Etalkinghead

There are those such as columnist and cartoonist Ted Rall and some residents of Bainbridge Island near Seattle Washington whose idea of supporting our troops includes crass insults and generally holding them and their profession in utter contempt. The current Democrat candidate for the presidency once testified before congress accusing his fellow soldiers of litany of atrocities. There is probably a significant portion of the population that genuinely supports the troops in combat, but doesn’t give them a second thought once the fighting is over. But thankfully, and rightfully, these examples are not representative of all of America.

Another, more honorable example of how some Americans support members of the armed forces can be found in the organization Helmets to Hardhats.

A congressionally funded program run by a non-profit trust, Helmets to Hardhats helps transitioning service members get a start on a career in the building trades. According to their web site,

The program collects information about the best career opportunities in building and construction trades and works to provide former military personnel with that information. Candidates can access information about careers and apprenticeships via the Internet from anywhere in the world.

…

Helmets to Hardhats is co-sponsored by all fifteen Building and Construction Trades organizations, as well as their employer associations, which together represent about 82,000 contractors. Labor leaders have embraced the program, eager to help U.S. soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen transfer their experience and can-do attitudes into secure jobs within the construction industry.

The people at Helmets to Hardhats and in the trades that support them deserve our thanks for helping those who have earned our respect and gratitude through their service.