Once A Soldier Responds to the Attack on the US Capital
We Prefer To Remember and Honor Real American Patriots
Once A Soldier is outraged and angered by the events that followed President Trump’s January 6th coup attempt launched from the Ellipse in Washington D.C.
Our mission thrusts us into immediate and intimate relationships with Veteran families who’ve paid the ultimate price for keeping America the land of the free and the home of the brave. What Trump and his fanatics executed that day was neither brave nor an honorable use of our hard won freedoms. The insurrectionist mob’s intentions were murder, chaos and a coup. While they achieved two of those goals, they ultimately failed in their foolish but dangerous attempt to overturn the will of the majority of America. We are thankful that order is restored and a new and fairly elected President will soon be our Commander in Chief.
Self-centered pursuits are not what Once A Soldier is about. In 2017, we purposefully included in our By-Laws that we would raise awareness of the postvention plight of the veteran families of suicide AND do something about it. In our opinion, selfishness, the opposite of our selfless core value, was the motivation of President Trump and the traitors. For our part, we have always been, and always will be, an impartial giver of our services. While we suspect that most of the armed forces in America’s recent past may hold views that align with conservatism, we know that PTSD and suicide don’t play favorites. Neither does Once A Soldier.
On a personal note, as the CEO of Once A Soldier, I remember visiting Shanksville, Pennsylvania a mere weeks after 9/11/2001. There was no official memorial then, just an open field and some benches looking out over that hallowed ground. The names of the victims were crudely burned into the back rests. I sat with Todd Beamer and was moved and inspired. As we hand out the punishments and learn the lesson of 1/6/2021, it is important to keep in mind what real patriotism looks and feels like. Remember Todd Beamer and his “Let’s roll.” partners. Remember the courage and honor they earned that day. Remember that every step those domestic terrorists took that day tried to undo the sacrifice made by those on Flight 93 on 9/11 – the one destined for the US Capitol. How dare they?
ABOUT ONCE A SOLDIER
Our Veterans are killing themselves in record numbers mostly due to PTSD. An overmatched VA can’t take care of them or their families. We will.
Soldier suicide leaves Veteran families with thousands of dollars of bills unpaid, mostly bank loans.
We are the only nonprofit standing with the families after a veteran suicide. Stand with us.
Our Mission: Become the preferred channel for donors, advocates and volunteers who care about veteran families left behind after a soldier suicide.
