DC trip leaves lasting impact on UTA veterans
Wreath-laying ceremony creates a life-changing experience
image: UTA students (left to right): Billy Jackson, Kamila Salas, Geroge Maltez, Maria Pizarro, Shamarah Tezeno, Xzavia Hall.
Credit: UT Arlington
Taking part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery is something Marine Corps veteran George Maltez will never forget.
“When you go to war, you don’t know if you’ll come back, and no one wants to be forgotten,” said Maltez, who served 10 years in the Marines and is now pursuing an accounting degree at The University of Texas at Arlington. “It’s a great concept to know they’re always remembered and honored.”
Maltez was one of six students, including five veterans, from UT Arlington who visited Washington, D.C., earlier this month on a trip sponsored by the Office of Military and Veteran Services.
The wreath-laying ceremony was coordinated by UTA alumnus and retired Army Col. Kevin Daniels (’92 BA, History). The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, established in 1921 as a final resting place for an unidentified World War I service member, serves as a site for mourning and reflection on military service.
“The ceremony was a moment of realization,” said UTA student Xzavia Hall, a Navy veteran. “It’s more than just putting on a uniform. It was a moment of pride.”
The experience made such an impact that Edward King, director of UTA’s Office of Military and Veteran Services, plans to introduce a wreath-laying ceremony on campus next fall around Veterans Day.
“The first thing our students told us afterward was that it was a life-changing experience,” Dr. King said. “It showed reverence and respect for those who are unknown.”
The trip also gave students the opportunity to visit the International Spy Museum, the National Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and other sites and monuments.
Hall characterized seeing one of the giant squids at the natural history museum as a lasting memory, while Maltez said he was struck by the scale of the Abraham Lincoln Memorial.
The trip to the nation’s capital highlights how UTA supports its veteran and military-connected students. The University is regarded as a leading institution in serving veterans, earning a 2025-26 Military Friendly® School Gold Level ranking, among numerous other accolades.
UTA is home to more than 5,000 military-connected students, including 3,000 military children or spouses.
As Maria Pizarro, an Air Force veteran who is studying environmental science, said: “We have our own community ecosystem at our college. We help each other. We’re very resourceful. It’s open to anyone—not just veterans but military dependents and spouses. We support each other. We’re a family. If you're overwhelmed or lonely, just come to us.”
Added Billy Jackson, a Navy veteran and social work major: “UTA is extremely veteran-friendly. I’ve had a great experience running into other veterans who are open and helpful. Veterans here take a lot of pride in helping each other and making sure we care for each other.”