The University of Toledo will commemorate the opening of its new veterans lounge with a ribbon-cutting ceremony 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15 on the second floor of Carlson Library.

The LTC Thomas J. Orlowski ’65 Veterans Lounge offers student-veterans a place to relax, study and enjoy the camaraderie they experienced while serving their country.

The University’s veterans lounge was previously located in Rocket Hall. The new lounge named in honor of Orlowski, a UT alumnus, was part of the recent $6 million renovation project to the library made possible by state biennium capital funds.

“Our student-veterans were interested in a more centrally located space and in this academic setting they also will have better access to library resources for research and homework with longer hours to take advantage of the lounge,” said Navy Reserve Lt. Haraz Ghanbari, UT director of military and veteran affairs.

A $20,000 donation from the Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes supported the creation of the new lounge, which is larger with a separate social area and private study section.

The coalition’s gift was made in recognition of Orlowski, as a UT alumnus and Army veteran who is the immediate past chairman of the organization’s board.

Orlowski graduated from UT in 1965 with a degree in English literature, and he also was a middle linebacker for the football team. He joined the Army later that year, and his 20-year military career included assignments in the 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam, 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized), HQ U.S. Army Europe, HQ U.S. Continental Army Command and the Office of the Adjutant General of the Army. For his service in Vietnam, he was awarded the Purple Heart, Silver Star, Bronze Star for Valor with two Oak Leaf Clusters and Air Medal, according to the coalition.

“The lounge will definitely help veteran students academically, but a secondary benefit that people may not realize is the camaraderie of others who have been where you’ve been and done what you’ve done,” Orlowski said.

The ceremony is followed by an open house and refreshments from 3:30 to 5 p.m.

The University of Toledo is nationally recognized as the first University campus in the country to simultaneously honor all service members of the armed forces and the families who lost a loved one defending the United States by dedicating both a Blue Star Memorial marker and Gold Star Memorial marker.

UT unveiled the new markers at the UT Veterans Memorial Plaza on Veterans Day.

Andrea Little, national chairman of The Blue Star and Gold Star Families Memorial Marker Program, recently wrote a letter on behalf of the program and National Garden Clubs to Navy Reserve Lt. Haraz Ghanbari, UT director of military and veteran affairs, to notify the University of the pioneering honor.

“By these actions taken, you and your staff have elevated this Program’s Standards; and a distinct precedent has been established by which all other University campuses should emulate,” Little said. “There is no greater way to honor all our Armed Forces and their families.”

UT student Clinton Grantham, a senior studying social work, spearheaded the effort with Ghanbari. Grantham, who is a medically retired active-duty Army veteran, served a tour in Afghanistan as a member of the 10^th Mountain Division based at Fort Drum, N.Y.

“UT has a lot of student veterans, and I wanted to do something special not only for them, but for families who lost a loved one in combat,” Grantham said. “When I started the process, I had no idea that no one had done this before. I’m proud we accomplished it in seven weeks, on time for Veterans Day. Future students will walk by every day, hopefully read the memorial markers and understand what service members and their families sacrifice to serve and defend their country.”

The Blue Star Memorial reads, “A tribute to the Armed Forces who have defended the United States of America.”

The Gold Star Memorial reads, “A tribute to Gold Star Families whose loved one paid the ultimate price defending the United States of America.”

The University has long been recognized as a military-friendly school for its commitment in providing exceptional assistance and support to service members, veterans and their families.

In 2017, UT was again recognized by Military Times in its Best for Vets: Colleges 2017 rankings and by Military Advanced Education & Transition as a top school in its 2017 MAE&T Guide to Colleges & Universities research study.

The University of Toledo has been recognized as a top school for supporting student veterans.

Victory Media, publisher of G.I. Jobs, STEM JobsSM and Military Spouse, announced today that UT earned the 2017 Military Friendly School designation.

First published in 2009, the Military Friendly Schools list each year helps service members and their families select the best college, university or trade school to receive the education and training needed to pursue a civilian career.

“Our ability to apply a clear, consistent standard to the majority of colleges gives veterans a comprehensive view of which schools are striving to provide the best opportunities and conditions for our nation’s student veterans,” said Daniel Nichols, a Navy Reserve veteran and chief product officer at Victory Media. “Military Friendly helps military families make the best use of the Post-9/11 GI Bill and other federal benefits while allowing us to further our goal of assisting them in finding success in their chosen career fields.”

Institutions that earn the designation are evaluated using both public data sources and responses to a Victory Media survey. More than 1,600 schools participated in the 2017 survey and 1,160 were awarded the designation. To view the 2017 recipients, visit militaryfriendly.com. 

“We are grateful for our student veterans’ service to our nation and the positive impact they have on our University and in our communities,” said Navy Reserve Lt. Haraz N. Ghanbari, UT director of military and veteran affairs. “Being named a Military Friendly School reflects the University’s commitment to honoring our veterans and helping them succeed.”

Military Times and Military Advanced Education & Transition also recognized UT in their 2017 rankings for the service and support provided to service members, veterans and their families.

Military Times lists UT in its Best for Vets: Colleges 2017 rankings that evaluate the factors that make colleges and universities a good fit for members of the military and veterans.

Military Advanced Education & Transition named UT a top school in its 2017 Guide to Colleges & Universities research study.

The University of Toledo’s Military Service Center provides accessible educational and degree completion opportunities and a range of customized support services to service members and veterans, including educational benefit processing, mentoring, advocacy and networking. The center also partners closely with veteran service organizations to assist with the transition from military service to the classroom.

For more information, the Military Service Center can be reached at 419.530.VETS (8387) or online at utoledo.edu/military.

The Student Veterans of America UT Chapter will host today an American flag retirement ceremony outside the Lancelot Thompson Student Union.

The University of Toledo students will share the history of the flag, the proper way to dispose of a flag that is no longer suitable for display, and preside over the retirement of several American flags at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 10 on the steps outside the Union.

The flag retirement ceremony is part of a series of events at the University to honor veterans and active military for their service.

The 12th annual Veterans Appreciation Breakfast and Resource Fair will take place at 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 11 in Savage Arena. Doors open at 8 a.m.

Lucas County Sheriff John Tharp, a Vietnam veteran who received the Bronze Star for his service as a combat medic, will give a keynote address for the appreciation event on Veterans Day that includes a breakfast and fair to provide the community access to military-focused resources.

Two World War II veterans — Army Sgt. Richard Perry, UT professor emeritus, and Pfc. David Schwartz — also will be awarded the French Legion of Honor, the highest award that can be bestowed by the French government. Consul General Vincent Floreani from the French Consulate in Chicago will present the honors to the local veterans designating them as models of French civic service.

Following the annual appreciation event, UT also will unveil new markers at the UT Veterans Memorial Plaza, an outdoor area that honors individuals and groups who served in the U.S. military. The new Gold Star Memorial and Blue Star Memorial markers pay tribute to the Gold Star families whose loved ones paid the ultimate price defending the country and to those Blue Star families who have defended, are defending, or will defend the United States of America.