Let us honor Virginia’s military through educational opportunities

As a state with one of the highest concentrations of military personnel in the country, Virginia has always prided itself on its deep-rooted support for veterans, active-duty service members, and their families. This is not only a point of pride — it’s a solemn responsibility. On Memorial Day, we rightly honor the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. But we must also ask: how are we honoring their legacy?

One meaningful answer lies in how we support their families and the veterans still with us, especially when it comes to affordable access to higher education.

Today, we write to call on our leaders to continue investing in pathways that serve military families, keep them in Virginia, and strengthen Virginia’s economic future. With one of the nation’s top-ranked systems of public colleges, universities, and community colleges, Virginia is uniquely positioned to deliver. As a university president with 36 years of military service, and as a lifelong educator and former General Assembly leader who focused on veterans affairs, this subject is particularly close to our hearts.

The Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program — or VMSDEP — provides in-state tuition waivers to the spouses and children of service members who were disabled or killed in the line of duty. It is one of the commonwealth’s most important expressions of gratitude and responsibility to military families.

That commitment enjoys overwhelming support from Virginians. According to a statewide higher education survey recently conducted by a bipartisan pair of pollsters, 80% of Virginians believe the state should fully fund the program — ensuring other students and their families aren’t forced to absorb the cost through higher tuition. That support is a powerful endorsement of the program’s value and the principle behind it.

The program is especially important at universities with large populations of military-connected students. Of all Virginia’s public universities, Christopher Newport University has the second-highest percentage of VMSDEP-eligible students and the largest percentage 4-year growth at 588%. The task ahead is to maintain this important benefit, ensuring that it remains strong for future generations.

But support for military-connected students extends well beyond tuition and affordability. That same survey found that 90% believe it is important to help encourage employers to provide paid internships to veterans and their family members — affirming a strong desire to ensure that educational access leads directly to career advancement and long-term economic opportunity here in the commonwealth.

Virginians also strongly support expanding access to other pathways that prepare students — including military-connected learners — for careers with Virginia businesses. Over 90% support state investment in community college efforts to expand high-demand programs, increase access to non-degree certificates, and grow internship and apprenticeship opportunities for working-age adults. These pathways are essential not only for Virginia’s economic competitiveness, but for honoring the varied goals and needs of military personnel and their families transitioning into civilian life.

These findings underscore what many of us already know: Virginians take pride in being a welcoming, supportive state for military families, and they believe higher education plays a central role in that support.

The impact of these efforts goes far beyond individual students. They are a testament to our values. They demonstrate that Virginia doesn’t just honor service with words, but with action — providing educational opportunity and pathways to meaningful careers for those who have sacrificed the most.

As we reflect this Memorial Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to that mission. Let us ensure that Virginia remains a leader in supporting our military-connected populations. Let us continue to invest in their education, their future, and in the enduring promise our Commonwealth has made to them and their families. And let us ensure that Virginia remains the best state in America for military families to learn, earn, and call home.

William G. Kelly is the president of Christopher Newport University and a retired rear admiral in the U.S. Coast Guard. Kirk Cox is the former speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates and currently serves as president of the Virginia Business Higher Education Council.