In the wake of 9/11, as the founder of a thriving non-profit ministerial organization that had uplifted thousands of disadvantaged families, I sensed our mission was about to undergo a profound transformation. With the towers still smoldering and President Bush yet to declare the War on Terror, I knew our focus had to shift to supporting the military. But how? With no prior experience in military support, I reached out to the Pentagon, hoping for guidance. They, too, were reeling from the devastation and uncertain about what lay ahead. My call was passed along, and I fully expected it to be lost in the chaos.

A year later, I received a call that would change everything—from the office of the Secretary of Defense, inviting me to the Pentagon. There, alongside a small group of like-minded volunteers, I met Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. We became the founding members of "America Supports You," (ASY) a DoD program that rallied non-government resources to support our soon-to-be-deployed troops and their families. ASY was disbanded after President Obama took office. My organization's mission became clear: while our troops fight for us abroad, we would fight for them at home.

This venture became an ongoing effort that involved us flying back to DC on a regular basis to meet with Secretary Rumsfeld and his staff to provide updates, needs, and challenges.

Over the years, our efforts expanded, ensuring that troops had everything from care packages to emotional support.

This journey eventually led to a White House invitation by President George W. Bush to meet with him to discuss the impact of our work. Along with several representatives from other organizations, including actor Gary Sinise (well known for his portrayal of Lt. Dan in "Saving Private Ryan," and founder of the Gary Sinise Foundation), we discussed how each of our organizations were filling in the gaps not provided by the government or military to help our troops and their families.

Yet, it wasn’t the accolades or the meetings with high-profile leaders that moved me the most—it was the countless wounded warriors I met, their courage and resilience, and the privilege of standing by them in their darkest hours.

I traveled back and forth to DC countless times to meet with Secretary Rumsfeld and his staff, each time expressing the challenges and struggles of military families and what we were hearing from our deployed troops overseas. Each trip, I would take time to visit our wounded warriors at Walter Reed Army Medical Center or Bethesda Naval Hospital, just to offer our gratitude, gage how we could support them or their families, and learn more about their lives. Many had severe physical trauma such as traumatic brain injuries, missing limbs, or other noticeable life-changing wounds, while all had emotional scars that would never heal.

My visits brought me face-to-face with the horrors of war. One visit to Walter Reed, I encountered a young soldier, barely 20, enduring unimaginable pain from injuries sustained by an I.E.D. explosion. The entire backside of his body was blown off in combat and the doctors had to lay him face down so they could irrigate his open wounds to avoid gangrene. Pain medication was useless and anesthesia caused him to go into cardia arrest, so this young man had to suffer immense pain with little help.

His doctors expressed the wounds were like an exposed root of a tooth, highly sensitive to hot or cold water. But, this open wound exposed his entire backside and each time they irrigated the wounds, he would scream in pain. To make matters worse, this young man's family could not afford the costly trip to visit him in DC, so he was alone without familial care or support.

Immediately upon my return home, I made arrangements for his family to travel to DC to be by his side during his agonizing recovery. His story was one of many that deepened my resolve to support our troops in any way possible.

Although the war has ended, three Presidents have held office since, and a world of countless propaganda about the War on Terror post 9/11 has infiltrated the media, the wounds continue. Today, even though my organization no longer exists, my commitment to our troops remains steadfast. The physical wounds of war may heal, but the emotional and psychological scars endure. PTSD and veteran suicide is on the rise. While they continue the emotional, physical, financial, and mental battle, we must continue to warfare on their behalf by not only advocating for better veteran care and demanding our government works harder for our military service men and women, veterans, and their families, but also by supporting organizations that are working the frontlines of this battle.

I urge you to support my dear friend, Debbie McElhinney 's organization, American Military Family, which is dedicated to turning despair into hope for veterans and first responders. The war may be over, but our duty to those who served is far from complete. Debbie is a fellow founding member of the America Supports You initiative, and she and I met in DC and have supported each other personally and professionally for years. She is the best at what she does and works hard for our veterans and first-responders.

If you are a veteran or first-responder in need or you are a Home Front Warrior wishing to help our veterans and first-responders, CLICK HERE to visit American Military Family and make a donation, TODAY! Thank you for your support and thank you, service members, for your service, on behalf of We, the People. God bless.

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