Friends,

As we approach Veterans Day this year, with wars being waged in Iraq and Afghanistan, we pay tribute to and thank our armed forces, active and retired.  We honor those we have lost, and remember again our obligation to care for the veterans who risked all and sacrificed much. Some have commented that the current wars are being waged largely out of sight of most Americans.  Therefore, I’d like to highlight in particular Mission Serve and the activities around HandsOn Network that we developed with it to allow veterans, military, and civilians to volunteer together to benefit their communities.

Mission Serve

Mission Serve, a year-old initiative of the ServiceNation coalition, connects the civilian and military communities through a wide array of service partnerships.  It aims to engage active and retired military with civilians to meet the needs of the military community, and also to integrate the nation’s military community into service alongside the civilian community.  Its vision is that Veterans Day will become a national day of service linking the civilian and military worlds.  This Veterans Day it is coordinating 25 joint projects with a diverse group of partners, including HandsOn Network. We are proud to be one of the convening partners of ServiceNation and a partner for Mission Serve.

HandsOn Network Partnerships Among Veterans, Military, and Civilians

On November 11, HandsOn Jacksonville will be partnering with Habijax (Habitat for Humanity in Jacksonville) and Beaches Habitat for Humanity in home rehabilitation and building projects.  The Volunteer Center of Los Angeles will carry out a multi-scoped service project at the Veteran Affairs Greater Los Angeles Health Care Center in Westwood, known as the VA.  The project will include painting, landscaping, and refurbishing a wheelchair access path to the gardens.  Veterans, military, and civilian volunteers will work side by side on these service projects.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen will celebrate the partnership among the Volunteer Center of Los Angeles, Mission Serve, Bank of America, and Wal-Mart to “Honor Our Heroes” at this service project.

Stressing the importance of such programs, Admiral Mullen has said,  “There is a sea of goodwill out there, made up of people, places, programs, all eagerly seeking and serving those in need. Our challenge, however, lies in connecting these programs, not only to those who need help, but to each other. ”

Other HandsOn Network Projects to Benefit Veterans

In other Veterans Day activities around our HandsOn Network, Boston Cares will be serving hot meals at the New England Center for Homeless Veterans, the nation’s first and largest veteran-specific shelter.  HandsOn Greater Portland in Oregon is honoring veterans by recruiting volunteer leaders to increase its capacity to serve the community. The Volunteer Center of Northwest Suburban Chicago is holding a blood drive, creating holiday cards and collecting donations for armed forces members, among other projects.

If you have not already, please think of a service project you can join or another way to honor our armed forces this Veterans Day.  You can find HandsOn projects here and other Mission Serve projects here.

In Service,

Michelle Nunn