For most of the world's record companies, even though it is Veterans Day, Tuesday, November 11th is just another day. Major labels release albums on Tuesdays, so they'll be busy trying to make sure the big holiday releases that are coming out that day are "moving units", as is parlance. However, as an Iraq War veteran and the co-founder of the world's only military record label, every day we exist is a day in which we pay homage to those who serve their country.
And this Veterans Day is no different.
Today, To the Fallen Records is announcing a Veterans Day partnership with Veterans For America, where sales of our music will contribute to their work.
Veterans for America is a non-partisan group founded in 1980 by Vietnam veteran Bobby Muller. VFA's primary mission is to ensure that our country meets the needs of servicemembers and veterans who have served in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). VFA focuses specifically on the signature wounds of these conflicts: psychological traumas and traumatic brain injuries. You can find out more about VFA here.
Our entire purpose is to bridge the gap between those that serve and their counterparts in the civilian world. We are at a time in our nation's history where only 9% of the population is serving or has ever served, but more and more of these veterans are returning home with psychological and physical wounds that will affect them for the rest of their lives. Through music, we offer the listener a rare glimpse into the military lifestyle, war and the camaraderie that exists between servicemembers. Through our company, we hope to chip in to help returning soldiers with the difficult transition to life at home and to help protect them from the strain of multiple deployments with inadequate dwell time, two of VFA's signature areas.
Just as our artists have given us great music to listen to and share since we started the label upon my return from Iraq, we are now using this music to help the hundreds of thousands of returning troops who face a host of struggles upon returning home.
So, I invite you to check out what we do and honor our veterans by listening to a few of them sing or rap about their experiences and perhaps contribute to an easier adjustment for thousands of others.
Either way, please join me in taking a second to note that Veterans Day isn't just a day some people get off work or have a day off from school. Our troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan don't have the day off and those facing a difficult readjustment don't get the day off from the mental and physical wounds of war.
While we will always remember the fallen on this day, we must never forget those that still remain among us.
Today please call up every veteran you know to thank them for their service.