HAWM, Guildies. If you’ll allow me, I have a worthy cause I’d like to pitch to you. Many of us spend our recreational time pretending we are warriors. We slay the dragon, rescue the royal, get the loot. Sometimes we lose sight of how that doesn’t accurately reflect the life of the modern warrior, the soldier. Most of the time, soldiers are restricted from voicing even one smidgen of an opinion or independent thought. Most of the time, returning veterans go unheard, neglected or outright ignored. Regardless of whatever opinions we might have about whatever military conflict we’re involved in, I know one thing is for sure:
I don’t have what it takes to be a soldier.
This is something I’ve come to accept. I’m not one of these brave souls who fight for our country no matter what. Even if they disagree with the administration. Even if they agree whole-heartedly. They’ll fight for me and you no matter the reason, because that’s what kind of amazing people they are. Every vet I see on the street I stand in awe of. And there’s not a lot of ways to thank them that I am aware of other than buying some pithy ribbon.
Well supporting the troops just got 100% more awesome. Warrior Writers is an organization dedicated to publishing anthologies of writing and art created by our veterans. Each year, they go through hundreds of essays, poems, short stories, biographies, photos, drawings, and so much more. They’re up to their third anthology, and just launched a kickstarter to support it. You can contribute for your own copy of the book and other rad rewards. Veteran’s Day this year is on 11/11/11. If you want to celebrate it, this is a great way to do so. Help our soldiers (whose voices are often drowned out in political rhetoric) express themselves. They’ve seen some shit, and this is a wonderful way to take that and cope with it in a positive, meaningful way: through art.
