Created in 1996 by the Armed Services YMCA, Veterans and Military Families Month is a time to recognize and celebrate the sacrifices American armed forces make both while deployed and home, including those made by their families and loved ones. Active military members contend with separation from their families and families may need to move regularly and deal with new living situations and communities. Veterans Day is on November 11 and was established in 1919 by President Wilson as the first commemoration of Armistice Day. This day was filled with parades, public gatherings, and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m. It was signed into law as a federal holiday in 1968, under the Uniform Holiday Bill and has since been a day to celebrate life, love, and sacrifice.
There are many ways to say thanks to people who are serving and have served directly and indirectly in the military. Some ways to get involved include:
- Write a thank you note. A Million Thanks is a nonprofit that has supported active military and their families since 2004. People can sign up to send letters to active, reserve, and veteran military members.
- Donate to veterans’ charities, including:
- Buy tickets to local attractions, museums, and sporting events that support the military.
- Send a care kit through the United States Postal Service (USPS).
- Listen to your friends and family that may be impacted by the military, even if it’s just to ask what they do. Talking through their experiences can shed light on the challenges and successes this community faces every day, and can help give ideas as to what people can do to support their local military families.
Experian North America
Experian is honoring the Veteran community with several activities planned by the Military, Veterans and Patriots (MVP) Employee Resource Group (ERG). Their marquee event is in partnership with some of the company’s other ERGs on Wednesday, Nov. 10 (the day before Veterans Day). It features a virtual panel discussion with ERG members along with external special guest speakers. They’ll also encourage employees to purchase MVP items in our ERG “Swag Store,” where they can also make a donation at check-out to the Fisher House Foundation, a nonprofit organization that builds comfort homes where military and veteran families can stay free of charge, while a loved one is in the hospital.
Additionally, the MVP ERG is organizing a webinar on Monday, Nov. 8 with the ASPIRE ERG, which focuses on mental health, disabilities, and caregivers. Together, they’re going to discuss mental wellbeing and dive into our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) benefits that are designed to help our colleagues, and their household members, through difficult times. The speakers will cover specially designed Military resources that support active Military, Veterans, and their families. This includes deployment planning, post-deployment reintegration support and career transition guidance, community-based support resources, and assistance with housing and moving.
Lastly, the MVP ERG is promoting in-person and virtual volunteer opportunities that support Operation Help a Hero, a 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to the well-being and care of our American military members. The optional in-person event, ‘Operation Rack Pack’, benefits the Marines and Sailors of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines. For those comfortable with in-person activities, the MVP ERG is also promoting a volunteer event with Operation Help a Hero at Camp Pendleton on November 13.
The MVP ERG is working with the social teams to share external posts that’ll recognize the MVP community and Veterans Day.
Guidewell/Florida Blue
To recognize Veterans and Military Families Month, Guidewell’s CEO will create a message recognizing Veteran’s Day and enterprise-wide collection for deployed service members who are friends and family of Florida Blue employees
Freddie Mac (Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation)
Thriving in the Face of Change at Freddie Mac Freddie Mac’s Military Appreciation Business Resource Group will commemorate the month with programming focused on giving back to local communities, thriving in the face of change and supporting Freddie Mac’s mission of making home possible. Highlights include:
- A virtual ‘Build and Serve’ event benefiting Community Outreach partner, Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland.
- A keynote featuring an Iraqi War veteran battling cancer who will highlight how to persevere, be resilient, lead and thrive in the face of change.
- A ‘Tour of Duty’ event to learn how the Multifamily Securitization group supports our mission and what skillsets are needed for success.
Follow #inclusion@FreddieMac on social media platforms for more information.
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ’s Military Affinity Group (MAG) will host their annual Veterans Day celebratory event on November 11. The event will feature a retired Major General Army member, a Captain of the USAF, and the New Jersey ESGR Outreach Director. All employees are invited to attend this event virtually. The celebratory event on 11/11 will also include a flag-raising ceremony at 9:00am with a moment of silence. Other noteworthy events include:
- On November 6, a MAG member will represent Horizon at the Rutgers vs Wisconsin game, singing the National Anthem.
- On November 9, the MAG board will be placing flags around the building grounds.
- Veteran Organization monetary donations (Four Total): MAG to Hope for Veterans, MAG to designated Vet Organization for each of the celebratory event’s speakers.
- MAG Newsletter Veteran’s Day issue distribution.
Lenovo
To honor Veterans and Military Families Month, Lenovo leadership will send emails along with a gift shipped to veteran employees’ homes for them and their families. The company is also finalizing a volunteer opportunity with the Philanthropy Team to give employees the chance to have direct impact in the veteran community. An ERG in the company will be hosting an internal virtual event for all employees, that will have an educational focus on military families. And Lenovo is proud to announce the launching of the VET ERG on Veterans Day 2021.
Merck & Co.
To celebrate Veterans and Military Families Month, Merck is hosting the following events:
- October 25: Senior Veteran leaders are being brought about for a panel speaking engagement on Veterans Day.
- November 8: The Veterans Leadership Network (VLN) had such heartfelt feedback to the Veteran Memorial Poppy Wall that the VLN worked to create a Veterans Day Honor Wall in honor of those who have served and remember the Veterans who served and lived a full life. The local VLN chapters will be collecting submissions to be displayed in conjunction with Veterans Day.
- November 11th – The Veterans Leadership Network was also interested in sharing insights and lessons learned from its service members military deployments by participating in the VLN Veterans Day Tribute Video: Lessons from Military Deployments. Below is the rundown of the video in segments and directions will be shared at the end of this week for inclusion:
- Working with others, across time zones, across geographies, and virtually being effective.
- How to handle yourself, self-care, stress, and anxiety.
- What civilians can learn from the military to bring to work, what’s a simple military trick that could be applied, and exercised to be impactful.
Moody’s
To honor Veterans Day, Moody’s employees have sponsored a new Veteran service puppy, Victory. She is a yellow lab, born in September, and their first female service dog! Moody’s has been sponsoring service dogs since 2017 in conjunction with an organization called VetDogs.
In addition to this, Moody’s Veterans BRG also commemorates and pays tribute to Veterans with intranet posts, special Zoom backgrounds, and email signatures. This year, the Veterans BRG also embarked upon a card-writing campaign and mailed cards to over two hundred veterans!
New York Life
To celebrate Veterans and Military Families Month, New York Life is hosting the following events:
- A Fireside Chat with Janie Mines: the first African American woman to graduate from the U.S Naval Academy. Janie will share her personal and inspiring story. This event is being hosted in partnership with our women’s, African American, and veterans ERGs.
- A Roundtable Conversation with former NYL-Vets ERG co-chairs: Employees will learn about their personal military experiences and career journeys.
- Veterans Day Ceremony: NYL-Vets will host a special ceremony virtually honoring all those who have served our country in the United States and Armed Forces.
- Employees will also be able to participate in virtual walkathons supporting local communities and veterans.
