The Gift of Connection and Why It Matters Year-Round

Wounded Warrior Project Community Partner Vets4Warriors Provides a Lifeline for Veterans During the Holidays — and Throughout the Year

The holiday season is often a time of celebration, reflection, and togetherness. Yet, for some, it can also be a period marked by loneliness, stress, and feelings of disconnection.

Physical pain, injuries, and invisible wounds like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) can compound these feelings for veterans. Those in rural areas or who don’t maintain regular contact with other veterans can also start to miss the sense of camaraderie they experienced during military service.

Reaching out and forging connections with those who understand can profoundly impact someone’s mental health and well-being.

Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) serves and empowers injured and ill veterans throughout their lives with life-changing programs and services, including connection programs that allow warriors and families to bond with other veterans through events and support groups. Programs like Warrior Care Network^® and WWP Talk can help warriors deal with mental health challenges and connection through the holiday season and beyond.

WWP™ supplements its support for connection by investing in like-minded community partner organizations to address the growing and changing needs of the military community.

One of WWP’s community partners is Vets4Warriors, which provides 24/7 military peer support for veterans, active-duty service members, and their families. Vets4Warriors and WWP share the goal of building and maintaining connections for military families.

“It’s important for Wounded Warrior Project to continuously work with other veterans service organizations to fill gaps and do things we do not so that we can embark on a path that can support warriors in all the different ways they need,” said Wil Williamson, vice president of Connection for WWP.

Why Connection is so Important

Connection is a fundamental human need. It’s essential for maintaining emotional and physical health. Strong social bonds reduce stress, combat feelings of isolation, and provide a sense of purpose and belonging. Studies show that individuals with meaningful relationships experience lower rates of depression and anxiety, better physical health, and even longer lifespans.

In 2022, the U.S. surgeon general issued an advisory about the nation’s epidemic of loneliness and isolation, citing loneliness as a major public health concern.

For veterans, the need for connection can be even more significant. Transitioning from military service to civilian life often involves leaving behind a deeply rooted sense of camaraderie. WWP’s most recent Warrior Survey* showed that 2 in 3 warriors reported feeling lonely.

“In the military, we all serve, and we usually do things as a unit,” Wil said. “There's not much I did in the Marine Corps by myself except for recruiting duty. Other than that, I can't think of one other assignment or duty that I did alone. So, from the perspective of the women and men who’ve served, not to have that kind of social connection anymore, that camaraderie, that sense of belonging, can be very challenging for them, especially during the first three years of separation.”

The holidays, with their emphasis on family and togetherness can exacerbate these feelings. Veterans who are far from loved ones or who are coping with memories of those lost during service may find this season particularly challenging.

Additionally, caregivers and family support members may also experience isolation while focusing on caring for the veteran in their lives, and the holidays can often compound the stress. WWP also supports family members and caregivers to help them stay connected and improve their mental health.

How Vets4Warriors Help Veterans and Their Families Stay Connected

Vets4Warriors’ purpose is to ensure that members of the military community feel supported and heard – day or night. Through telephonic support, peers who are also veterans and members of the military community stand ready to listen and help. Whether you’re currently serving, transitioning from service to civilian life, the spouse or family member of a service member or veteran, or have been a veteran for 30 years, Vets4Warriors has someone ready and able to offer peer support.

“Knowing you can call or chat (and soon text) and connect with a veteran live, within 30 seconds 24/7, offers immediate validation for the caller that someone who understands and cares is available when needed,” said Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Mark Graham, executive director of Vets4Warriors. “Also, this offers everyone the ‘peace of mind’ that they are never alone. We fill a gap in the access to care where someone answers live, connects [the veteran] to needed resources, and then follows up as long as desired.”

Vets4Warriors officially launched in December 2011. It started as an initiative to address the growing suicide rate at Fort Cavazos, Texas, by providing live and confidential peer support to soldiers stationed there. It has since grown, with over 920,000 contacts, to be available to all active-duty service members and veterans, regardless of location.

Vets4Warriors aims to reach veterans and service members before they reach a crisis situation “upstream.” Callers will be able to speak to someone who understands their experiences and concerns. Vets4Warriors also provides ongoing peer support allowing callers to build relationships with the person on the other side of the line, and work toward resolutions.

“Being connected is a key component of building trust, confidence, and cohesion,” Gen. Graham said. “It’s key in combating isolation and is part of a person’s overall mental health and emotional well-being. Connection is also important during transitions, whether from assignment to assignment or when separating from the military.”

WWP also supports Vets4Warriors’ Ambassador program, which helps foster meaningful peer relationships in the veteran community through outreach and relationship building.

Learn more about how Vets4Warriors serves veterans and their families. 

The Partnership Connection

Because the needs of the veteran population are vast and change over time, building strong connections through collaboration with other veterans service organizations is essential to provide comprehensive support.

WWP recognizes that no organization can meet all the needs of the military and veteran community alone. WWP creates a network of innovative support for the veteran community through its community partnerships program. As the largest nonprofit funder of veterans service organizations, WWP has invested more than $388 million in 215 organizations since 2012. 

“The need is so great that if we all work 24/7 doing our respective work, there is still a need for more,” Gen. Graham said. “Together in partnership, we form a stronger network that supports those in need. Instead of competing, partnering together sends a strong signal to everyone that the focus is on the veterans and families, and our organizations are working together to support them.”

WWP’s investments and partnerships in the military and veteran community fill gaps in its programs and services and reinforce existing efforts, including in areas of mental health, military kids, veteran advocacy, and, of course, connection.

Getting and Keeping Veterans Connected

The holiday season offers a unique opportunity to reflect on the importance of connection and take steps to strengthen it. For veterans, who may face specific challenges during this time of year, fostering relationships can be a lifeline.

Fostering relationships can be a lifeline for veterans throughout the year. Whether through reconnecting with old friends, volunteering, attending events, or even gaming online, there are ways to combat loneliness and build meaningful connections.

WWP offers a number of programs across the country to help warriors connect and rebuild a sense of camaraderie.

“The [goal] is to get [warriors] out of their home and re-engaged in the community,” Wil said. “It can be something as simple as a bowling night or pizza night or something more involved, like a Project Odyssey or adaptive sports. There are multiple ways that veterans can get connected, but a good start would be with an organization like Wounded Warrior Project or other veterans service organizations.”

Wil said he’s been able to personally witness the changes peer support makes in the lives of warriors and how the connection provides a sense of purpose for many veterans, who are often motivated by service to others.

“I see a deeper level of engagement, and I think there’s something beautiful in seeing another human being lifted as they climb,” Wil said.

Learn more about WWP's community partnerships. 

*Warrior Survey, Wave 2 (conducted June 15-Aug. 24, 2022) 

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

About Wounded Warrior Project 

Since 2003, Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) has been meeting the growing needs of warriors, their families, and caregivers — helping them achieve their highest ambition. Learn more about Wounded Warrior Project.