Chairman Of The Joint Chiefs Honored For Efforts To End Homelessness

Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his wife, Deborah, greet formerly homeless veterans at the first Soldier On award ceremony in Holyoke, Mass., Oct. 29, 2009. Mullen was the first recipient of the award created to recognize a person each year who works to stem homelessness among veterans. Soldier On operates shelters as transitional homes for veterans while providing them medical care, counseling and career services. DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley

From the Department of Defense:

HOLYOKE, Mass., Oct. 30, 2009 – The United States has the values, wealth, and support of its leadership to end homelessness among veterans, the top military officer said last night as he accepted an award for his efforts to stop what he said is a nationwide problem.

Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he was “humbled, thrilled and grateful” to accept the first “Soldier On” award here last night.

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My Comment: A bit of a mea culpa .... 20 years ago .... because of some bad and unlucky business decisions, I found myself homeless. I survived by using my office as my place to sleep, and the local YMCA to clean up. It was the worse time of my life, and because of my pride I could never ask for help.

Fortunately, I was healthy and determined to work .... and work I did. It took almost a year of hard work and determination to get out of that predicament, to pay off my debts, and to lay the foundation to begin living a "normal" life. But it was not easy.

The experience is a scarring experience, and even though my life is completely opposite of what it was 20 years ago .... it still sticks with you. Looking at the above picture of Adm. Mullen shaking the hands of a veteran who has obviously went through that experience .... it touches me .... even after 20 years.