November was a month of reflection, gratitude, and honoring the people at the center of our mission: America’s veterans. From the history of Veterans Day to the lived realities of military families, we spent this month uplifting the stories, traditions, and voices that define the veteran experience. Veterans Day may be one moment on the calendar, but the impact of service lasts a lifetime, and so does our commitment to listening, learning, and advocating for those who served.
Here’s what you might have missed:
Articles + Blogs
Our November content paid tribute to veterans and those who support them, offering both meaningful reflection and practical resources for military families, spouses, and children.
Featured articles included:
MRC in the Media
As the country reflected on Veterans Day and the ongoing impacts of the government shutdown, Mission Roll Call helped ensure veterans’ experiences remained front and center.
Media features included:
Mission Roll Call University (MRCU)
This month’s MRCU video explored the surprising origins and evolution of Veterans Day and why honoring service remains so important today.
Veterans Town Hall
Veterans across the country joined CEO Jim Whaley and COO Ray Whitaker for our November Town Hall, sharing real-time feedback on belonging, trust, and the daily realities of navigating life after service.
Veterans Day: Honoring Service, Together
While Veterans Day is one moment on the calendar, honoring those who served is a year-round mission. This November, we invited our community to share the names of the service members who shaped their lives — fathers, mothers, siblings, battle buddies, mentors, and friends whose stories deserve to be remembered.
If there’s a veteran whose legacy you carry with you, you can add their name to the 2025 Honor Wall so their service can be recognized and preserved. Add a Name to the Honor Wall.
Speak Up: Your Voice Matters
Your feedback continues to shape our advocacy, research priorities, and national conversations around access to care, mental wellness, community, and belonging. Thousands of veterans shared their perspectives in November, helping guide our work for 2025.
October highlighted a different kind of service — the kind that takes place quietly, daily, and often without recognition. Warrior caregivers are the spouses, partners, parents, and loved ones who support veterans through transition, trauma, treatment, and the ongoing realities of post-service life. Their role is not secondary; it is central to the veteran experience. This month, we elevated their voices, examined the barriers they face, and spotlighted the care models and peer support networks that are making a difference.
Here’s what you might have missed:
Articles + Blogs
We explored care from every angle, including the GI Bill “kicker” that can increase education benefits, transition challenges unique to women veterans, and how to build peer support circles when formal caregiving support isn’t available. We also honored the lived experience of veteran Don Legun, whose insights helped shape one of our most-read mental wellness pieces of the month.
– Did You Know? The GI Bill “Kicker” Could Boost Your Education Benefits
– The Debt We Owe: Defending Veterans Against a Misguided Narrative
– 17 Ways to Recognize When Your Mental Health Is Shifting
– America’s Hidden Heroes at Home: Caregivers in Veteran and Military Families
– Caring for the Caregivers: Operation Healing Forces Supports Those Who Support Our Heroes
– Our 2026 Veteran Priorities
– Left of Clinical: A New Approach to Veteran Wellness, Parts I, II, and III
– Transition Challenges Unique to Women Veterans
– Building Your Own Support Team: How Veteran-Led Peer Networks Fill the Caregiver Gap
– Veteran Owen Lonsdale’s HBOT Journey
The Lasting Mission Podcast
This month’s episode spotlighted a veteran working to transform the future of care in rural America, building solutions that meet people where they are. Meet Katt Whittenberger from Mountain Valor:
– The Climb Toward Hope: Inside the Mountain Valor Mission – A Hero for Rural Virginia Veterans
Mission Roll Call University (MRCU)
October’s resource focused on career readiness, providing veterans with practical tools to identify available opportunities and connect with employers seeking their unique skills. WATCH: Find Available Career Openings FREE with Oplign.
Veteran Town Hall
Veterans joined CEO Jim Whaley and COO Ray Whitaker to discuss trust in the system, real experiences navigating the VA, and what they need most to thrive in civilian life.
MRC in the Media
Veteran voices resonated nationwide this month as outlets across the country examined the real-world impact of political decisions, shutdown risks, and access to care.
