Veterans Day 2018 brought familiar reminders to those of us in the general public - non-veterans - of the service of others. Who can miss those Camo'/faux-military hats and warm up jackets on the sideline of NFL games? And then there are the military themed TV ad campaigns and the reminders that this retail chain or this coffee company proudly hire veterans. And all over social media and - sometimes - in person, we say Thank you for your service.
Nothing particularly wrong with any of that. Except that quite often saying thank you is all we end up doing. I recently saw an interview with Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, former helicopter pilot who lost both legs in a crash in Iraq. She said near the end of the segment that what veterans like her really want to hear -- far more than Thank you for your service -- is the simple phrase Never forget.
Never forget is more than a feel-good catch phrase. It's a challenge. Far too many veterans do feel forgotten for much of the year. And those who probably feel it most are our wounded warriors and their families and the kids and spouses of the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice - Gold Star families.
As we all break for Thanksgiving, I'd like to appeal to those of you who read The Drift to not only Never forget, but to act on that value right now. For the past 12 years I've been involved with The TD Foundation, a 100% volunteer group that gives 100% of the funds we collect to the families of those veterans who can least afford to be forgotten. We help make mortgage payments, have car engines rebuilt, send children to camp, buy soccer equipment. Sometimes these small acts of support are enough to keep a family from losing their home; other times they just make a kid with a wounded or missing parent feel like - a kid.
On Thursday evening December 6th, near the World Trade Center site in New York, we'll be hosting our annual fundraising event. Click here to go on our website and buy your ticket. Even if you can't attend, go ahead and make the donation. You can do it on the same page.
Yes, there are many people in the world and in our own country who need our help. But I'm asking your help for a particular group of Americans that should never be forgotten but who too often are.
I thank you for your generosity and wish you and your families a blessed Thanksgiving holiday.
