The University of Texas at Arlington will show appreciation for UTA students, faculty and staff who have served in the U.S. armed forces during Veterans Day 2016 events planned across campus.

The weeklong celebration begins with a Veterans Day Kickoff Party from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5 at the Student Veterans Assistance Center, 406 Summit Ave., just east of the Community Garden. The event will feature remarks by Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams and Air Force veteran and state Rep. Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington, who recently discussed his own military service and the commitment that veterans receive at UTA.

"I served for 21 years," Tinderholt said. "You might be surprised that veterans don"t expect anything. We go do the job that we do because we"re very passionate about it. We believe in the umbrella of freedom under which we live and we believe in protecting that. The state and this campus treat us really well - they take care of veterans here."

The Veterans Day observances come as UTA is again named the No. 1 school in the state for military veterans and their families to earn a college education, according to the Military Times Best for Vets: Colleges 2017 ranking of 130 national universities released this week.

The Veterans Day Kickoff Party is geared toward "Military Connected Mavericks," UTA"s more than 3,000 military veterans and their family members, but the event is also open to the public.

"This is really about helping veterans become better equipped to handle the challenges of earning a college degree, starting a new career, or launching a business," said Vincent Leone, founder and president of VetStarts, one of several community partners, services and programs accessible to military veterans and their dependents through the Veterans Assistance Center. "Whether it"s the pains of physical, mental or moral injuries--we want to help our veterans and their families through the transition that comes from military to civilian life."

The kickoff party will include a free barbecue meal, activities for children with special needs, a bounce house, childrens" painting project and opportunities for veterans to speak with representatives from more than a dozen UTA programs, including the Veterans Business Outreach Center. The VBOC, established this fall through a Small Business Administration grant to the College of Business, is a resource for education, training and inspiration for veterans who are starting or growing a business.

Other events open to the public include the Thursday, Nov. 10 BBQ Brisket Fundraiser sponsored by the Maverick Veterans, UTA"s Student Veterans of America Chapter. The fundraiser lasts from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Library Mall, 702 Planetarium Place.

An ROTC cadet will play the Reveille bugle call at 7 a.m. Friday, Veteran"s Day. It will be followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the Central Library Mall. Later at 5 p.m., a flag retreat ceremony will be held on the mall. It serves two purposes - to signal the end of the duty day and to pay respect to the nation"s flag.

UTA"s Veterans Upward Bound program, which collected hundreds of pairs of socks for homeless vets as part of the Socks for Service program in 2015, will again collect socks beginning Nov. 11. Collection boxes will be available at various locations across campus through the end of the fall semester.

"We"re motivated to make an impact on our campus and the surrounding community," said Lisa Thompson, senior director of TRIO Pre-College Programs. "The sock drive is just one small example of a broader university commitment to the human condition, and we"re proud to be involved with Socks for Service again this year." The commitment to improving health and the human condition is one tenet of UTA"s Strategic Plan 2020: Bold Solutions | Global Impact.