Veterans Day is an incredibly special day for me and my family. My son served in the U.S. Navy, my son-in-law is a major in the Air Force, and my father-in-law is a Korean War veteran.

I'm so proud of them. They are powerful reminders of the sacrifices so many made for our country.

The day also is powerful because it reminds us that the IBEW has honored veterans in both the U.S. and Canada — not just in words, but in action — throughout our 133-year history.

One of the most notable examples in recent years is the Veterans Electrical Entry Program, or VEEP.

Since it began in 2019, the IBEW and the Electrical Training Alliance have provided both virtual training and hands-on electrical training to active duty military personnel as they prepare for the transition to civilian life.

The benefits are too numerous to list here, but the one I am most proud of is that it helps veterans avoid many of the problems too many of them face when they leave the military. It is a national scandal that veterans are more than 50% more likely to die by suicide in the U.S. than the general population. Financial problems and loneliness are all too common.

Having access to a good career with family-building wages is one crucial way to address that. You'll read in this month's Electrical Worker about VEEP expanding to training facilities at Salt Lake City Local 354 and Atlanta Local 613. It's great news and makes VEEP available to more military members around the country — even overseas.

But there is so much more work to do. That's why I'm calling on more of our local unions to welcome VEEP into their training facilities.

I get it won't be easy. Many of you active in your local unions already are incredibly busy. Training facilities are being stretched because of the strong construction market. There's also the matter of funding.

But we're talking about our veterans here, the men and women who faithfully served our country. Many saw combat. All too often, they return to civilian life and prospective employers tell them, "We have no place for you."

Well, that's not the way things are at the IBEW. We find a way to get things done and take care of our veterans.

I encourage you to set up a Veterans Committee at your local if it doesn't yet have one. You'll find they will get the word out about our resources for veterans quicker than any form of social media.

Explore ways to provide funding with your Joint Electrical Training Committee. Many of our locals involved in VEEP report that signatory contractors have generously donated because they believe so strongly in the program. Reach out to Greg McMurphy, a Kennewick, Wash., Local 112 member who coordinates VEEP's inside construction for the Electrical Training Alliance at gm@etalliance.org.

I can't think of any better way to honor and remember those who served our country on this Veterans Day. You'll also be doing your part to help the IBEW meet the challenges of today's electrical industry.

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