By the end of the month, the last of our troops will have returned home from Iraq for the last time. Each veteran has a unique view of the war and perspective it has had on their lives.

Some troops have deployed multiple times, having spent years of their...

This past weekend we not only reflected on the sacrifice of our servicemen and women who have died in combat, we also celebrated their heroism.

In the past ten years, our country has lost over 6,000 troops to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Over 4,400 have been lost...

Over the past few years, the American Dream has become a nightmare for families who have lost their homes. These foreclosed dreams have certainly impacted the aspirations of affected children -- many of whom hope to go to college.

I lived through a home foreclosure 15 years ago, when I...

What do you think affects troop morale more -- serving in a military that is in a constant state of war and endless deployments, or allowing open service for gay and lesbian troops?

Few Americans seem to be paying attention but Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT) is still on the...

"I am not opposed to all wars. I'm opposed to dumb wars."

Those were the words Barack Obama spoke in 2002 as President Bush mobilized a coalition to take down the regime of Saddam Hussein. It was merely one line in the Iraq speech that helped propel...

If "Equality is the Prime Rib of America", as Lady Gaga declared last Fall, then shouldn't we honor those who sacrifice for those values?

Recently, I was frustrated to hear about a veteran, a Purple Heart recipient, who was booed at a forum at Columbia University while arguing for...

At Fort Stewart, Georgia, the home of the 3rd Infantry Division, Eastern Redbud trees line the parade grounds to honor fallen soldiers. The pathway is known as Warriors Walk.

One of these trees is dedicated to Private First Class Landon Scott Giles, a Trooper who served in...

To the Veteran Community:

This week, the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) began posting open letters to President Barack Obama on repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT). Each day, SLDN is posting a letter from a veteran affected by the outdated policy.

This is my open letter to...

This week marks the seventh anniversary of the beginning of the war in Iraq. But my experience of the war started a few months earlier. It was the day after Christmas in 2002 that the Charlie Company commander, Captain Todd Kelly, called my family's home in Orlando to...

The Iraq War finally has inspired a movie that has received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture -- The Hurt Locker. The story focuses on three soldiers of an explosive ordinance disposal (EOD) team who face death in Iraq on a daily basis.

The main characters are portrayed...

The President has issued the order, the military has mobilized and now several key Republicans have lined up in support of repealing 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' (DADT).

It is time for Congress to take action.

Repealing DADT has gained enormous momentum as both our current and former military leadership...

The President's statement on repealing "Don't ask, don't tell" (DADT) during the State of the Union address represented a tangible step towards accomplishing a key campaign promise. Still, President Obama's broad statement left those of us who favor the repeal wondering, "What's happens next?"

We did not have to wait...

Autumn's cold winds have finally blown away most of the leaves sprouted seasons ago. They remain as nature's memories of spring. Some leaves remain on the ground but most have blown off into hidden areas of our landscape where they will fertilize the upcoming season of renewal.

We are...

Now that President Obama has issued orders on a new Afghanistan strategy, there is an opportunity to move forward with a pledge made during the campaign - repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT)."

Progress is being made, but more can be done now. In fact, the President has the authority...

We have been at war for eight years and the pace of military action has yet to decrease. How long can it go on? Clearly, the troops are worn and our children's future is at stake.

This past week, I marched with my seven year old son Brandon in...

We are a fortunate country to have such brave and patriotic troops to protect our freedoms. It is easy to take this for granted, but Veterans day offers us a chance to appreciate military service and simply say 'Thanks' to those who serve. For most of the year, I'd argue...