Anthem Journal: Giving

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.