We the Veterans and Military Families

The strength of a nation depends on the commitment of its citizens. And service doesn't stop when we take off the uniform. https://lnkd.in/e2qeujpJ

Today, We the Veterans and Military Families worked with 15 veteran and military family service and engagement organizations to issue a joint statement denouncing political violence and affirming our joint resolve to supporting a peaceful political process. We commend these organizations as well as others who have issued independent statements, such as the American Legion. We invite other likeminded organizations to join us. Link to document here➡ https://lnkd.in/emuDkrYZ Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) AMVETS National Headquarters - Alumni National Military Family Association Student Veterans of America More Perfect Union Elizabeth Dole Foundation Blue Star Families Mission Roll Call Combined Arms Military Veterans in Journalism Military Family Advisory Network Veterans for All Voters National Security Leaders For America The Chamberlain Network Millions of Conversations Vet Voice Foundation VetsForward Military Women's Collective (#MWC501c3) Steve Abbott Jeremy Butler

Our statement on the abhorrent attack on former President Trump.

🇺🇸 Old Glory, New Mission 🇺🇸 We gathered with veteran and military family leaders to explore leadership with the George Washington Leadership Institute. We are grateful for the inspiring discussions and the incredible people who joined us at George Washington's Mount Vernon. Together, we honor our flag and the values it represents. 🇺🇸 #FlagDay #Leadership #Veterans #MilitaryFamilies #MountVernon #OldGloryNewMission

Yesterday I had the honor of sharing the stage at We the Veterans and Military Families' Vetted Conversations at George Washington's Mount Vernon with my friend and the current Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs for the Department of Veterans Affairs Terrence Hayes. Terrence is a US Army combat veteran who is selflessly serving our great nation again. He has added a tremendous amount of transparency to the VA, created a press corps modeled after the Pentagon press corps to help reporters better understand VA and gain access to accurate information, and has increased trust with so many key stakeholders. I commend his continued patriotic service and that of his colleagues who are entrusted with the care of our nation's veterans.

Today, June 14th, is Flag Day. Our country’s flag, created in 1777, symbolizes the resolve and resilience of our Nation. As we’ve grown, so has our flag—each addition to Old Glory serves as a reminder that the pursuit of a more perfect Union is an ongoing journey. To commemorate this day, We the Veterans and Military Families hosted a special convening at the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon to bring together military veterans, military families, and civic organizations to showcase the impact and engagement of our community.  In working together, we’re able to contribute significantly to the prosperity of our country, ensuring that the values of service and sacrifice continue to drive positive change and promote a stronger, more united society. A very special thank you to the founders and team of We the Veterans and Military Families for bringing this event to life: Ellen Gustafson, Ben Keiser, Anil Nathan, Jermaine C., and Julie Hendricks. You’ve started a remarkable tradition! Leonidas Marin and I were honored to have joined. To those that participated, thank you for sharing your expertise and commitment to our community! Your contributions and insights help make us all stronger: Joshua Stanwitz, Ross F., Diego Andres Echeverri, Kayla Williams, Jason Dempsey, Peter H. Cressy (RADM USN ret., Ed.D.), Joseph Stoltz, Heather Soubra, ACC, Christopher Purdy, Kelly Kennedy, William Braniff, Mary Beth Bruggeman, Mary L. Tobin, Jason Galui, Jose Ramos, Mia Garcia, Besa Pinchotti, D’Juan Wilcher, Joe Grassi, Ron Neff, Kathy Roth-Douquet, Admiral Steve Abbot (USN, Ret.), Eric Bronner, Zaneta Adams, J.D., Daniel Vallone, Dr. Patrick Spero, Jeremy Butler, Steve Miska, Keara Mendez, Maureen Elias, Tim Denning George Washington Leadership Institute, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs #militaryveterans #militaryveteranfamilies #community #service #flagday2024

An amazing few days spent with We the Veterans and Military Families. Thank you for inviting The American Legion to participate in discussions about how the veteran community can encourage national unity, civil discourse, civic participation, leadership and inspiration in our communities. There are very few better examples of E Pluribus Unum than our treasured military community and we can absolutely show “what right looks like” in deference, humility, courage, honor, integrity, and a 100% Americanism. Thank you Ellen Gustafson for assembling an audience of civil society leaders to have frank conversation. A special shout out to Mount Vernon for hosting this talented group.

Today we are celebrate Women Veterans Day by honoring our incredible teammate, Julie Hendricks! Julie served in the U.S. Navy and continues her service to the nation as a vital part of We the Veterans and Military Families. Julie’s service and dedication shine brightly. Thank you, Julie, for your unwavering commitment and inspiring leadership. 🇺🇸 #WomenVeteransDay #WeTheVeterans #ProudlyServing

📣 The We the Veterans and Military Families Team is Growing | We are excited to announce our new Associate Director of Programs, Mary Bennett D. • Mary Bennett (“MB”) Doty is an Army spouse and Army and Air Force granddaughter. She has spent her career in the nonpartisan democracy-building field, and was most recently a Senior Research Specialist with Princeton University’s Bridging Divides Initiative (BDI), a nonpartisan research initiative that tracks and mitigates political violence in the United States. • MB is a North Carolina native, UNC-Chapel Hill alum, and current Southern Pines, NC resident with her partner and pup.   • #welcometotheteam

“We’ll showcase how our community works together across many different backgrounds to accomplish things... and how other Americans can follow our lead and get in the game, not just sit on the sidelines behind a screen.” - Ellen Gustafson, Executive Director of We the Veterans and Military Families Read the entire Army Times article here: https://lnkd.in/eWftN8F6