A Red Flag on a Red-Letter Date
June 22nd, 2009Dr. Russell Kitchner is Associate Vice President for Regulatory and Governmental Relations at American Public University System. I asked him to provide a guest blog article on the Post 9/11 GI Bill and its impact on veterans, the Nation, and higher education.
Less than three weeks after D-Day, President Franklin Roosevelt announced the signing of the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, more commonly known as the “GI Bill of Rights.” It is likely that few Americans will note this anniversary, and likely fewer still fully comprehend the impact this landmark legislation has had on our society. Millions of veterans have benefitted directly from this initiative, and the various branches of the armed services reaped recruiting dividends as a result. American higher education also has been influenced immeasurably by the presence of veterans in its classes, and the resulting cohort of well-educated veterans has contributed to the vitality of the Nation’s economy. By any measure, the GI Bill of Rights proved to be a valuable affirmation of the gratitude owed to service members for their commitment, loyalty, and the sacrifices they made in helping to safeguard America’s security, and to promote peace throughout the world.
