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Participants in the IAM Veterans Committee-Building Class recently joined together for a powerful program focused on service, leadership, and supporting fellow veterans in the union, in their workplaces, and in the community.
The class brought together IAM members from locals across the country, each with their own history of military service, to share experiences, strengthen advocacy skills, and strategize on building veterans committees within their districts and locals that support the veterans in their workplaces and communities.
Throughout the week, members participated in classroom learning, workshops, and group discussions aimed at identifying the needs of veterans and developing practical strategies to address them. The class examined issues such as navigating the VA benefits and claims system, connecting with resources for support, and organizing community service events.
Participants also stepped outside the classroom to volunteer at Charlotte Hall Veterans Home, demonstrating the IAM’s creed of “service to the community.” The class worked together to tear down and rebuild a safety fence surrounding a pond on the grounds of the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home.
WATCH: IAM Veterans Take Care of Fellow Veterans
The importance of the program and the unique bond that forms when veterans come together through their union. Their voices highlight the power of collaboration, solidarity, and shared purpose.
“When veterans unite through the IAM, we create more than committees. We build bridges of support, leadership, and solidarity,” said IAM Veterans Services Coordinator Rich Evans. “This program reminds us that service doesn’t end when the uniform comes off. It continues in our workplaces and communities, where we stand together to care for one another.
The IAM Veterans Committee training continues to grow each year, strengthening the union’s ability to meet the needs of the thousands of veterans within its ranks. The IAM pledges to keep veterans’ values —honor, courage, teamwork—at the heart of the union’s mission.
