On this Veteran’s Day, I have to wonder why we are not doing all that is possible to save Veterans from committing suicide. Programs and initiatives exist; technology exists. But, we don’t act with all deliberate haste. And each day we wait, over 20 Veterans die. There are approaches, including a very recent study on suicide prevention tied into doctors who see Veterans within the year before death. I am finishing Shulkin’s new book and am deeply struck by how much his vision of his tenure differs from reality. As with many leaders who fail, he has not been able to own his mistakes, at least as of page 215 in the book. Isn’t that tragic too? He tells a tale in the name of Veterans but so far it is a book justifying his own behaviors. Sure, politics is a tough game but the story Shulkin tells seems remarkably self serving. I worry about our saying we are helping when we are really real aggrandizing or self enriching or self promoting. Leaders committed to being in service to others focus on these others. On this Veterans Day, it is good to remember what it means to serve — and we can serve in many ways.... and we can honor service and we can help Veterans when they leave service. That isn’t asking too much. It is the minimum we can provide. …see more