One Way to Thank a Veteran

The other day I enjoyed an unexpected treat. I happened to catch Shark Tank, which is among a select few ‘current’ TV programs I enjoy catching. Other than Chopped (which features service members as well), Shark Tank is one of the reality shows I'll interrupt what I'm doing to watch; such as what happened the other night when I overheard the Shark’s had opened the tank for veterans to jump in the money pit.

What a wonderful treat. Each of the veterans presented tough products, yet my favorite were the handgrips. Inexpensive scalable products usually always go over well in the tank. Michelle Obama’s salute to veterans buoyed this segment as well. Seeing veterans included in civilian events like this is encouraging.

I was so stoked by the entire episode that I even watched the commercials; something I prefer to fast forward and bypass. But I was sitting there reflecting on the businesses introduced when... Oh – my – goodness!!! ...I got to rolling over the bed, kicking up my feet and crying laughing at Go Daddy's commercial!

I found a cut of the commercial online (linked here). Now that is one ad that has to apply to... oh I don’t know... at least 99% of novice entrepreneurs who’ve ever come out with a new product. Hilarious.

And of course no tribute is complete until I share a few titles of books that meet the occasion. In this case the books listed below are those I've read that affected me deeply. There are, however, many books written by veterans about military service. Reading one is a great way to thank a commendable veteran for lending us their lens to understand and respect their sacrifices.

Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam

Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell

Negative SitRep: A Year in Vietnam by G. J. Lau

The Second Tour by Terry P Rizzuti

A Book I want to try:

From Baghdad, With Love: A Marine, the War, and a Dog Named Lava by Jay Kopelman, Melinda Roth

Obviously I no longer watch movies like I used to, but when I did... Black Hawk Down, and classics such as Tora! Tora! Tora!, Battle of the Bulge and Midway were most memorable.

Thank You Veterans