Iraq war veteran Paul Rieckhoff understands the importance of connecting veterans and empowering them with the skills to regain a normal life, despite many soldiers returning home with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Rieckhoff, 33, is the founder and director of the 125,000-member nonprofit group, the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.
In honor and memory of the soldiers who mark Veterans Day, I share with you a public service announcement released today by IAVA and the Ad Council:
Welcome to Community of Veterans – a new social network that connects and empowers veterans:
In today’s Washington Post, reporter Christian Davenport writes about Iraq and Afghanistan veterans finding a common voice. It’s a powerful story, especially on Veterans Day.
But I have a problem with Davenport’s description of the new social network:
It has set up a Web site, communityofveterans.org, that is like a Facebook for veterans, designed to help them connect with one another, navigate the Department of Veterans Affairs and get information on programs such as the GI Bill.
When will the mainstream media stop comparing every new social network with MySpace and Facebook?
The more times Facebook is ingrained in everyone’s head, the less open-minded will people be that other social networks look and feel and operate differently.
Facebook connects people – but Facebook doesn’t empower anyone, does it?
A social network for veterans is empowering. At least it is to me, and I’m not a veteran!
Thank you, veterans. And come home soon, soldiers.
Related posts:
- How to Connect Your Mother to Me in 5 Random Steps
- My 20 Most Popular Blog Posts on Social Media
- Why Social Media is a Fad
Comments:
Ari Herzog is an online media strategist and Newburyport City Councilor-Elect.
978-558-0008
ConvoTrack
{ 1 comment }
This is a lovely piece. I have wondered if there were some way of reaching out to returning Veterans. But I’m old and isolated, and have suffered PTSD of another origin. These are bound to be hard times and getting harder for awhile. I know there are homeless Veteranss and bound to be more. The economy is brutal right now for most of us. But I can write and answer when called upon and speak with warmth and kindness.
Comments on this entry are closed.