Generations of Honor: Stories from America's Multi-Generational Veterans

Military service leaves a lasting imprint — not just on those who serve, but on their families, communities, and the generations that follow. For many, the call to serve is inherited — a thread that connects past and present through courage, sacrifice, and pride.

These veteran stories are more than memories. They are living legacies that show what it means to serve. They are also testaments to the power of healing and how each generation can learn from those who came before.

The Bonds that Bind

Mark Lalli’s desire to serve runs deep.

Mark can trace his lineage back to both Jamestown and Plymouth colonies, with ancestors who fought alongside Gen. George Washington.

“From the Revolution through now, I had somebody in my family serving,” he says. “I have my great-grandfather’s dog tags from World War I. My maternal grandfather did seven invasions in the Pacific, and my paternal grandfather served in Europe.”

“I wanted to be GI Joe from the time I was a kid,” Mark said. “Listening to my grandfather’s stories about World War II … I’m like, ‘yeah, I wanna do that.’”

Mark’s family’s legacy became a blueprint for his own path, one that helped guide his decision to join the U.S. Army 13 months after the 9/11 attacks.

As a Black Hawk crew chief, Mark flew missions across Iraq, Europe, and the U.S., serving as a mechanic and combat gunner. For him, the missions mattered, but the bonds he formed mattered most.

“I got to serve with some of the most amazing people in the world,” he said. “People who would do absolutely everything to make sure you got home to your family. There was nothing in the world we wouldn’t do for each other.”

Mark’s military service ended during a training exercise in Italy when his helicopter crashed, killing six of the soldiers on board and leaving Mark with severe injuries. Returning to civilian life, he faced uncertainty, physical challenges, post-traumatic stress, and a loss of the close bonds he had relied on.

Mark rediscovered that camaraderie with the help of Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP). He joined WWP’s Physical Health and Wellness programs, including Soldier Ride®, a multi-day adaptive cycling event where veterans ride and move forward together, just as they did in service.

"For the longest time, I felt alone with my story, alone with my struggles, until I met more warriors and made connections with them,” Mark said. “We all share a loss of the way things were. We are not alone. We can still do all the things we love, and there are people out there who want to help us."

For Mark, being a veteran means living with purpose and connection.

“It all goes towards serving something greater than yourself,” he said. “You serve alongside people who are there to have your back… and you do the same for them.”

Read more about Mark’s journey.

Healing Through Legacy and Service

For Bill Hansen, military service is both a tradition and a personal mission.

Bill’s ancestors served in every major American conflict, from the Civil War to Iraq.

“My great-great-grandfather came from Norway, literally got off the boat and was strapped into the Union Army one day later.”

His family’s legacy shaped his identity. The stories of those who served before him led him to join the Marine Corps and, later, the Army National Guard. But Bill’s service came with sacrifice.

“My oldest daughter was 15 days old when I left for Desert Storm,” he shared. “And I wake up every single morning in pain because I served.”

Through that struggle, Bill found new purpose in helping others rediscover their strength. With help from WWP’s Warriors to Work, Bill turned his passion into a career as a personal trainer, mainly working with veterans and people with mobility issues.

“I help [people] rehabilitate their injuries so that they can get back into life,” Bill said.

One of his most moving experiences involved helping a 95-year-old Korean War veteran regain enough strength to dance with his great-granddaughter at her quinceañera.

“We spent four months working on how to do the movements … so that his hip was strong enough,” Bill said. “She’s always going to remember that her great-grandpa loved her enough to work hard so he could dance with her.”

Bill is also committed to sharing stories of service that inspire— not for recognition, but to preserve his legacy of service. Bill said that while he won’t push his 4-year-old son to join the military, he wouldn’t be surprised if that’s what the future holds.

“I’m trying to instill in him the same values that my father instilled in me, which are the same values that his father instilled in him,” Bill said.

Read more about Bill’s journey.

Service, Survival, and Strength

Zach Tidwell grew up in a family with deep military roots, where service was more than tradition; it was identity.

“Most of the men in my family have been military … across all different branches — Air Force, Army, Marines,” Zach said. “I wasn’t pressured to go into the military, but I was raised with those values of patriotism and service.”

From a young age, though, Zach knew the military would be his path.

“I always knew I was going to go into the military, even as a small child … that was my dream as a little boy,” he said.

Zach joined the Marine Corps to serve directly on the front lines. While he was eligible for many jobs in the Corps, he wanted to be an infantryman, with boots on the ground. Earning the title “Marine” carried a profound level of pride.

“The Marine Corps has a reputation for a reason, and I wanted to be part of the best,” Zach said.

But life during and after service brought unexpected challenges — some from service, many from being human. Nine months after leaving the Marine Corps and after suffering a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a motorcycle accident, Zach attempted suicide. The attempt left him fully blind and deaf in one ear.

“Suicide is a symptom of pure despair … you wholeheartedly believe the place you’re in is inescapable,” Zach said. “That is a lie.”

Zach’s recovery wasn’t just physical, though. It was emotional, mental, and deeply personal. While he credits the Marines with helping him develop the toughness to overcome some of his obstacles, he realized that recovery also meant acknowledging and actively addressing his mental health.

“I thought gritting your teeth and pushing through was the only tool, but when you get out, you have to realize it’s just one tool in the tool belt,” Zach said.

For him, other tools like therapy, connection with other veterans, and getting involved with adaptive sports became key to facing the challenges he could no longer ignore. Because of his courage and vulnerability to seek help, Zach is rebuilding his life and now shares his story to help others find hope.

“No one can help you until they know you need help,” Zach said. “It is OK to not be OK.”

“The bravest thing I’ve ever done was speaking up,” Zack said. “It will be extremely uncomfortable, but it is possible to get through it. You just have to choose to show up and do the work.”

He also wants younger generations to know that hard times don’t last forever and wishes that was something he had known – and still reminds himself regularly.

“It's really just remembering that this will pass,” Zach said. “You may not know when or how, but this is not a permanent state. It can and will get better.”

Zach is proud of his family's history of service and his service as a Marine. He encourages future generations not to shy away from serving.

“Giving to something bigger than yourself changes your perspective on the world,” Zach said.

Read more about Zach’s journey.

Honoring the Past, Empowering the Future

Stories of service — past, present, and future — are more than accounts of military life. They capture moments of courage, connection, and recovery.

The impact of service continues long after deployment, shaping lives, communities, and future generations. Honoring that legacy means listening, learning, and recognizing the strength and sacrifice behind each veteran’s journey.

Learn how you can help veterans find their own paths to healing.

Contact: — Paris Moulden, Public Relations, pmoulden@woundedwarriorproject.org, 904.570.7910 

About Wounded Warrior Project  

Wounded Warrior Project is our nation’s leading veteran services organization, focused on the total well-being of post-9/11 wounded, ill, or injured veterans. Our programs, advocacy, and awareness efforts help warriors thrive, provide essential lifelines to families and caregivers, and prevent veteran suicides. Learn more about Wounded Warrior Project.