On July 11, I gave a presentation as part of the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii’s Military Affairs Council quarterly briefing on the economic impact of the military in Hawaii.

One of my observations was that the impact is much greater than economic. One such example is the GI Bill.

The original GI Bill transformed America. It produced a generation of leaders, helped veterans buy homes and established a foundation for a strong middle class. It helped our country realize that pursuing higher education is indeed attainable and beneficial — not just for an individual, but for society as a whole.

June 22, 2014, marked the 70th anniversary of the original GI Bill.

About 8 million World War II veterans used their education benefits to acquire a college degree.

Through the post-9/11 GI Bill, servicemen, servicewomen and now their families have an opportunity to continue their pursuit of higher education.

At Hawaii Pacific University, serving military personnel, veterans and their families is an important part of our history and a long-standing commitment for our institution. It was recently honored as the No. 19 Best College for Veterans Regional Universities (West) for 2014 by U.S. News and World Report, and is proud to provide a supportive environment for military and veteran students.

Veteran students are one of the fastest growing student populations at HPU. Since the post-9/11 GI Bill was introduced in 2009, the number of veteran students and their dependents pursuing a degree at HPU has grown by 400 percent. They are studying a rich array of subjects — from nursing and oceanography to biochemistry and business economics — pursuing opportunities they might not have had without the help of the GI Bill.

The late, beloved U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye earned an undergraduate and law degree with financial assistance from the GI Bill.

His story, while remarkable, is one of many. Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard attended HPU and earned a degree in international business utilizing the benefits of the GI Bill. A staunch supporter of service members and veterans, Gabbard works to ensure that GI Bill recipients have full access to quality educational opportunities. The GI Bill created millions of success stories, helping veterans become teachers, business owners, doctors and engineers, to name a few.

Economic inequality has been documented and debated for some time. Research by economist Thomas Piketty indicates a troubling trend of a concentration of capital that will ultimately lead to further inequality and immobility for America’s middle class.

What is the answer to combat the rising inequality in our nation? As Piketty says, education is the most powerful equalizing force in the long run. As tuition costs and interest rates rise, it’s more important than ever to make sure that we make higher education a reality for all students —especially for the men and women who serve our country. By investing in our veterans, we are investing in our future.

At HPU, we make a similar investment in our students. Our dedicated faculty and staff are committed to helping ensure our graduates become the next generation of leaders in whichever profession they pursue.

As we commemorate the 70th anniversary of this landmark bill, it’s important to remember that work still needs to be done to give the men and women a chance to live the very American dream that they have helped to defend.