“We Need You”— A Call to Support America’s Veterans

Every year, at the close of the Aspen Ideas Festival, a handful of speakers and attendees are asked to give the gathered one big idea—an idea inspired by the many moments blooming on the Aspen campus during the festival. One such idea was from Paul Rieckhoff, an Iraq veteran and CEO and founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA). He issues this national call to action to support the thousands of soldiers returning home.

In response to Rieckhoff’s idea, on Monday, March 18, we launch the first-ever Aspen Veterans Initiative. Click here to join us shortly after noon for live video from: ‘A Call to Action: Restoring Mental Well-Being to our Veterans.’ Rieckhoff will be one of four panelists who will explore the challenges and the solutions for the well-being of our veterans. “Invisible injuries are the least known consequence of these wars. For many veterans, the fight doesn’t end when they come home. From Traumatic Brain Injury to PTSD, our vets and their families are struggling to cope with these mental health injuries,” Rieckhoff said. “We, as a nation, need to stand together to demand that veterans are getting the care they earned—no matter the nature of their disabilities.”