More than two decades ago on Sept. 11, 2001, our attackers aimed to devastate a nation. Instead, in the wake of a dark day in history, thousands of men and women stepped up to serve.

Navy veteran and graduate Lacey Sladky reflected on her experience with this one-of-a-kind program.

On the day 1stLt Travis Manion (USMC) died on April 29, 2007, he was on a mission with fellow Marine Chuck Segel in the Al Anbar province of Iraq.

This former Marine and current football coach insisted on character training to turn his team’s season around.

On National Purple Heart Day, Army veteran Earl Lundy recalls the explosion in Afghanistan that led to his award, and how he came to embody the recognition in the years that followed.

Group of female mentors set out to develop character in young women.

“When you go through tragedy, you might not have the resilience to write a letter like [the one Tom Hixon wrote about his father]. For Tom and his family to go through the tragedy and still want to give back, still want to do something positive – it meant the world to me, and I could tell it meant the world to those kids.” – Jimmy White, Character Does Matter mentor

In uniform or not, at home or abroad, and in times of turmoil or times of peace, we know that America’s veterans never stop serving their country or their communities.

On July 22, 2010 Marine Combat Engineer Rob Jones stepped on an improvised explosive device while serving in Afghanistan. The injuries he sustained required two above-the-knee amputations that led to 18 months of grueling rehabilitation and recovery.

Top 3 Values in Action Strengths: Social Intelligence, Zest, HopeThe Honorable Patrick J. Murphy is America's first Iraq War veteran elected to the U.S.