Anthem Journal: Giving

Warriors serving in the military have a tangible mission and a purpose with actionable tasks and structure that provides a path toward specific objectives. When they suddenly find themselves as veterans, sometimes after decades of service, finding a new way forward and a new purpose can be complicated and overwhelming. 

The Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund was created in honor of John McHugh, who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2010 after serving 24 years with the United States Army. A West Point graduate, Blackhawk Pilot, and a colonel in the U.S. Army, McHugh inspired many, including a group of his West Point classmates who came together to raise money to help his five children through college after his passing.

Heroes and Horses is an immersive program for veterans based in Montana, created by founder Micah Finke after he returned from the Navy and experienced firsthand the struggles that many veterans face when transitioning back into civilian life. Finke's personal journey inspired him to dig deeper into the staggering statistics showing that the money going into veteran services

The public often perceives our nation’s servicemen and women as stoic protectors who do not succumb to stress or pressure—yet they face an unprecedented and impossible amount of stress daily that often eventually affects the mental health of even the strongest of warriors. It can be difficult for veterans and first responders to seek help and, in many cases, financially impossible.

A forest fire can exceed temperatures of 1,400 degrees and move up to 20 mph. Despite this unfathomable calamity, every summer, brave men and women step up to battle these disasters. They are the wildland firefighters. It isn't an easy job, quite the opposite, as they sometimes live in the wilderness with little provisions other than their food and water. The mission – to control and defeat wildfires – is hazardous. 

Army Special Forces soldiers have been at the forefront of major American conflicts and countless "other" actions since their inception in 1952. Soldiers that enlisted shortly before or after 9-11 are now retiring from the force.  They have spent their entire careers on a Special Forces team and have seen double-digit combat deployments. This operational tempo has taken a tremendous toll upon the Special Forces community and their families.