They fought for America. Now we can make America a country worth coming home to through jobs.
"As it says on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., “Freedom is Not Free.” Our wounded warriors serve as a constant reminder of the real cost of war. Brave Americans sacrifice their bodies—and sometimes even their lives—so we can live in a free country. It is the ultimate sacrifice and something we will never be able to fully repay."
While celebrations like Veteran’s Day are crucial in expressing our appreciation for those who have served, what we need to do is to continue making America a country worth fighting for. One way to do that is to fight veteran unemployment. Showing appreciation is a start. Helping our heros live a productive and fulfilling life post-Military should be the real end game.
According to The Washington Post, the unemployment rate of post-9/11 veterans hovers around 12.4 percent, higher than the national average of 9.1 percent. To reverse this dismaying situation, President Obama and the Small Business Administration are in the process of establishing a task force to help returning veterans start their own businesses.
In a similar fashion, orbiTouch is partnering with organizations such as Veteran Corps of America to help service disabled veterans become entrepreneurs. This program is anchored in a multi-year grant awarded to Blue Orb, Inc., orbiTouch’s parent company, by National Science Foundation. Blue Orb invites people with special needs to participate in this exciting program. If you or a friend or family member could benefit from this initiative, please contact elizabeth@orbiTouch.com
For most of us, war is an intangible occurrence happening thousands of miles away in countries we will never visit against an enemy we will never meet. But for our veterans, war is incredibly real, the fall out of which they will have to deal with for the rest of their lives.
While we can never fully repay the debt our men and women in the Armed Forces have taken on for our country, what we can do is make military to civilian transition easier by ensuring our soldiers can provide for themselves and their families. Helping veterans lead better lives back home is the ultimate act of patriotism.
Join orbiTouch in saluting our veterans this Friday at the Winter Park Veterans Day Celebration. Organizations such as the Department of Veterans Affairs, Orlando VA Medical Center, and Disabled American Veterans will also be in attendence. Hope to see you there!