Land of the Free, Home of the Brave – Thanks to Our Veterans
By Kelly Gresh
Veterans Day originated as “Armistice Day” on November 11, 1919 to commemorate the end of World War I. An armistice was reached between the Allies and Germany one year prior at 11 A.M. (the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month).
The holiday was originally designed only to honor World War I veterans. However, after Raymond Weeks, a World War II veteran, in 1947 organized a celebration to honor all veterans, a bill was proposed in Congress to change the title.
In 1954, the bill was passed and former president Eisenhower signed it into law, declaring November 11th “Veterans Day.”
Members of the armed forces courageously put their lives on the line to preserve our liberties, which we often take for granted. The five branches of the military serve as our nation’s defense against foreign enemies. If it weren’t for the military, other countries could conquer us and strip us of our God-given rights and freedoms.
Since veterans selflessly serve our country, it is only fair that our country, in return, should serve them. While the government provides benefits for ex-service members, such as health care, housing, education, and life insurance, it can not address all their needs.
Social service organizations like the Purple Heart Foundation, Wounded Warrior Project, and the Travis Manion Foundation help fill the gap. These groups promote the health and well-being of veterans and their families through programs that facilitate their re-incorporation in society following their service.
Ryan Manion is the current President of the Travis Manion Foundation (TMF), which was established in 2007 to honor her late brother, Travis, who was killed in Iraq. She’s also a mother of three, co-author of “The Knock at the Door,” host of “The Resilient Life” podcast, and frequently appears on local and national media channels to share her experience as a gold star sister.
When Ryan picked up my call, she was on her way to Washington D.C. to run in the Marine Corps marathon. “One of the things I learned very early on from my brother was to set big goals,” she informs me.
Travis, Ryan’s only sibling, was born in 1980 at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina to an active-duty military family. In high school, he was an all-league standout in wrestling, football, and lacrosse. He was given an award for his dedication and leadership to the sports.
He was later appointed to the United States Naval Academy. He was subsequently deployed to Iraq twice. During his second deployment, he led a counterattack against enemy forces and was fatally wounded by a sniper while drawing fire away from his fellow marines. As a result of Travis’s heroism, every member of his patrol survived.
“Travis had tremendous drive and was dedicated from a very young age,” Ryan reflects. “I look back on the goals he set and how he worked so hard to accomplish them, and it’s something that I try to put into practice now in my adult life. Dedication to something does not come from just getting excited about it in the moment. Travis put in the days, the weeks, the months, and the years sacrificing to achieve his goals. I look back on that – an incredible feat in itself. I’m so lucky that I was able to watch him do all of those things.”
Since the foundation’s inception in 2007, Ryan has helped elevate it from a small, family memorial fund to one of the nation’s leading veteran service organizations.
Today, TMF has over 200,000 members and supports 10,000 veterans and families of fallen service members every year through its programming. The foundation centers around bringing a community of likeminded people together to make a difference. That community, in turn, focuses on how to live in accordance with the ethos of, “If not me, then who.” Travis said that phrase when asked why he was leaving to serve out his second deployment in Iraq.
“I think it’s important for us to not look at veterans as charity cases, but rather to look at them as pillars of strength and as individuals that we need to invest highly in,” Ryan shares. “We have to take it upon ourselves to make sure that we’re not giving veterans a handout, but rather, we’re giving them a hand up and telling them that we need them.”
The foundation serves veterans by investing in them. This includes training opportunities and programs specific to veterans’ development.
TMF brings a cohort of about 40 veterans together each year for a seven-month experiential leadership program, entitled the “Spartan Leadership Program.” It helps veterans grow their personal and professional leadership skills. This Veteran’s Day, TMF will graduate its third cohort.
“These veterans then go on to become incredible leaders in their own communities by jumping into action and asking how they can play a role in the disasters of today,” Ryan says. “It’s important to remember that we need their service just as much outside of uniform as we did when they were wearing the uniform.”
The foundation also runs “Character Does Matter,” a veteran-led program designed to instill character in the next generation. Through the program, thousands of veterans across the country are trained to teach character development to the next generation by engaging in a variety of activities, ranging from giving hour-long school presentations to leading 12-week leadership programs inside schools.
“More than 55% of veterans feel disconnected from civilian life because the sense of being a part of something bigger than themselves, the comradery, the sense of purpose that they found in the military, goes away when they enter post-service life,” Ryan states. “We thought it was so important to make sure that we were providing that same type of community for them to again feel like they’re part of something bigger than themselves.”
Unfortunately, military service often comes with mental health challenges. Since 9/11, at least 30,177 active duty personnel and veterans have committed suicide. A much smaller number, 7,057, have been killed in combat during that same time frame. The need to support service members by helping them feel connected to civilian life becomes more crucial when considering the fact that the military suicide rate is four times higher than deaths that occur during military operations.
“Over the years, there’s been a stigma that has plagued our veteran community that they’re all broken, but the vast majority of our veteran population are incredible civic assets,” Ryan points out. “They bring with them a wealth of different things, such as their understanding of leadership principles and values, that the average civilian just doesn’t have practice or experience in.”
The U.S. military has also become more racially and ethnically diverse in recent years. As of 2015, minorities represented 40% of active-duty military service – an increase from 25% in 1990.
“I like to look at our military as a great social experiment,” Ryan says. “If you look at the makeup of the military, they’re one of the most diverse populations within our society. Somehow, they come together, not without their challenges, but they accomplish a goal, together.”
Surprisingly, less than 1 percent of the U.S. population (equating to 1.4 million people) is currently serving. This represents a sharp decline from the 3.5 million that served during the military draft era prior to 1973 when the draft ended.
“Every man and woman currently serving was not put there because of a draft – it’s because they decided to make that commitment, and I think we owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude for that,” Ryan says.
Veterans Day is the perfect opportunity to show support for our nation’s heroes. Simple ways to demonstrate gratitude include extending a heartfelt “thank you,” paying for their groceries, taking them out to eat, and sending them a care package.
“I wish every American understood the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day,” Ryan tells me. “Memorial Day is a day to honor those that didn’t make it home. Veterans Day is a day to thank every person who raised their right hand. It’s a bit cliché to say, ‘thank you for your service,’ but it’s important just the same. Nothing goes further than turning to someone who you know served and saying, ‘thanks for serving.’ It’s as simple as that.”
To support the Travis Manion Foundation, please visit travismanion.org. You can donate or become actively involved by joining the TMF mission in the region closest to you.
Kelly Gresh is a columnist at The Conservateur, a third-year law student at Villanova, a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the business manager of Forget Me Not Food.
