Listening to Our Veterans' Stories

November 10, 2026

Dear Campus Community,

Tomorrow is the eleventh day of the eleventh month of the year. In the United States, this day carries significance deeply rooted in history. Each year, on November 11, we observe Veterans Day — a time to recognize the members of our armed forces for their personal sacrifice for our security. 

Cleveland State University will be closed tomorrow in honor of this holiday.

In 1918, at the eleventh hour on November 11, world leaders signed an armistice to end the hostilities of the Great War, more commonly referred to today as World War I. For more than a century, the United States has kept November 11 as a solemn day to pay tribute to our armed forces. Although initially designated as a day to honor the nearly five million Americans who served in World War I, Veterans Day has become a time to share our appreciation for all veterans and their families. It is a time to listen to their stories and appreciate the contributions they have made to the safety and security of the United States.

Ohio is home to more than 560,000 veterans, and as a public university, we are committed to supporting our veteran students and students from military-connected families. Recently, we spoke with several of our veteran students and alumni who shared their stories with us. These veterans brought the experience, skills and leadership they gained in the military into the classroom, pursuing degrees in a variety of fields all across our university. This is enriching for all of us.

If you haven’t already, I hope you will watch these interviews to hear directly from our veteran students about their own experiences. 

As we pause tomorrow to honor those who have served, I encourage all members of the CSU community to listen to a veteran’s story and learn more about their experience. It is a powerful way to show your appreciation.

To the veterans in our community, thank you for your service. And thank you for being a Viking!

Sincerely,

Laura Bloomberg, PhD
President