From Gratitude to Action

November is a month of gratitude and a time to recognize Veterans and military families. I’ve been thinking about how naturally those two things belong together, and what we can do with that gratitude once Veterans Day has passed.

I always like to think about how this day began. At the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918, the armistice took effect and the fighting in World War I stopped. A year later, our nation marked its first Armistice Day. Congress made November 11 a federal holiday in 1938. In 1954, after World War II and the Korean War, Congress renamed it Veterans Day to honor Veterans of every era. It’s an opportunity to thank those who served, in wartime and in peace.

Across generations, people showed up, took risks, and fought hard fights. Each left a little of themselves in the fabric of our nation. Today, roughly 2.1 million Americans wear the uniform across the active and reserve components of our Armed Forces. That’s less than one percent of our population.

I’m always in awe of those numbers. In any other arena, one percent might make me question the odds. When I think about the grit and determination of the men and women in uniform, I sleep soundly knowing the blanket of freedom they’ve stitched together will hold another day.

I grew up wanting to wear our nation’s uniform because of the heroes in my own family. My life took me into service in a different way, as a military spouse, a wife, a mother, a caregiver, a friend, and now a dedicated advocate and service provider. I’ve come to see service as what it is: a privilege. It asks us to know what we value, live those values, and act upon them when someone else needs us.

I’ve been on both ends of that phone call. I’ve made the introduction and had someone make it for me. I’ve been the person who kept showing up, and I’ve had people do the same for me. What I know more than anything else is that it matters.

Someone recently asked me what’s at the heart of Veterans Collaborative and what we hope to achieve for our community. I think it comes down to this: we’re all called to serve in our own way. Some heroes wear uniforms, but every one of us has something to give. When we show up for one another in our communities, an ordinary act can become something extraordinary. I envision the extraordinary every day.

This Veterans Day and throughout the month of Thanksgiving, I hope that we’ll put our gratitude in action. Start with someone you know. Call to ask how they’re doing. Make an introduction that could open a door. Invite a Veteran or military family to a community event or for a cup of coffee. Give your time, talents, or what you can afford to a local organization that supports them throughout the year. Every act of care helps build a stronger community.

You may never know how much one call or invitation means. For someone who has been trying to find help on their own, it can be the moment they realize they have someone in their corner. You can be that person on Veterans Day, and on any ordinary day that follows.

To our Veterans and the families who have given so much in service to our nation alongside them, we share our deepest thanks for you today and every day.

Happy Veterans Day!

Warmly,
Natalie Worthan
Founder & CEO, Veterans Collaborative