Originally known as Armistice Day, to commemorate the end of WWI, Veterans’ Day has become a day of honoring those who have served our nation, and while the university will be closed for the national holiday, FIU is no exception to this celebration.
Gabriella Mateo | Staff Writer
Florida International University has become a Florida staple in this support for military personnel, with 1,468 total veteran and military-affiliated students as of Fall 2025, according to the FIU Veteran and Military Affairs website.
The university has been honored with national ranks such as Top 10 “Best of the Best” for 2024 by U.S. Veterans Magazine, Top 10 School by Military Friendly, and No. 45 public college for veterans 2026 by U.S. News and World Report. Additionally, FIU has been named a Purple Star Campus by the Florida State University System Board of Governors.
This is all due to FIU’s initiative to include priority class registration, personalized success coaches, and multiple social events a year for all students registered with the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs.
This year, FIU is participating in ValorFest 2025, a collaboration between the United States Military Foundation and the City of Sweetwater, which is taking place on Tuesday, Nov. 11, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. along W. Flagler Street and S.W. 107th Avenue.
With free entry, those who attend will experience live music by artists such as Ricky Valido and the Hialeah Hillbillies, Nestor Meneses y El Rojo, Asia ft. John Payne, and in Blue, the Sweetwater Police band, and fun with military displays, local food, and fireworks.
The event is also sponsored by the Badia Family, owners of Badia Spices, Inc., and OCHO Foundation, some of the largest donors to the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management.
Additionally, FIU held a 10th Annual Salute to Military Service Breakfast on Nov. 5, where service members were awarded scholarship honors and the university welcomed keynote speaker Brigadier General Aida T. Borras, who served in the Special Forces Command and during Operation Just Cause.
Over a century after the first Armistice Day, FIU stands as a university that supports the success and opportunities of all military personnel and continues to reflect their commitment to remembrance and community.
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