Honoring those who serve the mission

OPINION:

On the morning of November 11, 1918, in a railway car in the Compiègne Forest of France, the German Empire surrendered to Allied forces, ending World War I.

Known as “the war to end all wars,” this conflict claimed the lives of 20 million soldiers and left over 21 million wounded. To honor the sacrifices of those who fought, Armistice Day was established on November 11, a day to remember the courage of the brave soldiers who defended freedom and to commemorate those veterans who gave their all and returned home. In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill officially renaming that day Veterans Day, expanding its purpose to honor all American veterans from all U.S. wars.

Veterans Day is a time to give “honor to whom honor is due” and recognize the dedication, devotion, and personal sacrifices our veterans and military service members have made in the mission of freedom. We honor veterans because we know that freedom does not defend itself. At Liberty University, we honor our veterans by devoting an entire month to military appreciation, and we are home to tens of thousands of military-affiliated students. Despite political differences and tensions within our society, we can all find unity in gratitude for those who risk their lives to protect our dear freedoms.

As we commemorate their service, we must also confront the very real crisis that many veterans face when returning home. The battlefield may change for many, but it is never truly left behind. Returning to civilian life brings its own set of challenges: physical injuries, isolation and loneliness, financial hardship, and struggles to reintegrate into the workforce. Perhaps most pervasive are the mental health struggles that can overshadow veterans long after they’ve returned.

Mental health is one of the most urgent crises veterans encounter today. According to the 2023 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, suicide is the leading cause of death for veterans under the age of 45. This crisis has persisted even as the VA’s mental health budget has increased from $2.4 billion to $8.9 billion between 2006 and 2019. In 2021 alone, 6,392 veterans died by suicide—more than 90% of all U.S. military service members lost in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan combined.

While substantial resources have been committed to addressing these symptoms, one area remains often overlooked: the role of faith in healing. Dr. Harold G. Koenig of Duke University has dedicated much of his research to studying how faith and spirituality affect mental and physical health. He has testified and served as an expert witness before the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, emphasizing the benefits of religion and spirituality on public health.

Dr. Koenig’s research shows that those who regularly attend religious services are 30% less likely to suffer from depression and have a 25% reduction in anxiety disorders. Faith isn’t just for the soul; it improves physical health, too, with regular participants seeing a 40% lower risk of hypertension and a 25% increase in life expectancy. Additionally, those involved in religious communities are 50% less likely to experience substance abuse. Faith, in short, is a source of resilience—perhaps one of the most underestimated miracle cures that our veterans urgently need.

Though not a clinical psychologist, George Washington, our nation’s first commander-in-chief, understood the essential power of faith in soldiers’ lives. In 1775, General Washington established chaplains in each regiment to lead religious services, counsel soldiers, and provide moral guidance. He also encouraged days of prayer, fasting, and thanksgiving, reinforcing the vital role of faith, morality, and good conduct in military life.

Washington’s wisdom laid the foundation for the U.S. military chaplaincy, and that legacy has continued. Having served our country for over 36 years and as a former U.S. Air Force chief of chaplains, I can say without hesitation that faith works. Liberty University is our nation’s largest educator of military chaplains and is working urgently to address the need for highly qualified and uniquely skilled ministers who can address the spiritual needs of our men and women in uniform.  

I’ve witnessed firsthand faith’s transformative effects on our service members and veterans. They deserve our deepest gratitude and recognition for their sacrifices, but they also deserve a greater cure for their invisible wounds, a cure that goes beyond therapy and medication.

This Veterans Day, as we honor the sacrifices made in the name of freedom, we are reminded of the ultimate sacrifice—the one made to bring freedom to a nation and humanity. As we look to our veterans, we also look to Jesus Christ, who is our only hope for salvation. It was on a blood-stained cross that Jesus purchased our freedom, setting captives free from sin and death. And it was in His resurrection that He gave us a lasting victory—a victory that can bring hope to all, including those who have sacrificed so much for others.

To our veterans and all who serve the mission of freedom, thank you. This Veterans Day, may we honor you not just in words but in action, supporting you in every way we can. May we also remember that while battles for freedom will continue in this world, a greater victory has already been won for us all because of Jesus Christ.

• Dr. Dondi Costin is the sixth president of Liberty University. He previously served as the president of Charleston Southern University for years. He is a retired Major General with 36 years of military service that culminated as a senior leader in the Pentagon, where he served as the eighteenth Air Force Chief of Chaplains. Dondi has been married to Vickey Costin for more than 35 years.