Dignity: Soldier On 

“Leadership is solving problems. The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help or concluded you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership.” 

Colin Powell 

I want to first recognize our Veteran’s and their families and say thank you for your service.  

My brother-in-law works for an amazing organization called Soldier On. If you do not know about this organization, I have copied below what their mission and vision is: 

“We work in partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs and other agencies to provide veterans with shelter and support in an environment that offers dignity, integrity, and, most importantly, hope. Our mission is to offer a continuum of care that includes immediate and long-term housing with services delivered where they live. Soldier On’s ultimate goal is to provide formerly homeless veterans with permanent, supportive, sustainable housing – assisting them in their transition from homelessness to homeownership.” 

Who We Are – Soldier On (wesoldieron.org) 

I believe we should not have veterans who are homeless or struggle to receive adequate medical and behavioral health care. Many of our veterans suffer from substance use disorders and there is a high suicide rate among veterans. We are fortunate to have great organizations like Soldier On that are out there on the frontlines doing the work to help those in need. 

Often at family get togethers my brother-in-law James and I will ask how our jobs are going. It would be small talk not really getting into a lot of detail because we have jobs where we honor the privacy of the people we serve. The thing that I think about most is that I have never taken the opportunity to tell him how proud I am of the work he is doing with our veterans. I do not think I understood how much he is valued by our veterans until I had the opportunity on a few occasions to care for patients who were part of Soldier On. When I mentioned James’ name these veterans could not say enough about him and how he has helped them though some challenging times. They would say that he did not judge them, he only wanted to help. In other words, he treated them with dignity and Honor.  

So, today on Veterans Day I would like to say thank you to James and the great people at Soldier On for honoring and treating our veterans with Dignity. You give them hope when they feel hopeless. What greater gift can you give anyone than elevating them with dignity. 

“Always show more kindness than seems necessary because the person receiving it needs it more than you will ever know.”  Colin Powel 

Soldier on my friends 

Charles Redd RN 

Dignity Freedom Fighter