Veterans Appreciation Speech

Crafting the Perfect Veterans Appreciation Speech: A Guide to Honoring Their Service

Are you tasked with delivering a veterans appreciation speech? Feeling overwhelmed by the weight of honoring those who have served? You're not alone. This comprehensive guide provides a structured approach to crafting a moving and impactful speech that truly reflects the gratitude and respect earned by our veterans. We'll cover everything from structuring your speech to crafting compelling narratives and ensuring your message resonates deeply with your audience. This isn't just about reciting words; it's about connecting with the hearts and minds of your listeners and expressing genuine appreciation for the sacrifices made by our veterans.

I. Understanding Your Audience and Purpose

Before you begin writing, consider your audience. Are you speaking to a group of veterans themselves, their families, community members, or a combination? Tailoring your message to their specific experiences and understanding will make your speech more meaningful.

Define the specific purpose of your speech. Are you aiming to:

Educate: Share historical context or lesser-known aspects of military service?
Inspire: Highlight the resilience and strength of veterans?
Honor: Express profound gratitude and respect for their sacrifices?
Motivate: Encourage community support for veterans' causes?

Clarity of purpose will guide your word choice and overall tone.

II. Structuring Your Veterans Appreciation Speech: A Step-by-Step Guide

A well-structured speech is essential for delivering a clear and impactful message. Here's a suggested framework:

A. The Introduction (Hooking Your Audience):

Start with a powerful opening that grabs the audience's attention. This could be a compelling anecdote, a relevant quote, a striking statistic, or a thought-provoking question. Immediately establish the tone and purpose of your speech. Avoid clichés and aim for originality. For example, instead of simply saying "Thank you for your service," consider starting with a personal story about a veteran's impact or a powerful quote that embodies the spirit of service.


B. Honoring the Service and Sacrifice (The Heart of Your Speech):

This is where you delve into the core of your message. You can:

Highlight specific historical events or conflicts: Provide context to the veterans' experiences.
Share personal stories of veterans (with permission): Anecdotes add depth and emotional connection. If using personal stories, be mindful of privacy. Always obtain permission beforehand and be respectful of sensitive information.
Acknowledge the diverse experiences within the military: Recognize the various roles, branches, and challenges faced by veterans. Avoid generalizations and acknowledge the nuances of their service.
Emphasize the lasting impact of their service: How has their sacrifice impacted the community, the nation, and the world?


C. Expressing Gratitude and Appreciation (The Emotional Core):

This section is crucial. Express sincere gratitude for the sacrifices made, both visible and unseen. Avoid generic statements. Be specific in your appreciation. Mention the courage, resilience, and dedication demonstrated by veterans. Acknowledge the challenges they may have faced upon returning home, such as readjustment, physical or mental health issues, and job searching.


D. Looking Towards the Future (Call to Action):

End your speech with a call to action. This could involve:

Encouraging community support for veterans' organizations: Mention local resources or charities.
Promoting awareness of veteran issues: Highlight the importance of mental health support, job opportunities, or access to healthcare.
Inspiring continued service: Encourage audience members to find ways to support veterans in their own communities.


E. The Conclusion (Leaving a Lasting Impression):

Summarize your main points and leave the audience with a lasting impression. Reiterate your appreciation and reinforce the significance of the veterans' contributions. End on a hopeful and uplifting note. A powerful quote or a brief, memorable anecdote can be particularly effective.

III. Sample Veterans Appreciation Speech Outline: "Honoring Our Heroes"

Name: Honoring Our Heroes

Introduction: Begin with a powerful anecdote about a veteran's impact.
Chapter 1: The Weight of Service: Explore the sacrifices made by veterans, highlighting both the physical and emotional tolls of military service.
Chapter 2: Resilience and Courage: Share inspiring stories of veterans who overcame adversity.
Chapter 3: A Debt of Gratitude: Express profound gratitude for their contributions and sacrifices.
Chapter 4: Supporting Our Veterans: Outline ways the community can actively support veterans' needs.
Conclusion: Reiterate appreciation and leave the audience with a call to action to continue honoring veterans.

IV. Expanding on the Outline: "Honoring Our Heroes" – Detailed Explanation

Introduction: Start with a captivating story. Perhaps a personal anecdote about a family member who served, or a powerful story from history that showcases the courage of veterans. Set the tone for a heartfelt and respectful speech.

