On Veterans Day, AmeriCorps joins the nation to recognize the more than 13,000 veterans who have joined AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors programs. AmeriCorps member with the VISTA program, Matt, shares why he serves to give back to our hometown heroes who have sacrificed for our country.
In 2004, I was deployed to the Middle East and then forward deployed to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, in the early years of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Dear veterans,
We recognize and appreciate the immense sacrifices you have made for our nation. From leaving your loved ones behind and serving overseas to protecting our freedom, you have dedicated your lives to serving our country. At AmeriCorps, we believe that we have a responsibility to care for you and your families during and after your service.
AmeriCorps has a dual mission – to assist and serve veterans and military families and serve alongside them by engaging their talents to help make a local impact.
Canned foods have been an important part of American nutrition over the last century. Though the start of canned goods is dated back to Napoleon-era France, canned foods sustained Americans during the World Wars, Great Depression, and cold winters when fresh crops were scarce.
In honor of National Canned Food Month this February, we learn why it continues to be a grocery staple for many.
Giving Back to the Veteran Community
National service through LaVet Corps allows educator Angela to support her veteran community while empowering her to continue her education.
John King loves to drive. But now, he’s driving with a purpose – serving veterans. John King, 79 years old, is a veteran himself who continues to serve. He provides transportation for other military veterans, makes sure they get to medical appointments, assists them in buying groceries, takes them on a trip down memory lane or simply gives them the opportunity to spend time with someone who understands them.
"This is what we owe them, because life today is what it is because of what these guys did," King says.
For some, service looks like civic engagement or wearing the AmeriCorps A to get things done. For others, it looks like combat boots and military enlistment. Across service programs, common threads connect one to another– strength, sacrifice, and unity.
Veterans serving in AmeriCorps are solving America’s most pressing challenges through service
New appointees Mary Tobin, Senior Advisor for Wounded Warrior, Veteran, and Military Family Initiatives and Atalaya Sergi, Director for AmeriCorps Seniors, discovered their passions for national service taking different paths to their new leadership roles. Tobin and Sergi join 11 total new appointees selected in January by the Biden administration.
Yesterday was Veterans Day, an annual opportunity to express our gratitude to the courageous men and women in uniform who have given so much to our nation. Our veterans know the meaning of service, sacrifice, and camaraderie, and their experiences enrich the lives of their communities long after they leave the armed forces. Many veterans choose to continue to give back: often to their communities, but sometimes to each other, as well.