Today is July 4th, Independence Day 2013! Two hundred thirty seven years ago our founding fathers signed the document that began our great country. These great men risk their personal finances and their safety for the greater good of our country.
We still have great men and women. They are the the men and women who make daily personal sacrifices for our U.S. Armed forces. They work for low wages, they leave their families and risk their own well being for the greater good of our country. For that we are forever thankful.
Have you every really looked at the numbers? Since the U.S. went to war in Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003, about 2.5 million members of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard and related Reserve and National Guard units have been deployed in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, according to Department of Defense data. Of those, more than a third were deployed more than once.
In fact, as of last year nearly 37,000 Americans had been deployed more than five times, among them 10,000 members of guard or Reserve units. Records also show that 400,000 service members have done three or more deployments.
When our soliders come home it is not just he physical scars but he mental ones. Please take a moment to read a blog except from U.S Army Specialist Bryan Fay from Orlando, FL.
"When there is nothing but silence and only the voices in our heads, that's when the real war starts. As soldiers, we deal with adrenaline and speed,” Brian wrote. “What am I supposed to do now that it all stops? It’s like someone pulled the emergency brake on my Formula One car as I was zipping down the track and now I watch as the other racers pass me by. My body has stopped, but my head is still moving a thousand miles per hour. I have been shot at, blown up, been in firefights, dodged bullets, had close calls with snipers, been in ambushes, fired fully automatic weapons and now life has handed me a water pistol and told me to have fun. What am I supposed to do now? When the adrenaline stops, what are we supposed to do? When the bullets aren't flying, where do we crawl to? When the explosions are gone, where do we run to? How can we go from serving on the front lines to standing in the food lines?”
It is the responsibility of every business in American to make a home for our heroes when they return. We as Americans say we are thankful, it is time to put actions behind our words. Temporary Repair LLC is committed to hiring veterans. Temporary Repair provides roof tarp services after disasters. Who better to come and help after a storm than an American solider. This idea first was given to me by man who sat down next to me at bar for a drink. He told me about how he hires veterans and they were the hardest working, best group of people he could ever hope for. He told about me his commitment build his business around it." On this day the seed as planted.
Then we came upon an organization called Team Rubicon, they can be found at www.teamrubionusa.com. This non-profit organization is uses the skills of veterans for volunteer emergency response after disasters.
At Temporary Repair we thought, "if Team Rubicon can utilize this skills of veterans for volunteers, there is not a single reason we can not be committed to providing quality employment to our soldiers returning from war".
Temporary Repair is committed to putting actions behind our words.
Sometimes it is just the idea being planted that can make those in charge implement procedures to make sure we provide a home for our heroes in civilian life. If you are reading this, maybe you too can find a way to make a difference. A simple chat, Brian Fay and Team Rubicon inspired us, hopefully Temporary Repair can pay it forward and inspire others as well.
Happy Independence Day!