Hoover Institution Commemorating Legacy Of Post-9/11 Veterans In Series Of Town Halls Nationwide

Hoover Institution (Stanford, CA) – On the eve of this Veterans Day, the Hoover Veteran Fellowship Program (VFP) is resuming its inspiring town hall series across the nation, paying tribute to the enduring legacy of post-9/11 veterans and broadening public understanding of their role in local communities.

Valley Forge Military Academy and College Welcomes Veterans for a Town Hall

This evening, the Valley Forge Military Academy and College in Wayne, Pennsylvania, will be the stage for an enlightening discussion. The panel will feature Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, US Army (ret.), the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, alongside VFP alumni Megan Andros and Dave Foster.

The spotlight will be on how veterans can apply their unique experiences and their skills in driving solutions to solve local problems such as homelessness, attending to people with disabilities, and funding for community projects.

“Veterans understand the value and rewards of serving,” said McMaster in discussing the town hall series. “After they depart the military, they continue to serve in other ways. The Hoover program helps veterans sharpen their vision for continued service and magnify their contributions to building a better future for generations of Americans to come.”

Moderated by Hoover Fellow Jacquelyn Schneider, this nationwide town hall series aims to delve into the profound impact of post-9/11 service, foster stronger civil-military relations, and explore the ongoing contributions of this remarkable generation of veterans to public service.

One of the defining elements of this series is the participation of current VFP fellows and alumni—veterans who not only have successfully transitioned to civilian life but are also resolute in their commitment to addressing pressing challenges in their communities.

Post-9/11 Veterans: Guiding Lights for the Next Generation

“Public service, whether in the military or in local, state, or national institutions is what we owe the next generation,” emphasized General Jim Mattis, US Marine Corps (Ret.), the Davies Family Distinguished Fellow at the Hoover Institution, and a key participant in an upcoming town hall in Wisconsin in January 2024. “The Post-9/11 Veteran Town Hall Series highlights the selfless value of the public service our veterans have rendered, making them refreshing role models in an age when many young people are searching for how they can best contribute to a better world.”

Schneider, who took her oath as a US Air Force officer in 2005 and continues to serve as a reservist, believes that the complex legacy of post-9/11 conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere has left this generation without closure and devoid of a shared experience to unite them.

The inaugural town hall held in San Antonio, Texas, on October 10, 2023, explored the identity of post-9/11 veterans and their evolving relationship with American society. The event featured a panel of distinguished veterans including Major General Angela Salinas (ret.), the first Hispanic woman to achieve the rank of general in the Marine Corps; Major General Juan Ayala (US Marine Corps, ret.), the director of military and veteran affairs for the city of San Antonio; and members of the current and past cohorts of VFP Donnie Hasseltine, Trillitye Paullin, and Adrian Perkins.

“What 9/11 vets have in common is an extraordinary desire and inner motivation to serve,” Schneider reflected to the panelists and the San Antonio audience. “This is what I argue is the actual legacy of our generation.”

Watch the Post-9/11 Veteran Town Hall held in San Antonio, Texas below:

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See below the schedule for upcoming town halls:

Friday, November 10, 2023
What Roles Can Veterans Play in Their Community
Wayne, Pennsylvania

Featuring:
US Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, Pennsylvania's Sixth District
Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, US Army (ret.), Hoover Senior Fellow
Megan Andros, Hoover Veteran Fellow 2021–22
Dave Foster, Hoover Veteran Fellow 2022–23