Saluting our veterans

Veterans have a special place in my heart. My dad’s best friend Jack served in the Army during Vietnam. As a child, I remember him sitting at our holiday dinner table year after year and exuding what I characterized then as a quiet, strong, proud and grateful presence. He was humble and almost never spoke of the sacrifices he made in service to this country.

As an adult, my recollection of those holiday meals remains the same. He was strong. He was proud. And you sure can bet he was grateful. We all were and continue to be today. Yes, I remember it all and what I think most about now is that quiet. 

You see, I believe celebrating veterans is a wonderful way to show gratitude for the freedoms their selflessness affords us. I’m humbled by the 10,000 military service members, veterans, and military spouses that are part of the V Team family. They’ve helped build our networks, our culture, and our values. It’s personal to us and a driving force behind all of the resource programs we offer. 

But I also believe that celebrating Veterans means understanding their stories and sacrifices. I’m privileged to serve as the executive sponsor for the Veterans Advisory Board of Verizon and support Verizon Media’s VALOR employee resource group. Ask me what I love most? Listening and learning from this phenomenal community of people. 

The last time I spoke to Jack, I called to say thank you and finally asked to hear his story. What I got in return was a much greater understanding of his service, his sacrifice and his pride in country. 

So today, on the 100th anniversary of Veterans Day, let’s take a moment to salute all veterans and their families. But don’t stop there. Ask the veterans in your life about their journey. There’s so much we can all learn from these incredible heroes.