Honoring Our Heroes: A Veteran's Day Message of Hope, Resilience, and Unwavering Support

Creating a circle of support for our veterans. "Honoring Our Heroes: Hope. Resilience. Support."

As November 11th approaches, our flags rise, and our social media feeds fill with messages of "Thank you for your service." As a psychologist, I want to pause and sit with those words for a moment, to let them sink in beyond just a passing phrase…To you and every person who has worn the uniform… Thank you!

Thank you for the days, months, and years spent away from your families. Thank you for the sleepless nights on watch, the immense personal sacrifices, and the willingness to stand in harm's way. You signed up for a job that few people understand and even fewer are willing to do, all to provide the safety and freedom that the rest of us sometimes take for granted.

On November 11th, we are very good at remembering the idea of the veteran. We celebrate the uniform, the parades, and the concept of a hero. But on November 12th, and all the days after, it is far too easy for us, as a society, to forget you, the person who wore that uniform.

When you come home from the military, you can find yourself starting a new, personal battle. A battle you may feel you are fighting alone: without commanders, orders, and your platoon as support. It can be a struggle to find your new identity, your new purpose, and your new place to belong.

To make things worse, the current political divisiveness is deeply painful because it strikes at the very heart of your service. You took an oath to protect the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, a mission that relies on a unified nation. But when you see the military deployed against its citizens during protests, or watch federal agencies like ICE used in ways that feel like an internal conflict rather than national defense, it can create a profound sense of moral injury. This isn't the "domestic enemy" you were trained for. This "weaponization" of the institutions you served shatters the clear purpose you once had, making you feel politically homeless and lost in a country fighting itself. It can feel like a betrayal, leading you to question the very meaning of your sacrifice and ask, "If this is what I fought for, did my service even matter?"

Your Strength and Resilience

But here is the most important thing I want to say. This is the part that fills me with hope.

In my work, I do not just see the trauma. I see unbelievable resilience.

You are built to handle diversity. You were trained to be adaptable, to be disciplined, to be part of a team, and to find solutions under the most extreme pressure. These are your strengths, and they are the very tools you can harness for healing and building a new sense of purpose.

Resilience is not about "bouncing back" as if nothing happened. It is about moving through the challenge and integrating it into who you are. It’s about learning to carry the weight, not pretending it isn’t there.

We Are Here For You

This Veteran's Day, my message to you is simple.

• We are here for you. You are not alone in this. There is a community of people, therapists, peers, and loved ones, who are ready to stand with you, to listen, and to help you navigate this.

• We support you. We see your strength, even when you can't. We honor your entire story, not just the parts that are easy to celebrate.

• We encourage you. We encourage you to reach out, to share your story on your own terms, and to take the brave step of asking for support if you need it.

• And most importantly, we are here to empower you to change. This isn't about changing who you are; your service is a part of your identity. It is about empowering you to find peace, to build new connections, and to write the next chapter of your life with the same honor and purpose you gave to your service.

You are not forgotten. We see you. We honor you. And we stand with you.

Thank you!