The Power of Stories: What Veterans Really Need This Veterans Day
In our fast-paced digital world, we often forget the simple power of being present. As both a veteran and technology professional, I’ve learned that the most meaningful connections can’t be digitized, automated, or optimized.
Ask any veteran about their service, and you’ll hear stories that reshape your understanding of human experience:
- The nights when laughter echoed through barracks despite impossible circumstances
- The moments when responsibility weighed heavier than any rucksack
- The times when trust in their team meant everything
- The unexpected beauty they found in chaos
- The bonds forged stronger than steel in the crucible of service
- The split-second decisions that still echo years later
- The quiet moments of pride that words can’t fully capture
These stories don’t fit neatly into our modern world of instant messages and social media posts. They need time. Space. A willing listener.
Beyond the Standard Response
if (intent == "support_veterans") {
// Don't just:
return standardResponse("Thank you for your service");
// Instead:
initiate_genuine_conversation();
practice_active_listening();
share_real_connections();
}Let’s be honest — the standard “Thank you for your service” feels hollow when it stands alone. The free meals and discounts, while well-intentioned, often feel like an easy substitute for real connection. We appreciate the sentiment, but what we truly value is something far more precious: your undivided attention.
The Gift of Presence
Want to truly honor us? Give us your time. Ask about:
- A time we laughed harder than we’d ever laughed before
- A moment when we felt most alive
- An experience that changed our perspective forever
- A challenge that revealed our true strength
- A friendship that transcended ordinary bonds
Then do the most important part: listen. Really listen. No checking phones, no planning your response, no waiting for your turn to speak. Just be present for every word, every pause, every emotion that surfaces.
The Real Connection
When you give a veteran your undivided attention, something remarkable happens. The memories, and sometimes, even the trauma, we carry become bridges between our world and yours. Our stories — whether they make you laugh, cry, or sit in awe — become shared experiences that change both storyteller and listener.
The True Honor
This Veterans Day, instead of just offering thanks, offer your presence. Instead of a discount, give your attention. Instead of a free meal, share a moment of real connection.
Because when you truly listen to our stories, you’re doing more than hearing words — you’re helping carry the weight of memories that shaped us. You’re acknowledging the depth of our experience. You’re saying, “Your story matters, and I’m here to hear it.”
And that, more than any other gesture, is what honors our service.
— -
The greatest gift you can give a veteran isn’t your gratitude — it’s your presence.
The Power of Stories: What Veterans Really Need This Veterans Day
In our fast-paced digital world, we often forget the simple power of being present. As both a veteran and technology professional, I’ve learned that the most meaningful connections can’t be digitized, automated, or optimized.Subscribe to the ONE Newsletter on Linkedin.
The Stories They Carry
Ask any veteran about their service, and you’ll hear stories that reshape your understanding of human experience:
- The nights when laughter echoed through barracks despite impossible circumstances
- The moments when responsibility weighed heavier than any rucksack
- The times when trust in their team meant everything
- The unexpected beauty they found in chaos
- The bonds forged stronger than steel in the crucible of service
- The split-second decisions that still echo years later
- The quiet moments of pride that words can’t fully capture
These stories don’t fit neatly into our modern world of instant messages and social media posts. They need time. Space. A willing listener.
Beyond the Standard Response
if (intent == "support_veterans") {
// Don't just:
return standardResponse("Thank you for your service");
// Instead:
initiate_genuine_conversation();
practice_active_listening();
share_real_connections();
}Let’s be honest — the standard “Thank you for your service” feels hollow when it stands alone. The free meals and discounts, while well-intentioned, often feel like an easy substitute for real connection. We appreciate the sentiment, but what we truly value is something far more precious: your undivided attention.
The Gift of Presence
Want to truly honor us? Give us your time. Ask about:
- A time we laughed harder than we’d ever laughed before
- A moment when we felt most alive
- An experience that changed our perspective forever
- A challenge that revealed our true strength
- A friendship that transcended ordinary bonds
Then do the most important part: listen. Really listen. No checking phones, no planning your response, no waiting for your turn to speak. Just be present for every word, every pause, every emotion that surfaces.
The Real Connection
When you give a veteran your undivided attention, something remarkable happens. The memories, and sometimes, even the trauma, we carry become bridges between our world and yours. Our stories — whether they make you laugh, cry, or sit in awe — become shared experiences that change both storyteller and listener.
The True Honor
This Veterans Day, instead of just offering thanks, offer your presence. Instead of a discount, give your attention. Instead of a free meal, share a moment of real connection.
Because when you truly listen to our stories, you’re doing more than hearing words — you’re helping carry the weight of memories that shaped us. You’re acknowledging the depth of our experience. You’re saying, “Your story matters, and I’m here to hear it.”
And that, more than any other gesture, is what honors our service.
The greatest gift you can give a veteran isn’t your gratitude — it’s your presence.
