Honoring Our Veterans

November is Military Family Month, which is observed by communities around the world. It is a time to celebrate the contributions of military families and to show them our respect and appreciation for the sacrifices they make to support their service members.

This year, for the first time, Stony Brook University will be recognizing November as Military Appreciation Month. Earlier this month, Stony Brook University Hospital (SBUH) collaborated with our labor partners to hold a recognition ceremony to honor our employees who are veterans.

Today, Veterans Day, gives us the opportunity to honor and appreciate the sacrifices and selflessness of the men and women who served in the United States Armed Forces. Every year, more than 200,000 members of our military services transition to civilian life.

At SBUH, we are fortunate and proud to have numerous veterans and active service members among our team. We also want to honor those staff members whose spouse, partner, child or other loved one is a veteran or is currently serving our country --- thank you for supporting them in their decision to serve. We look forward to their safe return after honorable duty.

Veterans Day offers a chance to reflect on what words like freedom, sacrifice, patriotism and resilience really mean, and the individuals who best personify those words. At SBUH, we also provide care for many veterans and their loved ones, and we know firsthand the sacrifices they have made for all of us. On Veterans Day, our Patient Advocacy department will be distributing thank you cards to all inpatients who are veterans and active service members to thank them for their service. 

Although we honor our veterans with a special holiday, for their families, their sacrifices are remembered every day of the year. During Military Family Month, I encourage all of us to take a moment – today, tomorrow or next week – to thank service members for their dedicated service to our community, state, nation and world.

Leadership takes many forms – volunteering to serve our country is one of them. To all our veterans: thank you. Thank you for everything you’ve done for our country. Thank you for answering the call of duty; thank you for your courage; and thank you for the extraordinary sacrifices you and your families have made on our behalf in the name of freedom, liberty and peace.

You’re among the best our nation has to offer. Blessings to you and your families.

Carol

 

Submitted by Laura (not verified) on Mon, 11/11/2019 - 10:25 AM

Permalink

Carol, I love the idea of honoring Veterans for the month of November. I am the mother of an active duty Navy pilot and a retired Marine Captain. I am proud of all those that step up selflessly to serve our great country. I am grateful to the families that stand by in support of their loved ones. The sacrifices the Military and their family make should be recognized and honored,

Submitted by Ellen Brechtel (not verified) on Mon, 11/11/2019 - 07:58 PM

Permalink

I applaud your recognition of veterans and their families. Their sacrifices are no less than they were decades ago. I take the time as often as I can to thank those men and women for their service.

Add new comment