Military Resources for Our Veterans

Every Day We Live Free

Our nation began with a revolution to secure “the blessings of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Every day we live free because of past wars that have been fought and won.

“This nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom and the government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth.” - Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address

During the Civil War, we were at war with ourselves. World War I was “the war to end all wars.” Pearl Harbor is “a date which will live in infamy,” which began our entry into World War II. The war in Iraq and the war against terrorism are still ever present in our minds.

Wars are fought and won because of one factor: heroes who leave their families and homes. They tread on foreign soil, risking limb and life to serve and protect all we hold dear. We honor these brave men and women. We enjoy our lives because they are willing to risk theirs.

May we honor them and remember their sacrifices not only on Veteran’s Day, but every day we live free. Think of them the next time you vote. Pray for them the next time you kneel down at night. Thank them when you exercise your freedom of speech. But more important than remembering and honoring them would be to serve them.

Many of today’s veterans have trouble finding employment when they re-enter the civilian work force. Veterans who served the military as engineers, electricians, plumbers and heavy equipment operators have valuable skills that would be welcome in the construction industry, an area that also happens to be experiencing a shortage of skilled labor. These skills, however, are not the only skills that attract employers. There are many benefits to hiring veterans based on the following eight skills veterans acquire as they work in the military.

1. Leadership. Military personnel are trained to be leaders, whether through orders given, delegation of authority, motivation or personal example. They are able to exercise judgment and manage resources in the most trying of circumstances.
2. Teamwork. Veterans understand the importance of teamwork and the responsibility to colleagues.
3. Skills. Veterans have the ability to learn new tasks and often have military skills that are transferable to civilian jobs.
4. Pressure. Veterans are used to performing under pressure. They have learned to accomplish assignments in a timely matter, in spite of difficult situations. They are trained to see a task through to completion and to do it well.
5. Diversity. Veterans are accustomed to working with individuals of diverse races, religions, backgrounds and abilities. They have learned to interact effectively with different types of people.
6. Procedures. One of the most valuable lessons learned during military service is respect for procedures. Each organization has a framework of hierarchy and procedures that make it effective. Veterans understand this and how it relates to personal accountability.
7. Integrity. Veterans know the value of hard work and the importance of working together to achieve the common good.
8. Maturity. Many veterans have proven themselves in combat situations. They have shown endurance and stamina. Some of them have overcome personal disabilities with courage and determination. All these traits foster a high level of personal maturity, even if the person is considered young by most other standards.

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” - John F. Kennedy

Honor our veterans not only with words, but also by helping them re-enter the civilian life of this grateful nation. We salute you!

QUESTION: Would you like to give a “shout out” to a Veteran today? Use the comments below and share!