Courtesy Photo Col. Carl R. Coffman chats with Oscar R. Rocha of McLean, Va., formerly with the 82nd Airborne Division and currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biology at Marymount.

Washington served eight years in the Army and received the Purple Heart for wounds suffered in combat in Iraq. During his recovery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, dedicated physical therapists saw him through a tough rehabilitation process — igniting his own desire to become a physical therapist.

Coffman began his remarks by thanking Washington and all the veterans present. He reminded the audience of faculty, staff and students, ‘‘It’s important to pay tribute to all those who have served in uniform. They’ve placed your freedom and safety above their own.”

Noting that education is one of the most important forms of support that America can give its veterans, Coffman then offered a brief history of the GI Bill of Rights. This landmark legislation, passed shortly after World War II, has benefited several generations of servicemen and women by opening up higher education to all who wish to pursue it. In addition to benefiting servicemembers, Coffman noted, ‘‘The GI Bill has benefited the nation. It’s one of the smartest decisions we could have made.” He offered several examples of high-profile individuals who took advantage of the GI Bill to achieve their goals, including former U.S. Sen. Robert Dole and comedian Bill Cosby.

The colonel next noted that Congress recently updated and improved the GI Bill, which now includes the Yellow Ribbon program. As a participant in the Yellow Ribbon program, Marymount University provides up to 25 grants of $2,000 each per year to eligible veterans pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees. The Department of Veterans Affairs matches that amount, so veterans receive a total of $4,000 a year to attend Marymount through the Yellow Ribbon program. These scholarships supplement other financial support they receive under the GI Bill and through Marymount.

In closing, Coffman thanked the veterans and their Families for their service to the country. And he urged the veterans to ‘‘continue to serve... Use your service experience and education to change the world. We look forward to hearing about your impact.”

The event concluded with remarks by Marymount President James E. Bundschuh, who noted that American higher education is one of the 20th century’s greatest achievements, in large part because the GI Bill of Rights made it possible for so many men and women from all walks of life to attend college.

‘‘The effect of those who got their education through the GI Bill has been tremendous,” he said. ‘‘We’re proud of our veterans and active-duty servicemembers at Marymount. Thank you for your service, and thank you for choosing Marymount University.”