Featuring Veteran Employees’ Powerful Stories for Veterans Day

Old and worn military dog tags that Thank You to honor Veteran employees for Veterans Day

Featuring veteran employees on Veterans Day is an effective public relations strategy as it highlights their unique contributions while fostering a sense of authenticity and appreciation. This can strengthen a company's reputation as supportive and socially responsible.

But the share of voice is often dominated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the White House and national veterans' service organizations. To capture media and the public's attention, consider implementing novel activations to highlight these employees year-round, culminating with a feature on Veterans Day.

Here are three innovative ways a company can highlight veteran employees and garner positive public sentiment.

Host a Veteran Spotlight Podcast Series

Why It Works:

Podcasts have become a powerful medium for storytelling, offering a platform for connection and engagement. A veteran spotlight podcast series allows a company to highlight personal stories, experiences and skills, showcasing their resilience and contributions both in and out of uniform. It also creates a new marketing channel to promote your brand and host ads.

How to Implement:

  • Plan and Structure: Work with your veteran employees to curate a list of topics and themes that resonate with their experiences. Consider episodes focused on leadership skills gained in the military, transitioning to civilian roles, or how their service influences their work today.
  • Internal and External Sharing: Promote the podcast internally to strengthen your company's community and externally to enhance brand visibility. Partner with local media outlets to cover these inspiring stories, expanding your reach and impact.
  • Engage with Authenticity: Ensure that the podcast series is authentic by involving veterans in planning and execution. This creates content that truly reflects their experiences and provides meaningful value to listeners.

Feature a Collaborative Art Project

Why It Works:

Art has the power to unite people and convey powerful messages. A collaborative art project engages both veteran and non-veteran employees to create something beautiful and symbolic, fostering a sense of unity, service and gratitude. It’s also an opportunity to identify and host an exhibit sponsor.

How to Implement:

  • Organize the Project: Set up a large canvas or mural space in a common area of the office. Invite employees to contribute by adding elements that represent their personal reflections on service and unity.
  • Celebrate and Share: Once completed, display the artwork prominently in the office lobby or share images and videos on social media platforms on Veterans Day. This not only honors veterans, but also emphasizes your company’s commitment to inclusivity and community.
  • Create Lasting Impact: Consider involving local artists or veterans' service organizations to further extend the initiative's reach and impact within the community.

Implement a Reverse Mentorship Program

Why It Works:

Reverse mentorship leverages the diverse experiences and perspectives of your workforce, allowing for mutual learning and growth. It empowers veterans to share their unique leadership skills while your senior executives gain fresh insight from junior colleagues.

How to Implement:

  • Pair for Purpose: Match veteran employees with senior team members based on shared interests or professional goals. Encourage veterans to mentor on leadership, adaptability and strategic thinking.
  • Facilitate Engagement: Organize regular check-ins and collaborative projects to foster a dynamic learning environment where both mentors and mentees can grow and thrive.
  • Highlight Success Stories: Share the outcomes and testimonials from the program through internal newsletters or external communications on Veterans Day to demonstrate its positive impact.

Powerful Storytelling

Beyond the unique skills and shared experiences veterans bring to the workforce, they also bring storytelling potential for your public affairs, marketing and communications teams to capitalize on. Veterans Day is just one of many to showcase how your company supports your veteran employees’ journey from military to civilian life.

By implementing these unique initiatives, your company will authentically honor them while reinforcing its reputation as a supportive, socially responsible business.

Barrett Y. Bogue is a veteran of the Iraq War and President & Founder of Evocati Public Relations.