Chapter 1: The Weight of Service: Discuss the challenges faced by veterans. Be specific, citing examples of physical injuries, PTSD, and the emotional burden of witnessing combat or experiencing loss. Emphasize the unseen sacrifices made by families and loved ones.

Chapter 2: Resilience and Courage: Counterbalance the challenges with stories of resilience. Highlight veterans who have overcome their obstacles and found success in civilian life. Showcase their perseverance and the strength they demonstrated.

Chapter 3: A Debt of Gratitude: Express sincere and heartfelt gratitude. Acknowledge the immense debt of gratitude society owes to these individuals and their families. Speak from the heart, avoiding clichés and expressing genuine appreciation.

Chapter 4: Supporting Our Veterans: Provide concrete examples of how the audience can support veterans. Mention specific organizations, volunteer opportunities, and ways to advocate for veteran causes. Offer actionable steps they can take.

Conclusion: Reiterate the importance of honoring veterans and leave the audience with a clear and lasting message. End with a powerful quote, a hopeful vision of the future, or a concise and impactful statement that resonates with the audience.

V. FAQs on Veterans Appreciation Speeches

1. How long should a veterans appreciation speech be? Aim for 5-10 minutes, depending on the context.
2. What if I don't know any veterans personally? Research veterans' stories and experiences online or through historical accounts.
3. How can I make my speech engaging? Use storytelling, relatable examples, and a passionate delivery.
4. What tone should I use? Respectful, heartfelt, and appreciative.
5. How can I avoid clichés? Focus on specific examples and genuine emotion.
6. What if I get nervous? Practice your speech multiple times and visualize a successful delivery.
7. How can I ensure my speech is inclusive? Acknowledge the diverse experiences within the military.
8. Should I use humor? Use humor cautiously and only if it's appropriate for the context and audience.
9. Where can I find resources for writing my speech? Consult books on public speaking, veteran organizations' websites, and online resources.

VI. Related Articles

1. Writing a compelling eulogy for a veteran: Focuses on crafting a meaningful tribute at a funeral.
2. Delivering a moving commencement speech to veterans: Guidance on addressing graduating veterans.
3. Public speaking tips for veterans: Advice tailored for veterans who may need to speak publicly.
4. The power of storytelling in veterans' appreciation speeches: Explores the importance of narratives.
5. Overcoming stage fright when speaking about veterans: Strategies for managing anxiety.
6. Incorporating multimedia into your veterans appreciation speech: Using visuals to enhance your presentation.
7. Ethical considerations when sharing veterans' stories: Guidance on respecting privacy and sensitivity.
8. Finding the right tone and voice for your veterans appreciation speech: Exploring different styles and approaches.
9. Resources and organizations supporting veterans: A directory of helpful links and organizations.


