Let's Have an Honest Conversation About Veterans Day
LET'S HAVE AN HONEST CONVERSATION ABOUT VETERANS DAY.
I saw this graphic promoting free meals and special offers for veterans. Many people will see it and feel grateful. I see it and wonder: What happens on November 12?
A meal can mean something. So can the handshake, and the chance to sit with others who understand what service means. I respect the employees and business owners who make those moments personal.
But I'm frustrated by how easily military appreciation becomes a marketing season.
Our nation's veterans and their families deserve a commitment that continues after the signs come down. Their sacrifices don't follow a promotional calendar. Neither should our gratitude.
This graphic alone cannot tell us everything these businesses do throughout the year. Still, it raises a question every business, including those of us who talk publicly about serving military families, should answer:
What are we doing for veterans the other 364 days?
Are we hiring them and supporting their spouses' careers? Making meaningful assistance available year-round? Supporting local veteran organizations consistently? Listening to what military families actually need, and following through?
We need to stop treating Veterans Day as an opportunity to market and start treating it as a moment to examine our commitment.
That challenge applies to me, too. At Operation T.A.G., our name stands for Tangible Act of Gratitude. We have a responsibility to live up to those words through our actions.
Gratitude over profits means being willing to give something meaningful (our time, our resources, or a portion of what we earn) to help those who served.
We all can do better. Let's make a commitment we'll still be keeping in February, June, and September.
What would meaningful, year-round support look like to you? Especially if you're a veteran or military spouse, I'd like to hear your perspective.
GRATITUDE OVER PROFITS. EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR.
Year-round gratitude has to show up in what we do
A Veterans Day meal or special offer can be a sincere gesture. The question is not whether these moments matter. They can. The question is whether they are part of a deeper, continuing commitment, or the whole commitment.
Businesses can begin by asking veterans and military spouses what support would be useful, rather than assuming. Some veterans may welcome public recognition; others may prefer privacy. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce suggests businesses consider veterans’ preferences while finding practical ways to support them, from workplace recognition to veteran hiring, year-round perks, and support for veteran-owned businesses. Read its suggestions for honoring veterans in business.
A meaningful commitment could include:
- Hiring veterans and supporting their transition into civilian careers.
- Recognizing that military spouses may need flexibility and career support, too.
- Building lasting relationships with local veteran organizations.
- Offering useful assistance or benefits throughout the year, not just during a promotional window.
- Listening to military families and following through on what they say they need.
- Being transparent about how a promotion or donation benefits veterans.
These are starting points, not a checklist that fits every organization. What matters is that actions are thoughtful, consistent, and accountable. If a business says it is giving a portion of sales, it can explain the commitment clearly and share what was contributed. If it offers support to veterans at work, it can ask whether that support is actually working.
Gratitude isn't a certification. It's something you do.
Appreciation is not proved by a seasonal graphic, a slogan, or a single day of visibility. It is demonstrated in the choices an organization makes after the holiday has passed.
That standard includes me and Operation T.A.G. We have a responsibility to keep asking whether our actions reflect our purpose. Operation T.A.G. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit military homeownership support organization founded by me and my son Scott. We are not a lender; we are dedicated to helping, informing, supporting, and protecting military families. You can learn more about our mission.
One example of our work is the Hometown Hero Credit™, which may provide eligible military families with a credit toward eligible home-purchase or refinance closing costs. It is offered through licensed lending partner PRMG, and eligibility and program guidelines apply. The details matter. So does being clear about who provides the lending services and what the assistance does, and does not, cover.
But this post is not a pitch for one program. It is a call to examine whether any organization’s stated gratitude is matched by meaningful action. Standing up for those who stood up for us means taking that responsibility seriously every month.
Keep the conversation going
If you are a veteran or military spouse, I want to hear your perspective. What support has made a real difference to you or your family? What do you wish businesses understood? What would you want to see continue long after Veterans Day?
You can leave a comment or reach out to Operation T.A.G.. You may also call 760-456-8748. We welcome honest feedback and questions.
Veterans Day can be a moment of recognition. It can also be a moment to make a commitment, and then keep it in February, June, September, and every day in between.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the “other 364 days” question?
It is Brett Stacy’s challenge to every business that markets to veterans: What are you doing for veterans the rest of the year, not just on Veterans Day?
What does Gratitude Over Profits mean?
It means being willing to give something meaningful (time, resources, or a portion of what we earn) to help those who served, and putting veterans’ well-being ahead of the bottom line.
What is Operation T.A.G.?
Operation T.A.G. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit military homeownership support organization founded by Brett Stacy and his son Scott. It is not a lender and is dedicated to helping, informing, supporting, and protecting military families.
What is the Hometown Hero Credit?
It is a credit of 2% of the loan amount, up to $21,000, toward eligible closing costs for eligible military families. It is non-repayable, available in 49 states through lending partner PRMG, and subject to program guidelines and eligibility. Operation T.A.G. is not a lender.
How can I share my perspective?
Brett invites veterans and military spouses to share what meaningful year-round support looks like to them. Leave a comment or reach out at HometownHeroCredit.com or 760-456-8748.
Operation T.A.G. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, not a lender. All mortgage applications, loan terms, rates, and lending services are provided by appropriately licensed lending partners. PRMG NMLS #75243.
Brett Stacy
Founder & National Director, Operation T.A.G.™
National Brand Ambassador, Hometown Hero Credit™
Military Family Advocate | Author | Speaker
OperationTAG.org | HometownHeroCredit.com