Land of the Free Because of the Brave

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This post is brought to you by Walmart and The Motherhood.  All opinions are my own.

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Memorial Day is this weekend and before we get too wrapped up in planning our cookout with our family and friends, let’s reflect on the meaning of the holiday.

Let’s remember why we celebrate Memorial Day and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our great nation.

Walmart TAPS

As a proud Navy wife, I’m excited to be teaming up with Walmart to share what we can all do to help support military families this Memorial Day and every day.  For the past fifteen years, the Navy has played a huge role in our family’s life and has also had a significant impact on our family dynamics.  My husband has been deployed multiple times. Most recently, he left for a nine month deployment when our son was ten days old.  Soldiers and sailors sacrifice normal every day things that we take for granted.  Not only do they have to leave their families for long period of time, but they are often required to move their families often.

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And after 15 years in the Navy, my husband has started thinking about what he wants to do when he retires from the military.  I’m extremely happy to learn that Walmart supports our veterans and their families in many different ways.  I especially love that they are helping veterans transition from military life to civilian life.

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Walmart recognizes that according to the U.S. Department of Defense, each year, more than 200,000 men and women serving in the military return to civilian life and many find it difficult to navigate multiple agencies offering job placement and other services.  In 2016, there were more than 450,000 unemployed veterans in the United States, 40 percent of whom were between the ages of 18 to 44 (Department of Labor).  Walmart is committed to helping these veterans find jobs.

  • Walmart seeks to support veterans and showcase the value they bring to the workforce and our communities through initiatives such as Hiring our Heroes, Greenlight A Vet and the Coalition for Veteran Owned Business.
  • Four years ago, Walmart introduced the Veterans Welcome Home Commitment, which guarantees a job offer to any eligible, honorably discharged U.S. veteran who was within 12 months of active duty, with a goal of hiring 250,000 veterans by the end of 2020.
  • As of now, Walmart has hired more than 170,000 veterans, and more than 22,000 have been promoted to jobs with greater responsibility.
  • Walmart’s Military Family Promise guarantees a job at a nearby store or Club for all military personnel and military spouses employed by Walmart and Sam’s Club who move to a different part of the country because they or their spouse have been transferred by the United States military.
  • In 2014, Walmart doubled a $20 million commitment to support veterans and their families with assistance for programs that provide job training, transition help and education through 2019.

Now, it’s your turn to help our military veterans and their families.  Veterans, service members and their families have made a significant sacrifice in service of their country, and they need our support now more than ever.  

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Donate or volunteer with organizations that support military families during all stages of service:

  • Consider donating time or funding to programs supporting families who have lost loved ones.
  • To support families who have suffered the ultimate sacrifice, Walmart is giving a $100,000 grant to the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), the national organization that offers help, hope and healing to all those grieving the death of a loved one serving in the Armed Forces.  The grant will enable TAPS to reach more survivors through their Casework and Emergency Assistance Programs.
  • Visit a wounded veteran or make a card or care package for a military family.

Volunteer or donate to a charity that helps military families or veterans such as:

Take a Moment to Honor Those Who Have Served and Made the Ultimate Sacrifice:

  • As your family enjoys time together this Memorial Day, take a moment to remind your kids why we celebrate Memorial Day – to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice
  • Take your family to a local Memorial Day parade or help plant flags at a local military cemetery.

I’m proud to support my husband and everyone who serves our country!  What do you do to thank our hard-working military service members?

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