  veterans appreciation speech: Living Nations, Living Words: An Anthology of First Peoples Poetry Joy Harjo, 2021-05-04 A powerful, moving anthology that celebrates the breadth of Native poets writing today. Joy Harjo, the first Native poet to serve as U.S. Poet Laureate, has championed the voices of Native peoples past and present. Her signature laureate project gathers the work of contemporary Native poets into a national, fully digital map of story, sound, and space, celebrating their vital and unequivocal contributions to American poetry. This companion anthology features each poem and poet from the project—including Natalie Diaz, Ray Young Bear, Craig Santos Perez, Sherwin Bitsui, and Layli Long Soldier, among others—to offer readers a chance to hold the wealth of poems in their hands. The chosen poems reflect on the theme of place and displacement and circle the touchpoints of visibility, persistence, resistance, and acknowledgment. Each poem showcases, as Joy Harjo writes in her stirring introduction, “that heritage is a living thing, and there can be no heritage without land and the relationships that outline our kinship.” In this country, poetry is rooted in the more than five hundred living indigenous nations. Living Nations, Living Words is a representative offering.
  veterans appreciation speech: Sweet Georgia Brown Lawrence E. Walker, 2019-01-31 Charity Adams Earley, commander of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion in World War II, summarized the history of women in the military when she wrote in 1989: The future of women in the military seems assured... What may be lost in time is the story of how it happened. The barriers of sex and race were, and sometimes still are, very difficult to overcome, the second even more than the first. During World War II women in the service were often subject to ridicule and disrespect even as they performed satisfactorily... Each year the number of people who shared the stress of these accomplishments lessens. In another generation young black women who join the military will have scant record of their predecessors who fought on the two fronts of discrimination segregation and reluctant acceptance by males.
  veterans appreciation speech: Recommendations of Veterans' Organizations, 1973 United States. Congress. House. Committee on Veterans' Affairs, 1973
  veterans appreciation speech: Proceedings of the ... Annual Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (summary of Minutes). Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. Annual Convention, 2006
  veterans appreciation speech: Recommendations of Veterans' Organizations, 1975 United States. Congress. House. Committee on Veterans' Affairs, 1975
  veterans appreciation speech: Breakfast of Champions Kurt Vonnegut, 2009-09-23 “Marvelous . . . [Vonnegut] wheels out all the complaints about America and makes them seem fresh, funny, outrageous, hateful and lovable.”—The New York Times In Breakfast of Champions, one of Kurt Vonnegut’s most beloved characters, the aging writer Kilgore Trout, finds to his horror that a Midwest car dealer is taking his fiction as truth. What follows is murderously funny satire, as Vonnegut looks at war, sex, racism, success, politics, and pollution in America and reminds us how to see the truth. “Free-wheeling, wild and great . . . uniquely Vonnegut.”—Publishers Weekly
  veterans appreciation speech: I-PEEL: the International Political Economy of Everyday Life James (Reader in International Political Economy Brassett, Reader in International Political Economy University of Warwick), James Brasset, Juanita (Professor in International Political Economy Elias, Professor in International Political Economy University of Warwick), Juanita Elias, Lena (Professor in International Political Economy Rethel, Professor in International Political Economy University of Warwick), Lena Rethel, Ben (Reader in International Political Economy Richardson, Reader in International Political Economy University of Warwick), Ben Richardson, 2022-12 andbull; Do we work for social media?andbull; Why do we go into debt?andbull; How is desire manufactured in fast fashion?andbull; How are our diets governed?andbull; Who owns what in the sharing economy?I-PEEL: The International Political Economy of Everyday Life provides a new introduction to the field of IPE by locating it in our daily experiences. By using topics such as social media, debt, food, and clothes as thematic entry points, this textbook shows how concepts from IPE can be used tounderstand and question the world around us.Eight core chapters each start with a discussion of an everyday object or practice linked to that topic, including social media influencing, student debt, chocolate, and fast fashion. From there the chapters open out to discuss broader questions that speak to the core themes of IPE and its study ofpower, wealth, and global capitalism. Each chapter ends with a pair of learning activities, such as creating your own meme (chapter 8, Humour), to help apply what you have read. These are accompanied by student-voice podcasts, in which current IPE students discuss how they approached the activity.Developed by the creators of the popular teaching tool www.i-peel.org: I-PEEL: The International Political Economy of Everyday Life is a ground-breaking, exciting, and engaging new approach to IPE that places you at the centre of knowledge production.The first edition includes a wealth of embedded digital resources, which are accessible through the enhanced e-book, and are viewable in a university's VLE.The online student resources include:- Videos from the authors introducing the I-PEEL approach- Quickfire quiz questions- Author chapter-introduction podcasts- Reflective multiple-choice questions- Support for tackling the chapter's learning activities- Student reflection podcasts- Web links to relevant blogs, debates, and videos- An interactive flashcard glossaryThe online digital lecturer resources include:- A guide to the I-PEEL approach- Customisable PowerPoint slides
