🌟 Editor's Note
Remembering my brothers and sisters this Memorial Day. To my friend and brother SPC Rafael Navea - I still miss you and think of you
I want to share something that’s been on my mind as we head into this Memorial Day weekend.
Right now, your feed’s probably filled with cookout invites, sales ads, vacation posts, and influencer outfits. And look—I’m not knocking it. Joy, family time, and rest? We all need that.
But Memorial Day isn’t just another day off.
It’s not Veterans Day.
It’s not about me.
It’s not about those of us who came back.
It’s about the ones who didn’t.
The ones who never got to start their business.
Never got to walk their daughter down the aisle.
Never got to come home.
✊ What Memorial Day Means (to Me)
When I served in Iraq, I was lucky. I made it home.
But I carry the weight of knowing not everyone did.
So for me, Memorial Day is a moment to pause and reflect—not just on who we lost, but on how we live.
Because the best way we honor their sacrifice is by what we do with our freedom.
👊 To My Fellow Veterans
I know this weekend can be complicated.
Maybe you feel guilty. Maybe you’re reliving things you’d rather forget. Maybe you’re tired of the attention.
That’s okay.
But I want to remind you:
You honor them every time you keep going.
Every time you build something, mentor someone, or simply keep showing up—you’re carrying their legacy forward.
And if you’re struggling… don’t do it alone.
We’re built to have each other’s backs. That doesn’t stop when the uniform comes off.
🇺🇸 To Everyone Else
You don’t have to serve in the military to honor service.
But you can honor it by how you live:
Build something meaningful
Help someone rise
Speak up when it counts
Don’t waste your shot at freedom
I’ve slept in my car. I’ve felt like quitting. But I kept building—because I remembered the soldiers who would never get the chance.
🔥 This Weekend, Let’s Make It Matter
Go ahead and BBQ. Celebrate. Rest. Hug your family tight.
But also take a moment to:
✅ Support a veteran-owned business
✅ Donate to a Gold Star family fund
✅ Mentor someone who needs it
✅ Share a story that deserves to be heard
Remember the cost.
Live with purpose.
Make it matter.
—
To the fallen: You are not forgotten.
To the rest of us: Let’s live in a way that’s worthy of their sacrifice.
Much respect,
John Thomas
Combat Veteran | Entrepreneur | Founder of VendorCall
✉️ Alternative Programming – where purpose meets action
P.S. If you know a veteran who’s struggling—send this to them. Or just reach out and say: “I got you.” Sometimes, that’s all it takes.Till next time,