Liberty to honor veterans with lighting of Freedom Tower on Purple Heart Day

On Tuesday, Aug. 7, Liberty University will light its Freedom Tower in purple in honor of Purple Heart Day.

Purple Heart Day is observed annually as a way to remember service members who were wounded on the battlefield or killed defending our nation’s freedom. It is the same day that George Washington introduced the honor, first known as the Badge of Military Merit, in 1782. The day was first recognized in 2014 and states, counties, and cities around the country have used it to celebrate veterans with special events and ceremonies.

In 2017, the university became the first college in Virginia to be designated as a Purple Heart University. Signs were installed around campus and a reserved parking space was designated in front of DeMoss Hall for Purple Heart recipients and wounded combat veterans.

Liberty has been a longtime supporter of military members and their families. Liberty was recently listed at No. 8 on the Military Times’ Top 50 Schools for Tuition Assistance listing. Military Times also ranked Liberty No. 2 on its Best Online & Nontraditional Schools of 2018 list, recognizing the university’s vibrant military community both on campus and online.

Over fiscal year 2017, Liberty disbursed more than $14.5 million in military tuition assistance to service members.

About 30 percent of Liberty students have a connection to the military, with 30,000 service members, veterans, and military spouses studying through Liberty’s online programs around the world.

Liberty holds special events on campus to honor those who serve. Military Emphasis Week is held each November and features keynote military speakers in Convocation and a special military-themed football halftime show. The Veterans Center in the Montview Student Union helps military students and veterans connect with fellow veterans, faculty, staff, and community residents who serve as their mentors.

Visit Liberty.edu/Military for information on tuition discounts and scholarships, as well as resources and a community network for military students.

(Liberty University is not affiliated with the Department of Defense or any military service.)