In passed years I’ve referred to veterans writ large, and also family: my uncle, my cousins, father-in-law, all those who’ve served … wanting to honor all those who have served.

There is a special place for veterans’ remains in the local, non-denominational cemetery down the street from my house; my parents’ remains are interned there so I visit pretty often. I usually give a nod to the vets when I’m there.

All that said,

A little different approach this year to Veterans’ Day.

There is an organization I’ve followed for a few years … TIL VAHALLA PROJECT … they give memorial plaques to family members of veterans who have passed on in combat, and also promoting mental health, and reducing veteran suicides. They sell shirts and hoodies with inspirational words to fund their project … I own several of them.

And while I’m 100% behind their core mission, it’s really the mental health piece that stands out for me, because we all experience mental health challenges of some type during our lifetime.

Maybe my special call out for veterans this year is something like this,

We all have issues we struggle with in mental health at some point during our lifetime…

But millions of veterans have put themselves into situations where they were exposed to particularly challenging, life-changing, and at some cases life ending situations…

For all those who have served, much gratitude. And for all those who struggle, hang in there.

https://tilvalhallaproject.com