Veterans Day always feels different for those of us who live and heal outdoors. For many veterans, the outdoors is a sanctuary, a place to find and embrace peace after chaos. The woods, mountains, ranges, and rivers are my healing, my reset, and how I make sense of the service I still carry.

I’ve said it before and will say it again: the outdoor industry is more than just gear and stories. It’s people who know discipline, hard days, long odds, and quiet places where you can finally breathe. That’s why so many veterans end up here, behind a bow, a trigger, a camera, or a pack up another ridge.

To everyone in this industry: manufacturers, guides, outfitters, conservation groups, pro shops, writers, shooters, and hunters, thank you for providing veterans with a familiar community and a seat at the table. Thank you for building places to reconnect with who we are, not just who we were in uniform.

To every veteran reading: you matter. Your story matters. You’re not done contributing, not to this country, your family, or this community we love.

As President Ronald Reagan said, "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same."

This Veterans Day, I am grateful for those who have served, those still fighting unseen battles, and an outdoor industry that understands the healing power of wild places.

See you out there.

— U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer James “Jay” Pinsky
jay@theoutdoorwire.com