  veterans appreciation speech: Proceedings of the ... National Encampment of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. National encampment, 1930 Some early issues include the Proceedings of the ... annual encampment of the Ladies' Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.
  veterans appreciation speech: Proceedings ... National Encampment of the United Spanish War Veterans United Spanish War Veterans, 1929
  veterans appreciation speech: Strengthening the Military Family Readiness System for a Changing American Society National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, Board on Children, Youth, and Families, Committee on the Well-Being of Military Families, 2019-10-25 The U.S. military has been continuously engaged in foreign conflicts for over two decades. The strains that these deployments, the associated increases in operational tempo, and the general challenges of military life affect not only service members but also the people who depend on them and who support them as they support the nation †their families. Family members provide support to service members while they serve or when they have difficulties; family problems can interfere with the ability of service members to deploy or remain in theater; and family members are central influences on whether members continue to serve. In addition, rising family diversity and complexity will likely increase the difficulty of creating military policies, programs and practices that adequately support families in the performance of military duties. Strengthening the Military Family Readiness System for a Changing American Society examines the challenges and opportunities facing military families and what is known about effective strategies for supporting and protecting military children and families, as well as lessons to be learned from these experiences. This report offers recommendations regarding what is needed to strengthen the support system for military families.
  veterans appreciation speech: Disabled American Veterans ... National Convention Disabled American Veterans, 2014
  veterans appreciation speech: Proceedings of the 99th National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (summary of Minutes), San Antonio, Texas, August 29-September 4, 1998 Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. Convention, 2000
  veterans appreciation speech: Option B Sheryl Sandberg, Adam Grant, 2017-04-24 #1 NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER • From authors of Lean In and Originals: a powerful, inspiring, and practical book about building resilience and moving forward after life’s inevitable setbacks After the sudden death of her husband, Sheryl Sandberg felt certain that she and her children would never feel pure joy again. “I was in ‘the void,’” she writes, “a vast emptiness that fills your heart and lungs and restricts your ability to think or even breathe.” Her friend Adam Grant, a psychologist at Wharton, told her there are concrete steps people can take to recover and rebound from life-shattering experiences. We are not born with a fixed amount of resilience. It is a muscle that everyone can build. Option B combines Sheryl’s personal insights with Adam’s eye-opening research on finding strength in the face of adversity. Beginning with the gut-wrenching moment when she finds her husband, Dave Goldberg, collapsed on a gym floor, Sheryl opens up her heart—and her journal—to describe the acute grief and isolation she felt in the wake of his death. But Option B goes beyond Sheryl’s loss to explore how a broad range of people have overcome hardships including illness, job loss, sexual assault, natural disasters, and the violence of war. Their stories reveal the capacity of the human spirit to persevere . . . and to rediscover joy. Resilience comes from deep within us and from support outside us. Even after the most devastating events, it is possible to grow by finding deeper meaning and gaining greater appreciation in our lives. Option B illuminates how to help others in crisis, develop compassion for ourselves, raise strong children, and create resilient families, communities, and workplaces. Many of these lessons can be applied to everyday struggles, allowing us to brave whatever lies ahead. Two weeks after losing her husband, Sheryl was preparing for a father-child activity. “I want Dave,” she cried. Her friend replied, “Option A is not available,” and then promised to help her make the most of Option B. We all live some form of Option B. This book will help us all make the most of it.
  veterans appreciation speech: National Convention Proceedings of the Disabled American Veterans Disabled American Veterans. National Convention, 2005
