Letter from our CEO David Walker

The famous phrase “This too shall pass” does not actually appear in the Bible, at least not in that form, though there are similar thoughts to be found in the Scriptures. It is a catchy phrase however and a profound thought conspicuously appropriate for times such as these. We are all caught up in a maelstrom of tumultuous events that is unnerving. I for one cannot remember a March without basketball or an April without the Masters Golf tournament.

Of course, for the people who have been knocked off their feet by the coronavirus – and the growing number who have lost their lives – this event is much more somber than a cancelled sports event. It literally is a matter of life and death; that is why so much of our country is being shut down.

Times such as these evoke fear and anxiety not easily waved away, but we do need to keep in mind that ancient wisdom of whatever origin – this too shall pass. Without question we are in the midst of a serious crisis, and no one can say with certainty how long it will last. We can be certain that it is taking a toll on our economy, especially those who earn their daily bread with service jobs that offer no paid vacation or health care coverage. There are millions among us who have scant if any savings set aside for rainy days. They are suffering already and their plight is growing worse by the day.

We are told to avoid public gatherings, to stay home as much as we can, but we dare not let that instruction disrupt our relationship with family, friends and neighbors. If there was ever a time when we all need to pull together, that time is now and it’s hard to do when you are discouraged from socializing with other people. We have to find ways around that proscription. Maybe this once that new digital technology will work to our benefit – enabling us to communicate with others via our digital devices while avoiding their direct company.

Those of us who already work from home are especially fortunate in this crisis because we and continue working and earning our daily bread. But we all must contend with a crisis of the spirit when it is tempting to withdraw from human contact and yield to depression. We have to resist that temptation. It is imperative that we keep our spirits up and encourage our friends and neighbors to do the same.

One thing must be clear to all – the current crisis will not deter us from our primary mission of offering support and assistance to wounded veterans. As a virtual organization, we are uniquely suited to continue our work without let up, and that is what we will do.

Remember the ancient wisdom wherever it came from – this too shall pass, normal life will return and we will know our shared sacrifice enabled us to avoid a much worse catastrophe. Hang in there.