What?s Most Important this Holiday Weekend

I was thinking about the importance of this holiday weekend in the United States. For most, Memorial Day has become the unofficial beginning of summer, which means bar-b-queues with family, the opening of the neighborhood pool for the season, or maybe a long weekend at the beach. But for those who have served in the armed forces – or who have family and friends who have served – it is a lot more than a weekend off. It is a time to remember and pay tribute.

I was inspired when I read the answer to the question “What is a veteran?” on the website ARMingheroes.org. It states: “Simply put, a veteran is a person who at one point in his or her life wrote a blank check made payable to the United States of America for an amount of ‘up to and including my life.’” Wow.

Nick Bernardo started ARMingHeroes.org not because he had to, but because he wanted to. Those who know Nick know that he is busy running his business Net Gain Marketing. Nick thought the ARM industry, through its many thousands of hard-working employees, could band together to support the veterans of the armed forces. He and his team want to make sure that the men and women who served our country get the help they have earned by offering programs oriented to the unique ways in which the accounts receivable management industry can help. Their mission statement reads:

“By employing hundreds of thousands of people and saving American families hundreds of dollars every year in efforts to help creditors keep costs down, the accounts receivable management industry holds a prominent place in the economy. This prominence uniquely positions the industry to help veterans in the following areas: job opportunities, job training, mentoring, financial counseling, direct grants, credit counseling, debt reduction and forgiveness.”

Also this holiday weekend, a must-visit website is www.Iservedsticker.com. This is a great cause started by a personal friend of mine, Scott Kreger, who did not serve but wanted all of us to pay tribute to those who have. Their mission is fantastic. It states:

“Over the next few years, hundreds of thousands of men and women who have served courageously in our armed services will return home from Iraq and Afghanistan. We want to tell them ‘thank you.’ Our vision is to give every returning military person that served in Iraq or Afghanistan a free sticker that identifies where they served. It is our hope that these stickers will encourage others to express a simple ‘thank you’ for serving our country.”

And they recently added "I Served" stickers honoring those who served in Vietnam. Even better.

Way to go, Nick and Scott, for taking the time and making a difference. I did not serve in the armed forces, but like all of you, I know people who have. With the nation focused on crises here at home like the Gulf oil spill and the increasing unemployment rate, we sometimes forget those who are currently fighting for our freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan — or the many who have served our country before them. This weekend let’s thank them with our time and financial support. I think we all will be glad that we did.

And if you are a veteran reading this: we are all in your debt. Thank you.

Mike Ginsberg is the leading M&A expert for the accounts receivable management industry. He leads a premier advisory team that helps ARM industry owners and executives succeed in their growth, exit, and M&A strategies. Check out his page on insideARM.com.