From Our Print Edition

Like most Americans, I’ve always had a deep appreciation for the sacrifices of those who served in the military. But I have to admit that, until recently, I usually marked Veteran’s Day by sleeping in, hitting a few sales and enjoying a day off from work. That all changed when my son joined the Pennsylvania Army National Guard four years ago. After a nine-month deployment to an overseas combat zone, he’s literally days away from returning home — and I can finally let out the breath I’ve been holding since January. Suffice to say, my family and I will be celebrating Veteran’s Day very differently this year.

ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES

My son, recently
promoted Army Sgt. Tate Prudish.

While my son will go back to college and pick up where he left off, I can’t help but think about the soldiers who didn’t come home, who made the ultimate sacrifice. How must their mothers (and fathers and wives and children) have felt? And what about those who came home with debilitating injuries or post-traumatic stress? Are we doing enough for them?

The fact is even service members who leave the military relatively unscathed often struggle with the return to civilian life. That’s where our industry can help. Every year, more than 200,000 veterans enter the civilian workforce, bringing with them a valuable set of unique experiences and characteristics. But as the retired servicemen we talked to for our story about veterans in the frozen and refrigerated food business can attest, the transition can be difficult. That’s why it’s so important for employers to understand some of the challenges veterans face and provide the support they need to succeed. But don’t do it just because it’s the right thing to do. Do it because it’s the right thing to do for your company.

“We hire military veterans because they make good employees,” explains Randall L. Stephenson, retired chairman and CEO of AT&T. “They bring proven technical and leadership skills. They understand teamwork, and they’re adaptable. Bottom line: hiring veterans is good for business.”

ANOTHER WAY TO HELP

Companies who want to do more should consider partnering with Friends in Service of Heroes (FISH). Founded in 2013 by Frozen & Refrigerated Buyer publisher Paul Chapa with the help of military veterans Johnny Harris, Gary Spinazze and Bob Savage, FISH began as a food industry initiative. But as it grew, support started coming from outside our industry as well, prompting a name change. Since 2013, FISH has donated more than $1 million in goods and services to veterans and their families. To learn more about FISH and how to get involved, see our story on page 17.

On the topic of service to others, a shout out to all the retailers and manufacturers who pitched in to help with hurricane relief efforts in Florida last month. With all the recent talk of price gouging and profiteering, it’s refreshing to hear the mainstream media highlight some of the good things our industry does to help.

Happy Veteran’s Day to all of those who served. And for the rest of us, “Don’t forget, hire the vet!”

Denise Leathers, Editorial Director [email protected]