At SAFE, we are fortunate to work alongside veterans, military families, and families of active service members. Through our employee resource group, VALOR, employees share experiences and perspectives that help us better understand military service and its lasting impact. Today, on Veterans Day, we are sharing one employee's reflection as an opportunity to recognize and appreciate the ongoing contributions veterans make in our workplaces, families, and communities.
Find a Veteran
As a country we honor our military veterans each year on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Most of us know a veteran and have an idea of what they did for us during their service, but how often do we think about why veterans are so important after service?
This isn’t a look-at-me post; I was only raised by one. It’s a look at them, truly look at them. I can’t tell you about their personal experiences or what they live with each day, but I can ask you, the civilians, questions.
When was the last time all your co-workers left and you had to start new relationships with the whole office? How would you react? How would you adapt?
Find a veteran. They’ve done it more than twice; they have proven methods.
Have you ever been assigned a house in the middle of a neighborhood where half of the neighbors are also new? How do you pick who to befriend? How do you deal with registering your kids for school? Where is the school?
Find a veteran. For them, this isn’t a major life event — this is an operational point to gather resources in a new setting and determine critical steps to complete a task. Plus, they are experts in reading maps and filling out forms.
What would you do if you didn’t agree on a fundamental level about something with the person across the table? Would you leave? Fight? Adapt? Learn? Grow?
Find a veteran. Ask them what they did when it happened and they couldn’t walk away.
I encourage you to stop and look at the veterans in your life – whether they’re your family, friends, or co-workers. Veterans aren’t perfect, they’re stubborn and opinionated like everyone else. But the military taught them something civilian life doesn’t teach most of us. A veteran is one of the most adaptable, flexible, on-their feet people you will ever come across. So, if you need help, feel stuck, or if you’re facing what seems like an insurmountable challenge, find a veteran.
Jaimie Elpedes
Senior Compliance Analyst
VALOR ERG Co-Lead
