On this Memorial Day, we thought it appropriate to tell you about two excellent not-for-profit organizations dedicated to veterans and servicemen and women on active duty and their families. There are, obviously, a legion of similar worthy organizations that can be found via Google or Charity Navigator by typing in select keywords. Whatever your position on our military involvement abroad, these organizations can always use your support.

*The Fisher House Foundation
Fisher House offers several services, but is best known for being a kind of Ronald McDonald House for the families of wounded soldiers. The program is a unique private-public partnership that supports America’s military in their time of need. The program recognizes the special sacrifices of our men and women in uniform and the hardships of military service by meeting a humanitarian need beyond that normally provided by the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. There is at least one Fisher House at every major military medical center to assist families in need and to ensure that they are provided with the comforts of home in a supportive environment. Annually, the Fisher House program serves more than 10,000 families, and have made available nearly 2.5 million days of lodging to family members since the program originated in 1990. Here is a brief video:

*Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
Founded in June 2004, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) Is the nation’s first and largest group dedicated to the Troops and Veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the civilian supporters of those Troops and Veterans.IAVA’s mission is to improve the lives of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families.More than 1.5 million American troops have served in Iraq or Afghanistan, and thousands have been deployed multiple times. IAVA addresses critical issues facing new veterans and their families, including mental health, Traumatic Brain Injury, a stretched VA system, inadequate health coverage for national guardsmen and reservists, and outdated GI Bill educational benefits. IAVA is dedicated to educating the public about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, advocating on behalf of those who have served, and fostering a community for troops, veterans, and their families.

You may have seen IAVA director Paul Rieckhoff on the PBS’s NewsHour with Jim Lehrer or MSNBC’s Countdown with Keith Olbermann. Here’s a brief video about IAVA’s work.