Honoring Young Military Enlistees with Our Community Salutes

The Genesis of Our Community Salutes

• 💡 Our Community Salutes was founded 17 years ago by Dr. Ken Hartman, recognizing a void in honoring high school seniors enlisting in the military.
• 🎯 The organization aims to fill this gap by providing recognition and support to these young patriots, who often receive less attention than those entering traditional higher education.

Organization's Growth and Impact

• 🚀 Starting with a local dinner, the organization has expanded to 23 states, hosting over 60 events annually with thousands of attendees.
• 👏 Events in major cities like Los Angeles and San Antonio have drawn significant crowds, featuring speakers such as cabinet members and governors' wives.
• 🏅 Notable attendees and speakers have included governors, Medal of Honor recipients, generals, and senior military officials, underscoring the organization's national reach.

Addressing Post-Service Challenges

• ⚠️ A recent report highlighted that a significant percentage of young veterans face unemployment within 24 months of service.
• 🤝 To combat this, Our Community Salutes has launched OCS Connect, a program designed to educate parents and provide resources for veterans transitioning back to civilian life.

Call to Action: Virtual Thank You Card

• 💌 The organization's current goal is to collect 250,000 signatures on a virtual thank you card for the class of 2025 enlistees by July 4th.
• 💻 Supporters can sign the card and leave a message by visiting OCSUSA.org, a simple and free way to show gratitude.
• 💰 Our Community Salutes operates entirely on private resources, relying on the generosity of Americans to fund its events and programs.

Upcoming Events and Resources

• 🗓️ Numerous ceremonies are scheduled across the country in April and May, with details available on the OCSUSA.org website.
• 📚 Each enlistee receives a pocket guide to the U.S. Constitution and founding documents, aiming to educate them on the principles they are sworn to defend.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The events are designed to be family-friendly, encouraging veterans to attend and welcome new recruits into the military family.