– The Hill || Veteran groups warn Congress against shutdown: ‘Resist the pull of political brinkmanship’
– The Washington Post || I’m a veteran on disability. This reporting hurt me.
– Connecting Vets || Veteran says service dogs serve a purpose
– The Center Square || 91% of U.S. veterans concerned about food assistance amid shutdown
– The National Desk || Veterans worried, confused over government shutdown that’s stretching into second month
Speak Up: Your Voice Matters
Every survey, poll, and comment shared with Mission Roll Call helps guide how we advocate, what policies we elevate, and where we focus our research. Veteran feedback has already shaped national conversations on access to care, mental wellness, and homelessness. Your perspective is the foundation of meaningful change. By sharing your experiences, you help ensure that decision-makers hear directly from those who have served.
– Take the November Community and Belonging Survey
– Explore Open Polls
Looking Ahead: Veterans Day and Beyond
November will be dedicated to honoring the service, sacrifice, and humanity of America’s veterans through their stories, their experiences, and the lasting impact they continue to make every day.
If there is a veteran in your life whose story you carry with you, we invite you to add their name to our 2025 Honor Wall so their service can be honored publicly and preserved. Add a name to the Honor Wall.
September marked a solemn and significant month for Mission Roll Call as we focused on resilience and remembrance. Twenty-four years after the attacks of September 11th, we honored the lives lost, reflected on how that day continues to shape our nation, and elevated the voices of veterans and families whose service and sacrifice have defined the two decades since.
Here’s what you might have missed:
Honoring Service and Sacrifice
We began the month by honoring Michael Verardo, whose courage on the battlefield and tireless advocacy at home continue to inspire lasting change. We also reflected on the impact of September 11th, 24 years later, and how that day continues to shape veterans, their families, and the country they served.
– Honoring Michael Verardo: A Legacy of Courage and Advocacy
– 24 Years Later, The Impact of September 11th Endures
Mental Health and Suicide Prevention
National Suicide Prevention Week served as a critical reminder of the work still ahead to support veterans in crisis. We highlighted both the ongoing gaps and the innovative solutions that can make a difference, from technology-based support tools to community-driven approaches.
– National Suicide Prevention Week: Standing Up for Veterans, Together
– Digital Tools for Wellness: How Tech Is Reshaping Veteran Mental Health
Care, Healing, and Quality of Life
We also focused on stories that reflect the broader needs of the veteran community. Access to TBI care, the transformative impact of service dogs, and the ongoing efforts to improve support for caregivers all play a vital role in quality of life after service.
– TBI Care Remains Out of Reach for Too Many Veterans and Caregivers
– How Service Dogs Transformed A Veteran’s Life
Community, Policy, and Advocacy
Finally, we shared how veterans continue to lead in their communities and shape policy. Whether building networks of support in remote areas or weighing in on critical debates in Washington, their voices are driving real change.
– How a Navy Veteran is Building Community in the Mountains
– Don’t Put Veterans in the CR Debate Crossfire
The Lasting Mission Podcast
September featured one of our most meaningful podcast episodes to date. In a special 9/11 tribute, The Lasting Mission brought together one service member from each branch of the U.S. military to share how that day changed their lives, their service, and the nation they swore to defend.
Their stories are deeply personal — where they were on September 11, 2001, how it shaped their decision to serve, and how its legacy continues to influence their families, communities, and missions decades later. Together, they remind us why remembrance is not a single day on the calendar but a continued commitment to those who answered the call.
– The Dust That Never Settled: An Army Veteran’s 9/11 Story
– One Nation, Five Voices: Veterans Reflect on 9/11
Mission Roll Call University (MRCU)
MRCU continued to deliver practical and accessible resources to support financial literacy and planning for veterans and their families. September’s videos broke down investment fundamentals and demystified how the stock market works.
– WATCH: How the Stock Market REALLY Works – Financial Literacy
– WATCH: Investing – Risky Gamble or Smart Move?
