Veterans Day is a day when we honor Americans who have worn a military uniform and pledged their lives, if need be, in defense of our country. This unselfish offering deserves our life-long gratitude.
Paul J. Tobin, president and CEO

Unlike Memorial Day, which was instituted to focus the nation’s attention on those who sacrificed their
lives in service to our country, Veterans Day also includes recognizing that once the uniform comes off, our nation is legally and morally indebted to our veterans and their families; particularly those veterans who have been physically and/or psychologically disabled as the result of their service. We must take advantage of the national focus on Veterans Day to educate veterans and their families about federal, state, and local health care, compensation benefits and other services available to them, as well as about organizations such as VetsFirst that can help them obtain critical benefits and health care. Similarly, Veterans Day provides a unique platform to educate the American public about the needs of our veterans, our obligation to assist and sustain them and what can be done by individuals in that effort. We need to keep those efforts robust every day of the year; not just on Veterans Day.
Leonard Selfon, National Service Director

Everyday I wake up I am grateful to be an American. I think about my grandfather who served in WWII and my father who served in Vietnam and I in the Gulf War and I am thankful for their service. I enlisted partly because they served but also because I felt a need to pay something back. We are privileged to live in this great country and I am grateful for the chance to serve it.
Keith Reimers, National Service Officer

Americans must make certain that veterans obtain the services and benefits that they have earned. We
must keep the moral and legal obligations that we have made to the men and women who have served our nation. All Americans should actively promote and support legislation and programs that are of benefit to our veterans.
Ziggi Landsman, Vice President of Assistive Technology

The nation owes as much as it can possibly give to its many veterans — certainly more than a catchy slogan and a day off in November. We’re talking about real-life commitments. Sadly, a lack of understanding of the potential difficulties in the current war, and a severe underestimation of its casualties, led to a lack of readiness in the VA system early on in the war in Iraq. This resulted in conditions and health care that was below what any of us would have expected for our warriors. While this care has improved as the war has continued, it’s just a reminder we must make sure that no veteran ever goes without the best health care and social assistance a country as strong as America can
provide. It’s quite a trip from afternoon World War II movies to full adult understanding, but now when I
think of Veterans Day I think of the men and women trying to integrate back into society after terrifying firsthand experiences and how we must do all we can to help them as a country.
Thomas Cooke, Chairman of the Board