Happy Thanksgiving
They say hindsight is 20/20... which seems, well, ironic considering how much we all learned from 2020. But as life continues to jaggedly flow back to some semblance of normalcy, we are hopeful that the most important lessons from pandemic life continue to guide you.
These are some of the lessons I learned.
Cherish the ability to gather with friends and family. As VA's continue to reopen across the country, our volunteers have witnessed first-hand the extreme joy of veteran patients who are so thankful to finally have visitors again. Thank you for helping them remember what it means to gather.
Never take for granted the basic necessities of life. With the pandemic came a sharp rise in food insecurity and homelessness. But with your continued support, Soldiers' Angels was able to be there for thousands of veterans across the country to provide basic necessities to help them continue to move forward. Food assistance through veteran food distributions, canteen gift cards, and box lunches; transportation passes to get them to their VA appointments; housing packs for homeless veterans transitioning into housing, and so much more. Although all of these programs existed pre-pandemic, it is now more apparent than ever how critical this assistance is for those who need it. Thank you for helping to provide the basic necessities to veterans.
Show reverence for freedom. As a veteran, witnessing the fall of Kabul was devastating. It brought forth many questions about the last two decades. As a human being, supporting Afghan Allies and hearing their stories of life without freedom was humbling. But hearing their stories of how much American service members improved life in Afghanistan during the past 20 years was inspiring. Let us never forget how important our service members are for protecting the freedoms we have in this country and for their incredible humanitarian endeavors around the world that affect more lives than they will ever know. Thank you for supporting our brave men and women in uniform who are willing to give their all for freedom.
Always be grateful. If you took away nothing else from the strange past 21 months, I hope that you learned to be grateful for everything. I am so very grateful for each and every one of you and all that you continue to do for the military and veteran community. Many of the arduous challenges from 2020 carried over to 2021— and yet your eagerness to support has never waned. Thank you all for your unwavering support and dedication.
With Gratitude,
Amy Palmer
President and CEO
Soldiers' Angels
