Dear John,

Happy holidays! I am thrilled to share that our Veterans Town Hall was featured on the front page of the Boston Globe this weekend.

In his book, Tribe, the brilliant author and war correspondent Sebastian Junger proposes that we follow the traditions of many tribal societies by trading Veterans Day parades for town hall meetings, where vets like myself share our wartime experiences with our communities. By explaining a little about our experience overseas, and how it affects our lives back home, we can help bridge the divide between vets and the communities we served.

Sebastian and I created the nation’s first-ever Vets Town Hall in Marblehead in 2015.

About a month ago, we had our 8th anniversary. Just like in past years, we heard stories of pride, courage, and camaraderie—of pain, grief, frustration, and joy.

Vets Town Halls are so powerful because they are inherently apolitical. There are no debates. It’s just a time for veterans to share openly and honestly with our neighbors how we served, why we served, and what it all means.

The more we listen to one another, on a human level, the more we come together. In our divided world, it’s something we could all use right now. So let’s spread the word about Vets Town Halls! Attend one—or even start your own—in your community next year.

Thank you,
Seth

For more on this year’s Vets Town Hall, read this profile in The Guardian. If you’d like to get involved, you can donate here.