The Veteran Muster

Veterans Day 2026

The Buddy Check: Evan Shelline’s five steps

Call one veteran you know and ask how he or she is doing. Five minutes. The men and women who served in Korea and Vietnam are now among our nation’s oldest Veterans; many live alone, and many have never talked about their service, not even with their own families.

How to make a Buddy Check

  1. Pick one veteran. A parent, an uncle, a neighbor, somebody from church or from the VFW or American Legion post. Someone you have not spoken to in a while is a good choice.
  2. Call, don’t text. Hearing a voice is the point.
  3. Ask how they’re doing, then wait. Let the silence sit. You do not need to fix anything.
  4. Ask one question about their service if they seem open to it: where they were stationed, who they served with. Let them decide how far to go.
  5. End with a plan. A visit, a meal, another call next week.

If the veteran you call is in crisis, dial 988 and press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line, free and open every day, or text 838255.

“After the flags and the speeches, make one call. It may be the best conversation that veteran has all year.”

Evan Shelline, in the November 6, 2026 announcement: This Veterans Day, Navy SEAL Veteran Evan Shelline Asks Michigan to Make One Call: A Buddy Check (EIN Presswire). The full page: vettedvc.com. The 55-second version for sharing.