Supporting Veterans Starts at Home, Showing Your Appreciation Has Never Been Easier

In November, our country has much to be thankful for. While the election year antics can sometimes serve to create the occasional disagreement, supporting our Veterans has oftentimes served as a point of unity for Americans. The month of November is when we come together as families to give thanks for the freedoms we enjoy, a privilege that is made possible due to the sacrifice of members of the military.

When thinking about what it means to support Veterans, whether it is someone in your family or a friend, co-worker, or neighbor, it is vital to consider the myriad ways you can make an impact on their lives. Here are some helpful tips on what we can all do to support them as they return from their assignments both home and abroad:

Volunteer: You can volunteer at a Veteran appreciation day in your town or at a local facility (like the American Legion or other community organizations), as well as reaching out to your local VA Voluntary Services Program to provide extra care and treatment to veteran patients. 

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Hire veterans: Hiring a veteran is a wonderful way to help them transition back into civilian life – along with earning a living.  

Support mental health: We all know service are often exposed to conditions leading to unique mental health challenges. You can support Operation Gratitude, a nonprofit organization that donates care packages and letters to service members. 

It’s also important to remember that Veterans often need the most basic of resources for having a stable life – like affordable housing. Many Veterans, including those with families, often struggle to find places to live, a challenge faced by Rhode Islanders across the board. That’s just one reason why the Rhode Island League of Cites and Towns has had a seat at the table for new bills being drafted that are designed to increase the state’s housing stock.

Along the same lines, companies like Cox Communications are working hard to ensure that Veterans have access to reliable high-speed internet at an affordable price. In 2019, the Federal Communications Commission estimated that 15 percent of veteran households did not have an internet connection. Veterans with the lowest incomes are most likely to go without broadband at home, indicating that price is a significant barrier to adoption.

Connectivity allows for instant communication with loved ones and friends from the Armed Forces, not to mention mental health providers and other telemedicine services. In fact, during the pandemic, the Department of Veterans Affairs significantly increased access to telehealth and virtual care services to deliver healthcare services to veteran patients. Between January 2020 and January 2021, the number of telehealth appointments offered by the Department increased by 1,831 percent.

Cox has made a pledge to help Veterans in their daily lives by offering discounted internet services like its Connect Assist program, along with routinely hiring Veterans and supporting them in internal groups like its Salute ERG. High-speed internet is something many of us take for granted, but it can help Veterans battle loneliness and isolation while access critical healthcare services.

This Veteran’s Day, let’s remember the sacrifices our men and women in the armed services have made, and show them how much we appreciate their commitment to country.

Ross Nelson, New England Market Vice President, Cox Communications and Ernie Almonte, Advisor to the Executive Director, Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns  

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