  veterans appreciation speech: The Reagan Rhetoric Toby Glenn Bates, 2011-05-17 The Reagan Rhetoric examines the extraordinary connections between President Ronald Reagan's conversations with the American people and the profound changes that swept the nation under those conversations' influence. Through the lens of history, rhetoric, and memory, Bates' work draws connections between the style, manner, and consistency of Reagan's oratory and the social and cultural settings in which it played so vital a role. Specifically focusing on the 1980 Neshoba County Mississippi Campaign visit, the popular culture memory of the Vietnam War, and the controversy of Iran-Contra, this book illustrates Reagan's sweeping ability to change how Americans thought about themselves, their past, and their politics. By concluding with an examination of media coverage of Reagan's 2004 death, Bates reveals that certain interpretations Reagan rhetorically offered during his presidency had become an accepted collective memory for millions of Americans. In death, as in life, Reagan had the last word. Through extensive archival research, the careful examination of well-known and obscure 1980s print media and popular culture, as well as new interviews, Bates challenges the prevailing Reagan historiography and provides a thoughtful reality check on some of the traditional views of his eight years in the Oval Office. The Reagan Rhetoric offers new and important contributions to Reagan studies that will appeal to scholars of the 40th president. This look at the 1980s will be of great interest to the growing number of historians studying that decade.
  veterans appreciation speech: Abraham Lincoln's Speeches Abraham Lincoln, 1908
  veterans appreciation speech: Proceedings of The Disabled American Veterans 2007 National Convention, August 11-14, 2007, 110-1 House Document 110-77 , 2008
  veterans appreciation speech: The Jewish Veteran , 1938
  veterans appreciation speech: A More Perfect Military Diane H. Mazur, 2010-11-08 Surveys show that the all-volunteer military is our most respected and trusted institution, but over the last thirty-five years it has grown estranged from civilian society. Without a draft, imperfect as it was, the military is no longer as representative of civilian society. Fewer people accept the obligation for military service, and a larger number lack the knowledge to be engaged participants in civilian control of the military. The end of the draft, however, is not the most important reason we have a significant civil-military gap today. A More Perfect Military explains how the Supreme Court used the cultural division of the Vietnam era to change the nature of our civil-military relations. The Supreme Court describes itself as a strong supporter of the military and its distinctive culture, but in the all-volunteer era, its decisions have consistently undermined the military's traditional relationship to law and the Constitution. Most people would never suspect there was anything wrong, but our civil-military relations are now as constitutionally fragile as they have ever been. A More Perfect Military is a bracingly candid assessment of the military's constitutional health. It crosses ideological and political boundaries and is challenging-even unsettling-to both liberal and conservative views. It is written for those who believe the military may be slipping away from our common national experience. This book is the blueprint for a new national conversation about military service.
  veterans appreciation speech: Taxing Wars Sarah Elizabeth Kreps, 2018 Why have the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq lasted longer than any others in American history? One view is that the move to an all-volunteer force and drones have allowed the wars to continue almost unnoticed for years. Taxing Wars suggests how Americans bear the burden in treasure has also changed, with recent wars financed by debt rather than taxes. This shift has eroded accountability and contributed to the phenomenon of perpetual war--
  veterans appreciation speech: Poems of Gratitude Emily Fragos, 2017-09-12 Poems of Gratitude is a unique anthology of poetry from around the world and through the ages celebrating thanksgiving in its many secular and spiritual forms. For centuries, poets in all cultures have offered eloquent thanks and praise for the people and things of this world. The voices collected here range from Sappho, Horace, and Rumi to Shakespeare and Milton, from Wordsworth, Rilke, Yeats, Rossetti, and Dickinson to Czesław Miłosz, Langston Hughes, Yehuda Amichai, Anne Sexton, W. S. Merwin, Maya Angelou, and many more. Such beloved favorites as Gerard Manley Hopkins’s “Pied Beauty,” Robert Frost’s “Nothing Gold Can Stay,” Constantine Cavafy’s “Ithaka,” and Adam Zagajewski’s “Try to Praise the Mutilated World,” mingle with classics from China and Japan, and with traditional Navajo, Aztec, Inuit, and Iroquois poems. Devotional lyrics drawn from the major religious traditions of the world find a place here alongside poetic tributes to autumn and the harvest season that draw attention to nature’s bounty and poignant beauty as winter approaches. The result is a splendidly varied literary feast that honors and affirms the joy in our lives while acknowledging the sorrows and losses that give that joy its keenness.
  veterans appreciation speech: Proceedings of the Disabled American Veterans ... National Convention Disabled American Veterans, Disabled American Veterans. National Convention, 2004
