John–

For 28 years, I served in the U.S. Air Force before retiring with my family to my home state of Oklahoma. My time in the military and the way I was raised — growing up in a town with a strong culture around guns and gun safety — were what led me to get involved with Moms Demand Action.

In 2018, I became a founding member of the Everytown Veterans Advisory Council. We're a group of 25 military veterans who draw on our experience to advance gun violence prevention policies, such as legislation that can help veterans at risk of firearm suicide. The work I've been able to do alongside my fellow veterans is yet another reason why I feel welcome and included, both as a grandfather and a conservative guy, in an organization called Moms Demand Action. Add it all up, and you can see why my wife and I are so proud to be involved in this movement.

This Veterans Day, I want you to join me as a Moms Demand Action volunteer to advocate for policies that will help veterans in crisis, make our communities safer, and end our nation's gun violence crisis.

I'll be honest with you: I was never much of a political activist before joining Moms Demand Action. But our nation's gun violence crisis inspired me to become a late-to-the-game advocate. I discovered how I could contribute to this movement, and I've learned about how seriously gun violence impacts veterans across this country. I know that, together, we can end this crisis. Join me as a Moms Demand Action volunteer today.

I hope to see you in a red Moms Demand Action shirt soon.

Sincerely,

Lt. Col. Neil Hester, USAF, Ret.
Everytown Veterans Advisory Council Member
Oklahoma Moms Demand Action Volunteer

If you are a veteran in crisis — or you're concerned about one — free, confidential support is available 24/7: Call the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 and press 1 or chat online. For support for the deaf and hard-of-hearing, call 1-800-799-4889.