Today is Veterans Day, a day set aside to honor all veterans. The commemoration traces its origins to the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, when "the war to end all wars" ended. Originally known as Armistice Day, it became an official holiday in 1938.

In 1954, Congress changed the word "armistice" to "veterans" to honor all those who served in World War I, World War II and the Korean War, according to the Department of Defense.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were about 5 million veterans in rural areas from 2011 to 2015.

Several organizations have stepped up to honor veterans, learn more about some efforts below.

Bobcat partners with Wounded Warrior Project

U.S. Army veteran Andrew Long has coped with post-traumatic stress disorder and the effects of a traumatic brain injury since returning from his service. Long, a Branchburg, New Jersey, native served in the U.S. Army from 2010 to 2014 and was deployed to Afghanistan. He has found support with the Wounded Warrior Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving injured veterans and their families, which helped him with his recovery.

Doosan Bobcat North America partnered with Wounded Warrior Project to present Long with a new Bobcat R-Series T76 compact track loader and 80-inch bucket attachment, together valued at nearly $90,000. The two organizations teamed up at Piedmont Bobcat, the Bobcat dealer near where Long lives in North Carolina, to deliver the machine. He also received a framed photograph featuring his new machine and all 45 of the Doosan Bobcat employees who had a hand in assembling it, along with their signatures.

Long was randomly chosen as the winner from a pool of candidates and says the T76 will speed up the process of refurbishing the decades-old former tobacco farm he and his fiancée recently purchased in Elon, North Carolina. As a veteran, Long says he is excited to give back to the military community as well.

“The Bobcat T76 compact track loader is a beautiful machine,” said Long. “I have so many projects I want to get started on right away. I hope to support local veterans, either by hiring and teaching them or working with veteran-owned businesses. I want my farm to be a relaxing place for veterans to be understood and respected. Now that I have this machine, my vision for this property will come together much faster and transform my property into a sanctuary for my fellow warriors.”

Paired with the bucket attachment, the T76 will help Long reclaim his fields, lay down gravel for the roads around the farm and repair the property’s pond. He plans to use the land to grow vegetables, maintain an orchard and start a chicken egg operation. Long said the T76 will also be useful in tilling, grading and clearing fields, digging irrigation and drainage ditches, and moving hay bales, animal feed and other materials.

“Giving away a new Bobcat T76 compact track loader is just one way we can thank someone who has given so much to our country,” said Mike Ballweber, president of Doosan Bobcat North America. “As a company that has many employees and dealers who are U.S. veterans, we have a tremendous amount of respect for those who have bravely put their lives on the line, so Doosan Bobcat was proud to honor Andrew for his service and sacrifice.”

The company formally launched its partnership with WWP at CONEXPO-CON/AGG in March 2020. Doosan Bobcat raised money at the industry trade show by selling a limited-edition, scale model of a T76 camouflage-wrapped loader with the WWP logo. More than $81,000 was raised to support injured veterans and their families.

"Bobcat is empowering Andrew to live our logo of one warrior supporting another warrior as he plans to give back to veterans in his community," said WWP Chief Development Officer Gary Corless.

Domino's offers specials for veterans

Dairy Management Inc. is joining checkoff partner Domino’s Pizza and Wounded Warrior Project to honor, support and feed veterans and their families on Veterans Day.

“America’s dairy farmers have supported military families for decades. In fact, many dairy farmers and their families have military backgrounds and/or family members currently serving our country,” said Paul Ziemnisky, executive vice president of global innovation partnerships for DMI.

DMI and Domino’s Pizza are partnering to honor veterans and their families by offering 50% off pizzas for new Domino’s app users during Veterans Day week, Nov. 9-15.

“Domino’s is proud to join America’s dairy farmers in celebrating our country’s veterans,” said Art D’Elia, chief marketing officer at Domino’s Pizza

First-time Domino’s app users and anyone who has not purchased from the app within the last year can input the code App50 at checkout to receive the discount on all menu-priced pizzas.

Farmer Veteran Coalition exists to help

The Farmer Veteran Coalition helps veterans pursue careers in agriculture. For these men and women, farming has become their new mission. FVC recognizes that agriculture additionally offers purpose, opportunity, and physical and psychological benefits.

This is the difference maker for many veterans in their civilian re-integration.

With Veterans Day upon us, the team of Farmer Veteran Coalition is reflecting on the thousands of farmer veterans they have supported in pursuit of new agricultural endeavors, including those highlighted here.

This year, after a decade of leading the charge, founder Michael O’Gorman passed the pitchfork to newly appointed executive director Jeanette Lombardo. Raised by an Air Force veteran father, Lombardo grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania, on a family dairy farm. She spent decades in agricultural banking and now is eager to carry forward the single best way that FVC assists veterans – through their Fellowship Fund.

A small grant program, the Fellowship Fund purchases farm equipment the member has identified as crucial to their operation. The program has funded $3 million in equipment to more than 600 veterans.

Veterans like Alex Jauregui. A double-amputee, Alex lost both legs when he stepped on an IED in Afghanistan during his fourth deployment. Now he finds new purpose in his Fury Bees operation in Northern California. “Farming makes me feel enabled,” shares the former Staff Sergeant. “I never would have imagined beekeeping but it’s been very therapeutic.” FVC teamed up with Work Vessels for Veterans and Semper Fi Fund to purchase a Hummerbee forklift, which significantly reduces the physical impact on Alex’s body.

Veterans like Ladonna Avakian & Heather Paterson. Twin sisters, both women served in the Air Force. Both returned home to Oregon with service-related disabilities. They were awarded a grant to fund an air sprayer for their Hollyaire orchard where they primarily farm sour cherries, hazelnuts, and holly under the Homegrown By Heroes label. “It’s small grants like this one that make us feel valued and supported,” Heather reflects. “Farming is all about community, and FVC really is its own community. To be physically active, outside, working with my twin, and having our family out there – it’s really an American dream.”

Ben Misko, a Marine who suffered a brain injury during combat, has found healing in his Restless Roots farm. He grows vegetables and cut flowers in Central Pennsylvania. “Having a brain injury can be very frustrating at times, but animals provide a reprieve for me. Farming keeps me sound in my mind, and the animal and plant care keeps me on schedule,” shares the former Motor Vehicle Operator. “I asked for this equipment so I can provide for more animals without additional financial burden.”

When FVC was first established, the plan was simple: find a way to help these veterans, and then tell their story. For Michael O’Gorman, getting to work with the men and women of FVC on their own individual journeys to becoming farmers has made it the most rewarding thing he has done. “I’m really proud of the organization that I started and watched grow,” shared the founder. “But we’re still a fairly young organization and are dedicated to helping the farmer veterans out there.”

The Farmer Veteran Coalition will hold their National Stakeholders Virtual Conference Nov. 18-19. Register at https://conference.farmvetco.org.

Source: Doosan Bobcat North America, Dairy Management Inc., Farmer Veteran Coalition, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.