I'm just reflecting on a theme that has come out from all around the table, which reminds me of the principle of homophily, for what that is worth. General Cuppens just spoke about making vets feel confident in their responsibility as a contributing member of society. Ms. Mathyssen and colleagues have touched on the subject of the role of the family. The same or similar references have been made by others.
We all get it, and this is what we get: we derive identity from our social connections—friends, family, fellow soldiers, sailors, aviators. The fraternal aspects are key. Remove the veteran from these connections and you contribute to their demise. Strengthen them, support those connections, and you actually save lives.
Associations are made up of these connections, these friends, these families, these fellow soldiers. Why? Because of the principle of homophily. We love connecting and bonding with similar-minded people. That's where our identities come from. The associations here at the table and others you've spoken to, that's where they work. They thrive in those spheres. They have a tremendous amount of stuff to offer, but they have no resources, or the resources are significantly limited.
A lot of us get involved in other projects, such as Soldier On. If you participate in a Soldier On event, you can't help but be broken down by what you see happening. Those events actually save lives. Why? Because they grab those disenfranchised members who have lost their identity and they bring them back into that sphere. They remind them, through the connections in the communities that are supporting them, that they do still have something to offer, that they are important, and that there are folks who still respect and need them.
That's what it's all about.