Joining the Travis Manion Foundation didn’t simply give me another place to volunteer, it gave me a renewed sense of purpose.
After retiring from the Army and later losing my wife, Staff Sgt. Jari J. Hudgins, I spent a long time trying to understand what service looked like without a military uniform. Like many veterans and Gold Star families, I struggled with the transition from serving a mission every day to trying to rediscover where I belonged. Travis Manion Foundation helped me realize that service doesn’t end when military service ends. It simply changes.
I first became involved after learning about the Foundation’s mission and its commitment to empowering veterans, families of the fallen, and inspired civilians to continue serving their communities. That mission immediately resonated with me because it reflected the values I had lived throughout my Army career. I wanted to continue honoring those who gave everything, not only by remembering their sacrifice, but by living a life worthy of it.
Through the Foundation, I found opportunities to mentor young people through Character Does Matter presentations, organize community service projects honoring fallen heroes, lead Teams of Character initiatives with local schools, and connect veterans with meaningful opportunities to continue serving. I’ve watched high school students sit beside veterans they’ve never met, children raise money for hospitalized kids, and volunteers come together to honor the legacy of fallen service members through acts of service. Those experiences have reinforced my belief that service is one of the most powerful ways we can bring people together.
Perhaps the greatest impact TMF has had on my life is reminding me that purpose can grow from pain. It has given me a community of people who believe that leadership is measured not by titles, but by how we choose to serve others. It has also allowed me to transform my own loss into something that can help others find hope, connection, and purpose.
As I look to the future, my hope is that we continue building communities where veterans never feel like their service ended when they hung up the uniform, where families of the fallen know they will never walk alone, and where the next generation understands that character is demonstrated through action, not words. I hope we continue teaching young people that leadership is about integrity, compassion, and the willingness to serve something greater than themselves.
If there is one lesson I hope future generations carry forward, it is that service is not defined by military service alone. Every person has the ability to make a difference in someone else’s life. Whether it’s mentoring a student, checking on a neighbor, honoring a fallen hero through community service, or simply showing up for someone during their hardest season, those acts create stronger communities and lasting legacies.
For me, the Travis Manion Foundation has never been just an organization. It has been a reminder that the words “If Not Me, Then Who…” are more than a motto, they are a daily challenge to continue serving, leading, and investing in others. That’s the legacy I hope we leave for future generations.