– READ: Veteran Financial Readiness and Literacy: Building Peace of Mind
Veteran Town Hall: Your Voice in Real Time
Our September Town Hall brought veterans together to discuss critical issues like VA mental health support, access to care in rural communities, and improving transition services. These conversations, led by CEO Jim Whaley and COO Ray Whitaker, help shape our advocacy and ensure veteran perspectives are heard where decisions are made.
– Watch the September Town Hall
MRC in the Media
Mission Roll Call continued to amplify veteran issues in the national conversation. This month, The National Desk highlighted the VA’s $818 million initiative to combat veteran homelessness, a topic closely tied to the broader conversation around access to care and post-service support.
– The National Desk || VA Announces $818 Million to Combat Veteran Homelessness
Speak Up: Your Voice Matters
Your input shapes our advocacy. This month, we launched a new survey focused on transition and VA enrollment to better understand the challenges veterans face when accessing care and benefits. Your feedback helps guide our work and ensures that policies reflect real needs and lived experiences. Share your voice with us below:
– Take the Transition and VA Enrollment Survey
Looking Ahead: Warrior Caregivers
In October, we’ll turn our focus to warrior caregivers—the spouses, parents, partners, and loved ones who support our nation’s heroes every step of the way. Their strength and sacrifice are vital to the veteran experience, and their stories deserve to be told. Stay tuned for more throughout the month.
In August, we focused on one of the most critical aspects of post-military life: employment and career transition. While veterans bring unmatched skills and leadership to the civilian workforce, too many struggle to secure meaningful jobs or maintain long-term career stability. This month, Mission Roll Call focused on equipping veterans with resources, amplifying their voices, and pushing for solutions that ensure opportunity after service.
Through stories, guides, policy updates, and educational content, we worked to highlight both the challenges and the pathways forward for veterans seeking purpose and stability in civilian careers.
Here’s what you might have missed:
We published a series of articles designed to help veterans navigate employment transitions and access the support they’ve earned. From step-by-step tools and resources to highlighting the organizations that specialize in veteran career services, each piece was aimed at empowering veterans to thrive beyond their time in uniform.
– From Service to Success: Tools for Veteran Employment and Transition
– 10 Veteran Service Organizations Dedicated to Career Transition
– Innovative Treatments are Making Strides to Support Veterans. The System Should Be, Too.
– VA Expands Community Care Referrals to One Year
– Are You Eligible for VA Benefits?
The Lasting Mission Podcast
In August, The Lasting Mission featured the story of Army veteran Rick Welch, who offered a candid look at the realities of war, loss, and life after service. His journey reflects the challenges faced by rural veterans and the lasting impact of combat, while also highlighting resilience and the power of sharing one’s story.
– Left Behind After Battle: Rick Welch on War, Loss & the Fight for Rural Veterans
– Baghdad’s Flies Still Haunt This Veteran Years Later – Rick Welch, Part 2
Mission Roll Call University (MRCU)
MRCU continued its role as a hub for straightforward education and resources. This month’s videos offered practical insights into financial literacy and emerging treatments, helping veterans and families plan for the future and explore options for healing.
– How the Stock Market REALLY Works – Financial Literacy
– Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy – A Treatment Worth Breathing For
Veteran Town Hall: Your Voice in Real Time
Our August Town Hall brought veterans together to share their perspectives. These discussions continue to inform our advocacy and remind us that every veteran voice matters.
– Watch the August Town Hall (08.20)
MRC in the Media
Mission Roll Call’s leadership continued to raise awareness on the national stage. In August, CEO Jim Whaley joined Newsmax to emphasize the importance of a strong, unified voice for veterans across the country and shared veteran perspectives on combating veteran homelessness with The National Desk.
–Mission Roll Call CEO Jim Whaley on Newsmax || A Voice Representing Our Nation’s Veterans
– The National Desk || VA announces $818 million to combat veteran homelessness
Speak Up: Your Voice Matters
Veteran experiences guide our work and drive our advocacy. By sharing your input through surveys and polls, you help shape solutions that impact not only today’s veterans but future generations as well. Make Your Voice Heard in Our Open Polls.
