary moment, as we celebrate the 125th anniversary of Simmons and a new tradition on campus with the recent Veterans Day ceremony. The event highlighted the importance of education, service, and leadership, as we honored the continued service of our student-veterans.
Keynote speaker 4-Star General Gary M. Brito, 18th Commanding General United States Army Training and Doctrine Command, spoke about Simmons’ education and military programs, particularly the MSW Clinical Practice with Active Servicemembers, Veterans, and Families certificate program, which for students is “a unique opportunity to develop the skills, the knowledge, and the passion to serve and take care of servicemembers, veterans, and their families.”
This commitment to leadership, learning, and service is a hallmark of student-veterans at Simmons. This past summer, Army Veteran Arlene Perez DSW ’26 created a new student organization at Simmons, called Veteran Females United. Its mission is “to empower, unite, and advocate for women veterans, service members, and their dependents in pursuit of higher education.”
For Arlene, Veterans Day is a time “to reflect on my service, the skills and experiences gained, and the enduring friendships formed. It's about recognizing the sacrifices made for the safety and well-being of future generations. I owe much of who I am today to the opportunities provided during and after my service. It's a moment to express gratitude to my comrades and remind each other that it was all worth it. Every effort, tear, and sacrifice was for this moment, and for that, I am grateful.”
Simmons alumna Beverly Byron BSN ’75 also speaks about the impact of her service and work with veterans. After graduating from Simmons near the end of the Vietnam War, she accepted a full scholarship to graduate school at Boston University. To cover living expenses, she worked at the VA hospital, where she met “young people my age whose lives were totally transformed because of that war.”
The experience was a transformative one for Beverly. She finished graduate school and was commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserves Nurse Corps.
“I felt honored to be able to serve my country and care for our active-duty soldiers,” she says.
We join Arlene, Beverly, and all our student-veterans in sharing the gratitude of service. As we celebrate this day, we are reminded of General Brito’s remarks encouraging us to “take the time to genuinely thank a veteran for their service … and never undervalue the impact of a simple warm smile.”