Copyright Forbes
As our country celebrates Veterans Day, it is an opportunity to reflect on the importance of America’s builders. For 250 years, from the time Army Engineers served under the leadership of General George Washington to military engineers in our Armed Forces and veterans serving in today’s corporations, America’s builders have strengthened our Nation through service and innovation. Shoulder to shoulder with the U.S. Army, the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy also celebrate 250 years of service this year. It is essential to inspire this sense of service in each successive generation, and businesses have a significant role to play. Every business and community that invests in veterans and their families continues this 250-year tradition of building the Nation. Veterans Day reminds us that this enduring partnership of service and innovation is part of the fabric of our Nation. Veterans Day Reflections on 250 Years of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Building America This year we celebrate Veterans Day and the 250th birthday of our United States Army, established on June 14, 1775. Two days later, General George Washington appointed Colonel Richard Gridley as the first Chief of Engineers—marking the beginning of what would later become the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In that long and distinguished history of leaders serving our Nation, I was honored to be appointed as the 53rd Chief of Engineers. The qualities that built our Nation—discipline, courage, teamwork, and innovation—continue to define the veterans of today. As we commemorate Veterans Day, we are reminded that these enduring traits have strengthened our Nation across generations. Many veterans are serving in businesses and communities across the country. How are you ensuring their continued success? From the early coastal fortifications to the railroads, bridges, highways, and technologies that fuel our economy, active-duty military, veterans, and civilian engineers, scientists, and innovators have built and sustained our Nation. They link defense with innovation and ultimately economic prosperity. The prosperity we enjoy begins with the service provided by those who wear the military uniform—less than one percent of Americans serve on active duty. On this Veterans Day, businesses and communities should take the opportunity to celebrate those who defend our country and enable the breakthroughs that will shape our Nation’s future. The link between innovation and courage has long been a hallmark of America’s progress. One of the earliest and most dramatic examples came during the Civil War when a small band of soldiers and civilians carried out what became known as The Great Locomotive Chase along the Western & Atlantic Railroad, first surveyed by Army Engineer Stephen Harriman Long. Each Veterans Day offers an opportunity to reflect on how innovation, infrastructure, service, and sacrifice remain intertwined throughout America’s history of business and progress. MORE FOR YOU Veterans Day: The Great Locomotive Chase and the Birth of the Medal of Honor Veterans Day is filled with stories of courage and ingenuity, but few more remarkable than The Great Locomotive Chase. The story of the Medal of Honor began with a daring attempt to bring the Civil War to a quick conclusion, as Union forces sought to seize Chattanooga, an important railroad junction town. James Andrews, a civilian, proposed to Union leaders a secret plan to go behind enemy lines in civilian clothes and steal the northbound train from Marietta, Georgia. Andrews’ Raiders, as they were called, confiscated a Confederate engine, named the General. The General’s Confederate crew began running after the train before procuring another engine to continue what became known as The Great Locomotive Chase. The raiders took off on foot but were captured. Six of the raiders were released and interviewed by Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton, and received the Medal of Honor. Jacob Parrott, the youngest at age 18, was the first to receive the nation’s highest decoration for valor. On October 30, 2025, CSX (where I serve as a board member) was proud to partner with the Congressional Medal of Honor Society to re-enact The Great Locomotive Chase. As I traveled on the CSX train, it was quite an inspiring sight to see American citizens lined up along the route to pay tribute to these heroes. While very few Americans will ever wear the uniform, every person, community and business can support those who serve and their families. At CSX, nearly one in every five of over 22,000 employees is a veteran or first responder. Just as CSX honors its heritage by employing and celebrating veterans, other organizations can draw strength from a similar commitment. The spirit of ingenuity and courage, on the battlefield or in business, drives success for our Nation. Veterans Day: Innovation and the Business of Building America Two centuries later, the drive to connect people and markets still fuels America’s competitiveness. CSX Corporation’s heritage dates back almost 200 years, beginning with the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad, and in 2027, it will mark the bicentennial of America’s first commercially chartered railroad. While serving in uniform, innovators such as U.S. Army officer Stephen Harriman Long patented the Long truss bridge design, the first scientifically engineered wooden bridge, which the B&O and other early railroads adopted. When businesses invest in veterans, they are investing in the spirit of innovation, service, and sacrifice that built this Nation. That same innovative spirit continues to define America, and Veterans Day reminds us how military service and businesses are connected. When I served as the Director of Personnel for the U.S. Army, which included over one million soldiers and 330,000 civilians, we worked with many companies supporting veterans. Few did as much as the non-profit American Corporate Partners (ACP), where I now serve on the board. ACP helps veterans and active-duty military spouses by providing them with a yearlong mentorship guiding them toward their next career. Since its founding by Sid Goodfriend in 2008, over 39,000 veterans and military spouses have been mentored by ACP. Other companies also prioritize hiring veterans. Honoring those who serve on Veterans Day also means investing in their future—helping them transition their leadership skills and hard-fought experiences into the private sector. Whether building bridges or building careers, the objective is the same—to strengthen the Nation by investing in people. Veterans Day: From Bridges to Breakthroughs — Businesses Supporting the Next Generation On Veterans Day, it’s important to reflect on our first President George Washington’s view that “The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.” So, on this Veterans Day, how would you say your business and your community are doing to address these challenges, and how can we do more together? From bridges to breakthroughs, our Nation’s defense has and always will depend on the men and women who serve in our military—as well as the businesses and communities that stand with them. This Veterans Day reminds us of how our service members have sacrificed and how the military and businesses have built and always strengthened America—and must continue to do so for another 250 years.