The VA is exploring new ways to support veterans after service, including preventive wellness, access to service animals, and community programs. This survey asks for your perspective on whether the VA should help expand these opportunities and if veterans see value in this kind of preventive approach.
Take the Veteran Voices Survey.
Looking Ahead: September 11 Remembrance
In September, we will honor Patriot Day by reflecting on the enduring impact of 9/11. Our focus will also turn to national security in today’s world—what it demands, how it has evolved, and why it matters. Above all, we’ll ensure that the voices of veterans and their families remain at the center of this conversation, guiding how our nation remembers, responds, and prepares for the future.
In July, we celebrated two major themes—the legacy of American military service and the power of veteran independence. From commemorating 250 years of commitment and courage to highlighting modern-day stories of resilience, we focused on the tools, support, and spirit that allow veterans to thrive on their terms.
Through storytelling, research, interviews, and accessible resources, we continued our mission to elevate veteran voices, support autonomy, and honor every path forward after service.
Here’s what you might have missed:
We marked the 250th anniversary of the U.S. military by reflecting on the legacy of service that defines our country, and by exploring what independence looks like for today’s veterans.
– Countdown to 250: Honoring the Legacy of American Independence
– Taylor Morris: How a Quadruple Amputee Rebuilt His Life and Redefined Independence
– 7 Key Areas of Support for Veterans with Service-Connected Disabilities
– Need to Modify Your Home? These VA Grants Can Help
– Spotlight on Paralyzed Veterans of America
– Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Veterans: A Breath of Fresh Air for Healing
The Lasting Mission Podcast
In July, The Lasting Mission featured powerful voices from two impactful organizations—Operation Honor: Rural Salute and the Wounded Warrior Project—highlighting both rural veteran challenges and the future of recovery for those with combat injuries.
– Operation Honor: Rural Salute – Part 1
– Operation Honor: Rural Salute – Part 2
– From Battlefield to Breakthrough – WWP: Part 1
– WWP CEO Walter Piatt: ‘We Owe Them More Than Thanks’ – Part 2
Mission Roll Call University (MRCU)
MRCU continued to deliver straightforward, practical content to help veterans and families navigate benefits and build stability. This month’s videos included guidance on adaptive housing grants, VA facility access, login systems, and even life insurance options many may not realize they qualify for.
– Make Your House a HOME With an Adaptive Housing Grant
– Find Your Veteran Affairs Facility – Fast & Easy
– Life Insurance: The Hidden Financial Superpower
– The Great Login Service Debate: Which One Is Right for You?
Veteran Town Hall: Your Voice in Real Time
Our July Town Hall brought together veterans from across the country to discuss pressing issues like healthcare access, disability support, and post-service independence. These live events are a powerful reminder that when veterans speak up, leaders listen.
– Watch the July Veteran Town Hall
From the Blog: Advocacy in Action
These articles gave readers the latest insights and policy perspectives rooted in our research and veteran polling.
– Prioritizing Veteran Healthcare in 2025 and Beyond
– Veterans Are Speaking Clearly on Suicide Prevention. It’s Time for a New Strategy.
– Want Alternate Healthcare Options? This Program Could Help Veterans and Their Families
MRC in the Media
Our message reached new audiences in July, with national and local coverage that emphasized our mission: to elevate veteran voices, push for smarter policy, and highlight solutions that work.
– Why Your Business Should Hire Veterans – Inc.
– Mission Roll Call Applauds Bipartisan Passage of VA Home Loan Program Reform Act
Speak Up: Your Voice Matters
Veterans and their families shape our advocacy—and we want to hear from you. Help guide our work by participating in our active polls and surveys.
– Take the Veteran Voices Survey
– Make Your Voice Heard in Our Open Polls
Looking Ahead: Employment, Transition & Opportunity
In August, we’ll focus on life after service—what it takes to transition well, build meaningful careers, and continue to find purpose in the civilian world. Stay tuned for powerful new content, real stories, and more updates from veterans like you.