Navigating the Holidays as a Veteran & Staying Connected When It Matters Most

The holidays bring a wide range of emotions. Some are comforting. Others come with a weight that’s hard to put into words. Many veterans know what it feels like when service memories, combat or not, resurface during this time of year. Survivor's guilt, quiet reflection, and the sense of slipping into a dark place are more common than most admit. These feelings are real, and many of us understand them without ever having to say anything.

What helps most is connection.

Reaching out to one another is not complicated.

A call, a message, a quick check-in; these small actions carry more power than people realize.

Why This Time of Year Hits Differently

The season brings gatherings, traditions, and moments of stillness. Those moments often bring back memories of people we served with, places we served in, and events that shaped us. They can remind us of the ones we miss and the experiences we carry.

Survivor's guilt can feel sharper during the holidays. Many veterans feel it deeply but rarely talk about it. Acknowledging those feelings is not a sign of weakness. It’s a step toward helping each other in a real and honest way.

Camaraderie Never Goes Away

There has been a strong push in the military community to stay connected during the holidays. That message resonates with all of us. In uniform, a connection was built into the mission. After the service, we have to choose to maintain it.

So I encourage you to call your battle buddies.

Not just once. Call again.

A simple conversation can make a difference you may never see.

That bond we built in service never disappears. It’s still there, and it still matters.

Ways to Stay Connected

• Call a comrade you haven’t spoken to in a while

• Spend time at your Post or join a local gathering

• Check on someone who might be struggling

• Stay engaged with your veteran community

Sometimes the simplest gesture is all someone needs to feel grounded again.

The Military Order of the Cootie Christmas Zoom

Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll recently directed leaders to stay connected with soldiers throughout the holiday break. That guidance carries a simple message: when the world slows down, isolation grows, and leadership must close the distance. Veterans understand this instinctively, and it applies to all of us long after we hang up the uniform.

The Military Order of the Cootie is putting that message into action again this year by opening a Christmas Zoom room for any veteran who wants company. The room opens at 6:30 p.m. CST on Christmas Eve and stays open through Christmas Day. It’s an easy way to drop in, talk with fellow veterans, share a memory, or simply listen.

Meeting ID: 859 4423 6751 Passcode: 000809

Meeting ID: 859 4423 6751 | Passcode: 000809

Tools and Support Are Available

There are many helpful resources available to veterans during the holiday season, whether you want guidance, conversation, or immediate support. You can add these as needed and share them with those who might benefit from them.

Between those tools, your fellow veterans, and your local VFW community, there is a strong network to lean on when things feel heavy.

A Message From Me to You

If the holidays feel challenging, you’re not the only one. Every veteran carries something from their service, and this season has a way of bringing it to the surface.

Reach out to someone you served with.

Spend time with your Post.

Join the Cooties’ Christmas Zoom if you want company.

Let people support you the same way you’ve supported others.

Connection saves lives.

This season, I hope you find steadiness, purpose, and the comfort of knowing your community is here for you.

— Paul