National Commander Message

Daniel Contreras, Commander

Going beyond ‘thank you’ on Veterans Day and every day

Every year around this time, our nation reflects on the heroism and sacrifices of veterans. On Veterans Day, we honor all those who served and recognize the many men and women who were wounded, made ill or injured in service to this country.

At DAV, we believe that “thank you for your service” is more than words — it’s action. It means taking concrete steps to show our appreciation for a veteran’s service to our country.

Our members and volunteers are on the front lines every day, organizing events that galvanize their communities to get involved in helping us keep our promise to America’s veterans and their families, caregivers and survivors.

We must continue to make our services more accessible to veterans and their families by meeting them where they are. It could be anything from having a conversation at a community event to talking and connecting with a veteran online. Every outreach and engagement opportunity not only matters but can also make a difference in that person’s life.

Whether connecting veterans and their family members through volunteerism at VA facilities, driving veterans to their medical appointments through the DAV Transportation Network, engaging youth through scholarships or recruitment as junior auxiliary members, or helping ensure veterans receive the benefits they have earned, our members and volunteers create meaningful change in their communities daily.

The initiatives our members and volunteers support help create strong, resilient communities where veterans and their families have access to resources that help improve their lives.

Besides being locally active, we must continue to be vocal advocates by ensuring that our elected officials understand critical issues, like the effects of toxic exposure on veterans’ health, the need to strengthen survivor benefits, and continued support for veteran caregivers.

One of the best ways to stay involved is through DAV CAN (Commander’s Action Network). If you haven’t already, I encourage everyone to join at davcan.org. Through DAV CAN, you can stay informed and take action to support federal legislation and policies affecting veterans and their families, caregivers and survivors.

This year alone, we have taken over 450,000 actions with their elected officials to bolster our advocacy efforts. Remember, protecting veterans benefits starts with you and me. With your help, we will make our voices heard and have an even greater impact in the coming year.

So let’s make sure we continue building off the momentum of Veterans Day and strive to do even more for veterans and their families in the coming year. I can think of no better way to honor their service and sacrifice than by taking action and advocating for their needs.

If you want to find out more about the National Commander, you can find his biography here.