Vets

I'm celebrating Veteran's Day's Eve by watching American Sniper.  Just so you know, other than the little bit of risk in flying itself, I've never been in real harm's way.  My service happened between the first and second Gulf wars, so other than a very little surveillance in a relatively quiescent Iraq and normal Persian Gulf Ops in the 90s, I never faced live combat.  But watching these cinematic accounts without my filters (Black Hawk Down, Lone Survivor, Saving Private Ryan, et al.), it clarifies a few simple, excruciating truths.

1. We pay dearly for war.  It's our last, worst (and sometimes necessary) option.
2. The families pay. With every soldier, sailor, or airman who suffers loss of limb, life, emotional health, their people suffer just the same.
3. We are all a family, and when you take care of your own family, you're on the front lines of keeping our country strong.  When you take care of others, by whichever vehicle you choose, you're serving a greater good as well.  Thank the good Lord we don't all have to take up arms.  It's intense, damaging, sacrificial and courageous.  But you can do your fair share.  Not by clicking on something, but by actually engaging in real ways.  Get out of your seat, out of your comfort zone, and find your own path to giving in support of the greater good.  Find at least one way to take up your own cause and give until it hurts you enough to feel it, and know it's a small act compared to those who have given it all, or at least the best of themselves in support of the rest of us.

American fighting men live with modest pay (look here), frequently away from their loved ones, and often with severe risk.  We owe it to them to find a way to support them.  Even if you don't directly support a military organization or one of the many nonprofits helping them out, do yourself a huge favor and get some skin in the game.  You will NOT regret it.  Below are a few off the top of my head that deserve a piece of your productivity and some of your family's fortune -- after all, the signatories of The Declaration of Independence, our civic ancestors, made this pledge: "We mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor." With that sentiment, they created our country and way of life.  As inheritors of this legacy, we at least can afford a portion of our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.

Here are just a few ways you can participate in a real way to be part of the solution:
Contribute volunteer time or money to the USO, Support Our Troops, AMVETS, Wounded Warrior Project, The American Red Cross - Support our Military Families, or go to Charity Navigator and find a cause that resonates with you and meshes with your lifestyle and values.  And hey, bring your kids along for the ride, or even let them help you pick the beneficiaries of your efforts.  They learn from what you do more than anything else in the beloved world.  Your actions will be their pole stars.