TODAY IS VETERANS DAY AND WE WANTED TO USE OUR COMPANY BLOG TODAY TO TALK ABOUT A CAUSE THAT MEANS A GREAT DEAL TO US HERE AT BLACKSTONE PRODUCTIONS. WE SPOKE IN DETAIL WITH OUR FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT, JASON GESHELIN, ABOUT VETERANS DAY, AND ONE VETERANS ORGANIZATION IN PARTICULAR. HERE IS WHAT HE WANTED TO SHARE WITH OUR READERS ABOUT WHY VETERANS DAY HAS SO MUCH MEANING FOR HIM AND WHAT WE CAN ALL DO TO HELP SUPPORT THIS CAUSE THAT IS SO CLOSE TO HIS HEART. 

WHY VETERANS DAY IS SO IMPORTANT

Once a year, we have a chance to honor our Veterans and active Military. I believe this should not just be something we do one day a year--our veterans deserve much more support and honor than we give them. On Veterans Day, there are parades and celebrations that take place, but there isn't as much dedication to people saying thank you to veterans versus seeing it as a day off. We are all busy but we need to stop for a moment and see this as an opportunity to directly, personally honor, thank and support the men and women who have sacrificed to protect our country and our freedom.

A CAUSE THAT SPEAKS TO ME

I love this country and I am very patriotic. My father and father in law were both in the Navy, my uncle in the Air Force, my Grandfather was with the Coast Guard. My family’s involvement in the service is obviously very important to me, but my dedication to our Vets and active military goes far beyond my family. I have a discontent with how much of the country ignores our veterans and doesn't give them the thanks, appreciation and respect they deserve for their service.

Anyone who serves our country makes a tremendous sacrifice to protect this great nation and our freedom. The ability to come home each night to see their family and kiss them good night, to see their kids grow up, be home for the holidays, these are just a few of the sacrifices of many.  These men and women are giving their lives to this country in so many ways and it takes a tremendous person to dedicate their lives like this. When they finish their time in the service and come home, they should be appreciated and given the highest respect for their service as well as afforded the needed tools to be reintroduced to everyday life.  My family and I just have so much respect for their dedication. So, when I see the lack of acknowledgment and thanks that take place towards our vets these days in our country and our government not living up to their end of the promises made to help our vets, it sets a certain internal tone of discontent for me.
 

When I first became invested in Veterans' needs and rights, it was because I kept hearing stories, seeing news items about veterans who were homeless, jobless, mentally ill--basically who had fallen on hard times and it absolutely pissed me off. It upset me so much that these men and women were serving our country and coming home to have to struggle to get their needs met in many cases. I wondered who was helping these people and how I could help them and that's when I found Veterans Inc. 

 WHY VETERANS INC.?

Veterans Inc. is made up of an amazingly dedicated staff, headed by a retired Lt. Colonel, Vincent Perrone.  Their mission statement says it all “They were there when we needed them, We must be there now that they need us”.  This sums up pretty much my more core belief and was a no brainer for me to want to be involved to help Veterans Inc. in their mission to help our Vets that need it the most.

Veterans Inc. took over the Armory in Worcester, MA and they have transformed it into a comprehensive resource for Veterans who have fallen on hard times. A large group of donors and contractors came together to transform this building into a shelter with a great kitchen and offices. Any necessary resource from mental health support to job placement to legal assistance that any of these veterans might need is there for them. They are taking ailing homeless veterans in off the street and helping them heal, get well, find a job, a home to live in clothes to wear--everything they need to get reintegrated into society. This organization doesn't spend more than they make--this money goes directly back to these men and women who need it. Veterans Inc. gives our Vets the tools they need to get back on their feet and another chance at a good life, which is the very least that they deserve for the sacrifices they have made. 

BLACKSTONE AND VETERANS INC. 

I don’t have the skills to individually help these Vets in need, but I must be involved with an organization that does possess these skills and do everything I can to contribute so they can reach as many of our Vets in need as possible.

Initially, I just started supporting Veterans Inc. personally but I soon realized I wanted to get my whole company involved. Throughout the year, we are dedicated to and conscious about supporting veterans. Veterans Inc. hits home because it's local and because what they are doing and how they are doing it exceeds in quality much of what we see from other organizations. 

I want to put my money where my mouth is, to pause and say thank you and recognize what our servicemen and women have done. During the Veterans Day weekend, Veterans Inc. puts on a pancake breakfast of which Blackstone has proudly been a major sponsor of since 2009. This year they are combining the pancake breakfast with their 5k Road Race as well and we are proud to be a major the major sponsor of the road race too. I want to be clear that this is not to promote our business--we are doing this because we believe in the good work this organization is doing and we wanted to make a big statement about how much we support them. So if you're near Boston this weekend, and you'd like to participate and support this wonderful organization, it's as easy as making a donation or attending one or both of these events.

WAYS YOU CAN HELP

If this cause is important to you, too, or you'd like to know more about veterans' needs and ways you can help, Veterans Inc. has many good resources available on their website. They provide an enormous range of support services and have offices in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. If you are or know of veteran in need, you can phone them directly at 1 (800) 482-2565. They are available 24 hours a day. Even if they are not a resident of one of the above states, Veterans, Inc. can help put you in touch with resources that can help. 

Donations of any amount are helpful to Veterans Inc. and go directly to support the veterans the organization assists on a daily basis. I hope you will join me in supporting this very worthy organization.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ ABOUT AND UNDERSTAND A CAUSE THAT IS IMPORTANT TO US ALL HERE AT BLACKSTONE PRODUCTIONS. THROUGH HIS LEADERSHIP, JASON HAS GIVEN US INFORMATION AND UNDERSTANDING ABOUT VETERANS ISSUES THAT WE NEVER HAD BEFORE AND WE ARE PROUD TO STAND WITH HIM IN SUPPORT OF THIS CAUSE. WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL FIND YOUR OWN WAY TO HONOR VETERANS TODAY.

THE 22 PUSHUPS CHALLENGE

IT'S A STAGGERING STATISTIC: 22 VETERANS TAKE THEIR OWN LIVES EVERY DAY. AN ORGANIZATION CALLED 22KILL IS RAISING AWARENESS OF THIS HIGH RATE OF VETERAN SUICIDE AND ACCESS FOR VETERANS TO MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT AND OTHER IMPORTANT SERVICES. THEY ARE RUNNING A 22 PUSHUP CHALLENGE TO HONOR VETERANS AND ASSIST WITH SUICIDE PREVENTION. BECAUSE OF HIS COMMITMENT TO VETERANS, WHEN JASON HEARD ABOUT THE #22 PUSHUP CHALLENGE HE IMMEDIATELY WANTED TO PARTICIPATE.  JASON WILL BE DONATING $1 FOR EVERY PUSHUP HE AND HIS TEAM DO THIS WEEK TO 22KILL IN HONOR OF VETERANS DAY AND TO FURTHER SUPPORT OUR VETS.  

HERE IS JASON'S FIRST VIDEO

FOLLOW HIM ON TWITTER

*IF YOU'D LIKE TO PARTICIPATE WITH US, DON'T FORGET TO ADD THE HASHTAGS #22PUSHUPS #22KILL #BLACKSTONEPRODUCTIONS TO YOUR POST.