  veterans appreciation speech: The Myth of the Lost Cause and Civil War History Gary W. Gallagher, Alan T. Nolan, 2000-11-22 A “well-reasoned and timely” (Booklist) essay collection interrogates the Lost Cause myth in Civil War historiography. Was the Confederacy doomed from the start in its struggle against the superior might of the Union? Did its forces fight heroically against all odds for the cause of states’ rights? In reality, these suggestions are an elaborate and intentional effort on the part of Southerners to rationalize the secession and the war itself. Unfortunately, skillful propagandists have been so successful in promoting this romanticized view that the Lost Cause has assumed a life of its own. Misrepresenting the war’s true origins and its actual course, the myth of the Lost Cause distorts our national memory. In The Myth of the Lost Cause and Civil War History, nine historians describe and analyze the Lost Cause, identifying ways in which it falsifies history—creating a volume that makes a significant contribution to Civil War historiography. “The Lost Cause . . . is a tangible and influential phenomenon in American culture and this book provides an excellent source for anyone seeking to explore its various dimensions.” —Southern Historian
  veterans appreciation speech: Proceedings of the Disabled American Veterans,... Aug. 10-13, 2013, 113-1 H.Doc. 113-76 , 2014
  veterans appreciation speech: The Wall Eve Bunting, 1990 A collection of children's books on the subject of families.
  veterans appreciation speech: Unite the USA Stacie Ruth and Carrie Beth Stoelting, 2013-11 Are you ready to take America back? Unite the USA confronts today's issues head on. Unlike other books, it explains how you can actively make a difference to help our country get back on track. With 101 ways to take action now, Unite the USA explains how to stand up for our military and veterans, freedom, and faith in Jesus Christ. Candid yet hopeful, this well-researched yet easy-to-read book motivates, educates, and stimulates patriots to make a positive difference in America. Unite the USA seeks to help renew your vision for the future. Learn little-known insights about our country's history, amass facts to match your values, arm yourself to destroy cultural myths, and learn new ways to take action, no matter who or where you are. You can be a part of the new generation to preserve and refresh our country's freedoms. As a positive book with a solid, inspiring, Christian message of hope, this not a patriotic talk at you book. It's a take positive patriotic action tool. Today, when headlines and difficulties discourage you, remember there is hope in Christ and there is hope for America. With God as our help, America can soar again!
  veterans appreciation speech: DAV , 1981
  veterans appreciation speech: Standing by Alison Buckholtz, 2009 A Navy wife provides an unexpectedly honest and moving account of her family's experiences during her husband's deployment to the Middle East.
  veterans appreciation speech: Odd Fellow's Talisman and Literary Journal , 1878
  veterans appreciation speech: Proceedings of the Stated Convention of the ... National Encampment United Spanish War Veterans, 1972
  veterans appreciation speech: Military Order of the Stars and Bars (65th Anniversary Edition) , 2003-01-01 The Military Order of the Stars and Bars was founded in 1938 to honor the Confederate Officer Corps and the government officials of the Confederacy. Members are all lineal or collateral descendants from these two groups. The majority of members have also served in the armed forces of the United States. Members are loyal Americans whose mission is to honor their ancestors and Southern heritage.
  veterans appreciation speech: Congressional Record United States. Congress, 1971 The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress. It is published daily when Congress is in session. The Congressional Record began publication in 1873. Debates for sessions prior to 1873 are recorded in The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States (1789-1824), the Register of Debates in Congress (1824-1837), and the Congressional Globe (1833-1873)
  veterans appreciation speech: Confederate Veteran , 1894
  veterans appreciation speech: Minutes of the ... Annual Meeting and Reunion of the United Confederate Veterans United Confederate Veterans, 1891
  veterans appreciation speech: I Never Left Home Bob Hope, 1944 I Never Left Home is about ... Bob Hope's journey among our armed forces, during which he has traveled more than 80,000 miles and played before more than half the entire army. It is composed of about three-fourths straight Hope humor and one-fourth extremely moving tribute to our soldiers. It is a personal adventure story and a Hope's eye view of the war ... --
  veterans appreciation speech: Lincoln on War Abraham Lincoln, 2011-01-01 Collects and comments on President Abraham Lincoln's thoughts on violent conflict, a subject that consumed him during his presidency as he presided over the Civil War.
  veterans appreciation speech: Soliloquies in England, and Later Soliloquies George Santayana, 2019-11-29 Soliloquies in England and Later Soliloquies is a work by George Santayana. The author was a philosopher, essayist, and poet, here presenting his monologues that are to be addressed to oneself, also known as soliloquies.
  veterans appreciation speech: Maverick Marine Hans Schmidt, 2014-04-23 Smedley Butler's life and career epitomize the contradictory nature of American military policy through the first part of this century. Butler won renown as a Marine battlefield hero, campaigning in most of America's foreign military expeditions from 1898 to the late 1920s. He became the leading national advocate for paramilitary police reform. Upon his retirement, however, he renounced war and imperialism and devoted his energy and prestige to various dissident and leftist political causes.
  veterans appreciation speech: Annual Report - Administrator of Veteran Affairs United States. Veterans Administration, 1948
  veterans appreciation speech: Field of Schemes Neil deMause, Joanna Cagan, 2015-03