To those brave souls who were determined to defend our nation and ensure the blessings of liberty are always protected, we thank you!

Veterans Day is a national holiday honoring veterans of the Armed Forces. It is a time to acknowledge, give thanks, and appreciation for the sacrifices that were made by those who served.

Here at Goodwill of Greater Washington, we are lucky to have many veterans (and family members of veterans) who continue to proudly serve their community through the work that they do with our local nonprofit. Our efforts to provide jobs, job training, education, and supportive services to people faced with barriers to employment would not be possible without them.

As we celebrate our veterans, we want to take a moment to recognize a few of the individuals within our Goodwill family who have demonstrated selflessness, courage, and sacrifice.

Goodwill Veterans Spotlight:

Ronald Killen (Nephew of Rosie Bailey – Dale City, VA Retail Store & Donation Center)

Sen. Master Sergeant - USAF, 1994-2019 “Thank you for your service.”

Nelson Quevedo (Father of Rosie Bailey – Dale City Retail Store & Donation Center)

Master Sergeant. - USAF, 1952-1974 “Dad, I miss you + love you. Thank you for your service.”

James Schaffer (Area Safety and Loss Prevention Specialist)

US Navy; E-1 (Seaman Recruit) – E-7 (Chief Petty Officer), 1983-2004

James served in the U.S. Navy from 1983 to 2004, growing from an E-1 (Seaman Recruit) to an E-7 (Chief Petty Officer). During his time, he even got to meet Carl Brashear, the highly decorated U.S. Navy sailor whose life was glorified in the film, "Men of Honor." James retired in 2004.

Amanda Lawler (Merchandise Processor – Liberia Avenue Retail Store & Donation Center, Manassas, VA)

Army Sargeant, 4/5/2010-2/19/2017

"Working at Goodwill makes me feel good because you're helping give back to the community. Goodwill also has the same core values as the military with their "RISE: concept. By following the "RISE" concept, Goodwill is a great place to work because everyone respects one another, is a team player, and is motivated to help the local community out."

Deborah Trimiar (Grandmother of Emaunie Hall, Communications Specialist)

Army 1967-1969 Air Force 1983-1991

Beverly Moreno, wife and mother of USMC veterans. (Assistant Retail Manager – Liberia Avenue Retail Store & Donation Center, Manassas, VA)

“My husband, James, served 30 years in the United States Marine Corps from 1979 to 2009. He retired as a Master Gunnery Sergent. We have lived all over the United States and overseas. My son James Jr also served four years in the United States Marine Corp. Military families go through a lot. There are times when your spouse is gone for weeks, months, and years at a time.

Thank military spouses and children for the hardship they endure in addition to the service member. I wouldn't have given up any of the 30 years my family loved seeing and meeting so many people from around the world. I enjoy working at Goodwill, meeting new people, and seeing old friends. Thank You to all who have served in the military for their service and for protecting us and our country!”

Again, thank you to our friends and family at Goodwill of Greater Washington and every military veteran on this Veteran's Day. We appreciate you for your service to our nation.