From Father William Corby’s service as a Union Army chaplain to the dedication of on-campus housing for married World War II veterans, the University of Notre Dame has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to supporting veterans and active-duty service members. “God, Country, Notre Dame” is more than just a phrase—it’s a reminder of the priorities to which we owe our service and our gratitude.
On March 28, 2025, the Notre Dame Military and Veterans Law Society, with support from Notre Dame Law School, hosted a day-long symposium titled “What Do We Owe Our Veterans?” The event featured prominent leaders dedicated to advancing veterans’ interests through both government and private sector advocacy. Speakers included the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a former secretary of Veterans Affairs, a veterans disability attorney, and a cybersecurity attorney with the Department of Defense. More than one hundred guests were in attendance, including veterans, students, faculty, local veterans’ service organizations, and members of the broader community.
The event explored veterans law and our responsibility as society to veterans as part of the broader Notre Dame Forum theme for 2024-25, “What Do We Owe Each Other?”
In Dean G. Marcus Cole’s welcome to guests he announced that Notre Dame Law School will continue the University’s commitment to veterans by establishing a Veterans Law Clinic in the fall of 2025.
The symposium’s keynote speaker was Admiral Christopher Grady ’84, who was nominated in 2021 for the position of Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff—the second-highest-ranking military officer in the United States. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1984 and was a three-time monogram recipient on the fencing team. Admiral Grady is the first and only four-star flag or general officer to have graduated from Notre Dame.
Admiral Grady discussed his extensive experience serving in the U.S. military and how he views his obligations to his country.
“A key tenant of service that we probably ought to reflect on is that service should not be transactional,” he said, emphasizing that men and women in uniform give of themselves to be a global force for good.
When asked what we owe our veterans, he emphasized the nation’s responsibility to do a better job in helping veterans transition from their service to civilian life. The GI Bill, Post-9/11 GI Bill, military tuition assistance, and the Veterans Preference Act, he said, are all a step in the right direction. However, he said more can be done to communicate the value proposition veterans can and do offer as employees and community members.
Denis McDonough, who served as the 11th United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs from 2021- 2025 under President Joe Biden, spoke about both the strengths and weaknesses of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Acknowledging the bureaucratic challenges that persist, he reaffirmed that the VA’s core mission, “to be the biggest advocate for veterans, for veterans’ health, and for families mourning a veteran,” remains steadfast and deeply rooted in the agency’s work.
McDonough cited several advancements and societal changes that could have an impact on how the VA cares for veterans such as developments in diagnosing brain trauma injuries, growing numbers of private providers in the VA system, and veteran population changes stemming from having an all-volunteer force.
Angela Lowe is a veterans disability attorney at Jan Dils, Attorneys at Law dedicated to aiding veterans in filing claims. She discussed what the law owes our veterans. As a lawyer navigating the ins and outs of filing veterans’ claims, Lowe offered reassurance saying, “As an advocate, one of the things we can do is educate and let them know that this is not personal. It’s the machine of the VA.”
Highlighting the importance of the future Notre Dame Law School Veterans Legal Clinic, she emphasized that students involved in the clinic will not only create “power and will have a voice” when supporting benefits, but will learn from a new area of law that will allow students to practice creativity and humanity in their clinical work.
Brian Nicholson ‘06 J.D. earned his law degree from Notre Dame Law School in 2006 and served in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps. He held various roles within the Department of Defense before becoming the Cyber Program Director for the Defense Institute of International Legal Studies in 2025.
Nicholson concluded the series by raising an often-overlooked question: “What do veterans owe each other?” He noted that many veterans hesitate to file disability claims, partly because of the challenges navigating the system, but also as a result of their selflessness or belief that their service did not merit benefits.
“There’s no use in creating some gradation,” Nicholson said. “Those who raised their hand to volunteer still served.”
Often repeated throughout the event was the importance that filing one veterans’ claim could have in proving another’s. Sharing his own experience in filing claims, Nicholson emphasized, “The only reason I was willing to do it was because I was helping out other folks.” In the age of AI and other technological advancements, one veteran’s claim could be the missing piece in another’s claim.
The “What Do We Owe Veterans?” Symposium was organized by second-year student Garrett Hofmann, president of the Notre Dame Military and Veterans Law Society and the son of a United States Air Force family, along with second-year students Trevor Turner and Sam Spain and first-year students Robert Rizzo, James Skala, and Matthew Raymond.
In his concluding remarks, Hofmann summed up the speakers’ stories and the common understanding of veterans for all attendees saying, “Serving veterans is not just about acknowledging their military service. It’s about understanding their role as the personification of our Constitution. As we face challenges and divisions within our society, we must remember that our veterans remind us of what it truly means to defend the ideals of equality, liberty, and justice.”
You can watch the event below:
Originally published by at law.nd.edu on April 29, 2025.