By Kevin C. Miller
With nearly 30,000 veterans in San Francisco, the city decided to hold its 96th annual Veterans Day Parade in Fisherman’s Wharf this year for the first time, in hopes of boosting its traditionally sluggish attendance. Could a once-proud military town capitalize on community participation by trading in the traditional march down Market Street for the more highly trafficked and tourist-friendly visuals of Pier 39, staged in front of crab tanks and souvenir shops?
If sheer attendance numbers are any sign, the answer is yes — though I wonder how many onlookers were simply happenstance spectators who can appreciate a good parade. The fact is, most SF denizens rarely think about servicemen and servicewomen except during Fleet Week, with the Blue Angels soaring overhead, or on Veterans Day itself thanks mostly to media coverage and shopping discounts.
Tens of thousands of veterans have made San Francisco their home after separating from the military, far too many of whom have stumbled gravely along the way. The pitfalls could result from any number of life circumstances: divorce, loss of a job, or eviction due to rising rents and the low availability of affordable housing. Whatever the case, it’s our duty — or at least it should be — to support these individuals in whatever way we can.
I had difficulty translating my skills and experience as a Marine Corps infantryman and received zero offers of employment, though I would often hear, “Thank you for your service” as hiring managers showed me the door.
Three years ago, I decided to come to San Francisco for a fresh start after graduating from Humboldt State University, rather than return to my native Fresno. I had a distinguished career as a marine and received high academic honors; I thought I was the perfect candidate for whatever employment opportunity I wished to pursue.
Reality, however, proved to be different. I had difficulty translating my skills and experience as a Marine Corps infantryman and received zero offers of employment, though I would often hear, “Thank you for your service” as hiring managers showed me the door.
This vicious cycle dragged on for more than two years. I lived off my VA disability benefits and couch-surfed in the homes of friends and family throughout the Bay Area and California. Unsurprisingly, it took a toll on my mental health, and soon I was self-medicating with alcohol. One night I drank and got behind the wheel and found myself in trouble with the law — and with a record. As you can imagine, my employability then diminished even more severely.
That all changed, however, when a friend and fellow veteran referred me to Swords to Plowshares. The phrase sounded vaguely familiar. My curiosity piqued. I looked it up online and found out that it’s a metaphor for the transition that a soldier makes when leaving the field of battle and reentering society, repurposing their skills and experience into peaceful applications. This was the exact type of support I was looking for to regain stability in my life.
After learning about their decades of experience and expertise in helping veterans like me reestablish their lives, I applied for their AmeriCorps VISTA position, which I was able to accept only after they advocated on my behalf. After bringing me on board, Swords to Plowshares helped me find my first permanent residence through its Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program, a rapid rehousing program for homeless and at-risk veterans. They even provided legal assistance for my disability claim with the VA and worked with me as I sought medical treatment for chronic-pain issues at the San Francisco VA Medical Center.
Over the last two and a half years, my life has seen a dramatic change. Now I’m working as a full-time employee with Swords to Plowshares, serving on the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Commission and involved with Team Red, White & Blue as a community outreach director. Through my community work, I’ve had the opportunity to effectively turn all my experiences into meaningful recommendations for improved programs and services for veterans. I’ve also had the privilege to work with some inspiring and dedicated individuals on a wide array of issues, including homelessness, education, employment and legal services.
Let’s honor their sacrifice by helping them obtain affordable housing and gainful employment and by connecting them with the benefits they have rightfully earned.
Each year, the Department of Veterans Affairs has a theme to commemorate this day, and this year’s theme is “Honoring All Who Served in Times of War — in Times of Peace.” It’s a theme very close to our own mission at Swords to Plowshares, as we provide services to all veterans regardless of the era of their service or their discharge status.
With this in mind, let’s not just thank veterans for their service, watch them stroll by in a parade or go shopping on their holiday. Let’s honor their sacrifice by helping them obtain affordable housing and gainful employment and by connecting them with the benefits they have rightfully earned. Let’s turn this once-proud military town into the city and community that supports its veterans not just with words, but with deeds.
