“Thank you for your service.” We hear this phrase often, especially around Memorial Day. Regardless of personal beliefs about war, or service in the military, all Americans must admit that we live in relative peace, in a democratic society, because of the service and sacrifice of the individuals who serve in our military. 

When a COLS participant indicates that they have served in the military, we automatically thank them. But, that acknowledgement is shallow without additional action on our part to meet veterans where they are and ensure that their voices are included in COLS. We know that despite their complicated health challenges, veterans as a group have been historically underrepresented in health research and underserved by our healthcare system. 

Many veterans suffer from multiple health challenges simultaneously including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance use disorders, anxiety, and depression. In fact, in Colorado, despite veterans making up only 9% of the population, they represent 20% of the population at suicide risk.

At COLS, we have team members who are veterans, and have family members who have served. We are honored to be partnering with The American Legion, a patriotic organization devoted to the interests of war veterans and public service. What we at COLS often call “win-win” situations, the Legion describes as “mutual helpfulness.” Many service men and women joined the military due to a personal sense of purpose and commitment to their community. These values carry over after active duty into a desire to continue helping their communities when they return home. As more and more veterans participate in COLS, we are building a powerful resource that will allow for more nuanced research into the complex interactions between biology, behavior, and environment that affect health outcomes and quality of life for veterans.  

On Saturday, May 11, COLS sponsored breakfast for a fundraising event for the Honor Flight, an organization that sends veterans to Washington D.C., at no personal cost, so they may be honored for their services. 

We will continue to post updates about ways that COLS is collaborating with and supporting veterans. If you want to get involved with local veterans groups, here are a few resources: American Legion – Fort Collins, Honor Flight Northern Colorado, Fort Collins Vet Center.