Dear Friends of Operation Healing Forces,
For 250 years, every generation of Americans has relied on a small number of extraordinary men and women willing to go first, go farther, and accept greater risk in service to something larger than themselves.
Their example reminds us of a truth as old as the Republic itself: freedom has never been self-sustaining. Since our nation’s founding, each generation has been asked to protect it, preserve it, and pass it forward. From the patriots who secured our independence to the generations of military men and women who have safeguarded our freedoms across two and a half centuries, the strength of our nation has always rested on those willing to answer the call when duty demands it.
As America celebrates its 250th anniversary and Operation Healing Forces marks its 15th anniversary, we are reminded that our nation’s story has always been shaped by individuals whose courage exceeded their concern for personal safety and whose commitment to liberty outweighed the risks before them.
The men and women who forged our Republic understood an enduring truth: freedom requires stewardship. It demands sacrifice. It calls upon citizens willing to place service above self and the greater good above individual interests.
That same spirit has lived on in every generation of Americans who answer the call to serve. Among them are the members of America’s Special Operations Forces community. Serving at the Tip of the Spear, these men and women undertake some of our nation’s most demanding and consequential missions, supported by families whose strength, sacrifice, and resilience help make that service possible.
As Operation Healing Forces reflects on fifteen years of service, we are humbled by the privilege of walking alongside wounded, ill, and injured members of the Special Operations Forces community, as well as their families, caregivers, and survivors, as they navigate the challenges of rehabilitation, reintegration, and resilience.
Throughout that journey, we have witnessed extraordinary courage in the face of adversity, perseverance through hardship, and a steadfast commitment to others. Time and again, we have been reminded that service does not end when the mission changes. It is reflected in how these heroes continue to serve long after the mission changes, demonstrating the resilience, character, and commitment that have always defined our nation at its best.
As we celebrate this historic moment in our nation’s story, we do so with profound gratitude for those who have safeguarded our freedoms across generations and with renewed commitment to those who continue that mission today.
After all, the story of America has never belonged solely to those who founded her. It also belongs to those who have defended her, strengthened her, and sacrificed for her in every generation since.
On this 250th anniversary of our nation, we remain inspired by those who continue to respond when duty calls and honored to serve the Special Operations Forces community that carries forward a legacy of service, sacrifice, and commitment woven throughout our nation’s history. We are grateful for all who stand alongside them and help ensure that this legacy of service continues for generations to come.
Kerry Irvin
Chief Executive Officer
Operation Healing Forces
