National Military Appreciation Month is dedicated to honoring military personnel and their families for their service and sacrifices.
It also presents an opportunity to raise awareness about the unique challenges the estimated 19 million U.S. veterans and their families can face and encourage support for veterans’ healthcare and other vital services.
Veterans may face social, mental, and physical struggles related to their military service. Some struggle with relationships, family life, employment, and housing. Veterans also experience mental health conditions like depression, suicidality, substance use disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder at a higher rate than the general population. Many will also deal with the physical toll of their service, from trauma, traumatic brain injury, or chronic pain that can have lasting effects on their health, according to a 2022 article in The Nurse Practitioner.
In this simulated phone call, a United Way 211 Navigator assists Mike, a 37-year-old father of two and U.S. Army Veteran, who called United Way 211 looking for food assistance but discovered additional resources through the Help2Veterans program.
Answering the call for Veterans in Cuyahoga County
Cuyahoga County is home to more than 66,000 veterans, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and in times of need, they can turn to United Way 211’s Help2Veterans program.
An example of how the program works comes from Mike, a 37-year-old father of two sons who called United Way 211 looking for food assistance. He was in the military for eight years and now suffers from hearing loss and back problems. He has struggled to keep jobs because of these disabilities and recently had to leave a construction job because of his back condition. He was living off his savings while looking for work, but having a hard time finding a job he could physically do.
A United Way 211 Navigator connected Mike with food pantries in his area, so now he can access fresh, healthy food for his family. He was also connected to the Help2Veterans program and entered a training program for a new job that would not worsen his hearing or back conditions. With the food and job training assistance, Mike has been able to get back on his feet again.
Related: United Way 211 honored by NEOPAT for work with Help2Veterans Program
Created in 2013, Help2Veterans provides referrals for services in Cuyahoga County including employment, food, housing, utilities, counseling needs, family support, legal issues, veterans’ administration benefits, and more. Led by Alex Cohen, a 211 Community-Based Navigator, and the program’s coordinator, Help2Veterans assisted almost 3,900 veterans like Mike in 2023.
National Military Appreciation Month
National Military Appreciation Month is observed in May as an opportunity to honor and express gratitude to the members of the military, past and present, for their service and sacrifices. The month-long commemoration serves as a platform to recognize the contributions of servicemen and women across all branches of the military.
A U.S. Senate resolution in 1999 formalized May as National Military Appreciation Month following efforts by numerous organizations and individuals who sought to establish a unified way to honor the military. While the entire month is designated to honor military members and their families, there are several specific military holidays throughout May, including:
- Loyalty Day (May 1)
- VE Day (May 8)
- Military Spouse Appreciation Day (the Friday before Mother’s Day)
- Armed Forces Day (the third Saturday in May)
- Memorial Day (the last Monday in May)
A Personalized Approach
In addition to being a trained specialist, Alex is also a U.S. Army veteran, having served as a counterintelligence agent from 2003 to 2011. That dual perspective allows him to create a more personalized conversation when veterans or their family members reach out.
“I’m able to understand the terminology and the benefits available to veterans as I’ve used some of them myself,” Alex said. “That gives me a unique perspective into their world and helps me serve that community better. We can help callers find any veteran’s benefits they may be eligible for on the federal, state, and local levels. There are numerous resources available to veterans and their dependents that they may not be aware of, and the best way to learn about them is through the 211 Help2Veterans program.
National Military Appreciation Month acknowledges, honors, and supports the military community, and United Way 211’s Help2Veterans program plays a key role in continuing to support veterans and their families in Cuyahoga County.
If you or someone you know needs help, call 2-1-1 to speak with a trained specialist who can assist in accessing local resources. For more information, visit 211oh.org.
