Honoring Our Veterans!

Heroes and Sheroes are all around us, but all too often they go unrecognized.

Today is our opportunity to honor the nearly 18 million veterans and some 2 million active duty and reserve servicemembers in the U.S. military. These brave men and women have willingly made huge personal sacrifices in order to stand up for our nation and protect our freedoms.

Veterans Day exists, as President Eisenhower declared in his 1954 proclamation, “that a grateful nation might pay appropriate homage to the veterans of all its wars who have contributed so much to the preservation of this Nation.”

Invisibility, however, is sometimes one of the sacrifices veterans – and their families – make. They give so much, while the rest of society often doesn’t realize how much, or even who they are. I urge all of us today to spend some time reflecting on the service rendered by these unsung heroes. If you know a veteran or active duty servicemember in your life, today might be a good day to say thank you.

If so moved, you might even consider more hands-on options to show appreciation, including volunteering or providing support through the USO or other veteran service organizations. For example, did you know that Disabled American Veterans operates a program for volunteers to drive elderly or infirm veterans to medical appointments?

I know that many members of the LinkedIn family have also served in the military, and I want to personally thank each of you for your service. To all of you, thank you, and God bless.