On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, the guns fell silent to end the “War to End All Wars”. Unfortunately as we all know, WWI was not the war to end all wars, and our country has been involved in a multifaceted fight since 2001. This fight is different in a number of ways: it started with an attack on US civilians, killing more than we lost at Pearl Harbor; and it is being fought entirely by volunteers; amazing young men and women who have CHOSEN to defend our country and our way of life.
As we take time to remember these heroic Veterans this Veterans Day, we need to take a step beyond thanking them for their service. Although a heartfelt thank you is always appreciated, we need to look for more tangible ways to thank our Veterans. Nothing is as tangible as assisting them to reintegrate back into civilian life, and supporting them as they rebuild their lives. Homes for Our Troops provides a vehicle for grateful Americans to show that tangible support. For severely injured Veterans, a fully accessible mortgage free home built where the Veteran wants to live provides a significant assist as they continue to rebuild their lives. Thanks to your magnificent support, Homes for Our Troops has completed 225 homes for these deserving Veterans and has nearly 200 veterans in its program needing to get into one of our specially adapted homes. You do not have to wear a uniform to serve, and YOU are truly serving these worthy Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines. The next time you say, “Thank you for your service” to a Veteran, you can smile knowing that your thanks is more than just words.