This is how we all can show our patriotism. I have always loved America. We have been the Light of the world ever since World War II. We have been the bulwark of liberty, justice and free enterprise. And all the people of the world have looked toward us for hope, inspiration, and as a defender of the oppressed, afflicted, imprisoned, and starving. We have emulated the highest aspirations of the faith most Americans have in a loving, merciful and just Creator. — In my personal effort to participate in keeping America’s Light shining, I chose to serve our nation’s military, veterans, and their families, as well as all US citizens who appreciate them.
In 2004, soon after the start of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, I was living next door to Camp Pendleton Marine Base, loaded with 75,000 warriors. One day, one of them, who lived in my neighborhood and had a family, knocked on my door. While in Iraq, his wife had lost her job and by the time he returned, his house had no electricity. She had run out of money but did not want to tell him until he got home.
“Sir, he said, as I opened my door, “Do you have any kind of chores or repairs you need to get done?” – That is when I created a free job board for all the residents in my county, San Diego, to post jobs for our local US Marines and Navy, HirePatriots.com. It has been a tremendous sensation! Tens of thousands of our US Marines and Navy have earned extra income and found lasting friendships with many of the civilians they met. Hire Patriots even received an award for stimulating the local economy. (See Video) PEOPLE Magazine also did a feature about us in their America’s Heroes Among Us. And because of the great human interest stories our free job board creates we are frequently invited to speak on TV and radio, even nationally. (See some HERE.)
In addition to our job boards, we have held many military job fairs on bases here and across the U.S., nine marriage retreats for combat veterans, and assisted in starting over 100 veteran owned businesses that now employ hundreds of other veterans every day.
To provide these great services I founded Patriotic Hearts, a 501c3 non-profit. Our critical source of support has come through our CarDonation2Veterans.com program. If you have, or know anyone who has an unwanted vehicle, please consider calling 888-433-6202 anywhere in America.
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Mark Baird
