Veterans Day | Equalized Outdoors

Veterans Day carries a specific weight for Equalized Outdoors. It is not a day of mourning—that belongs to Memorial Day, though there still an element of remberance. Today is about the ones who are still here, still connected, still carrying the memories of those they served beside. It is a day defined by community, by shared history, and by a bond that doesn’t expire when the uniform comes off.

Equalized Outdoors is veteran-founded, but EO has never made this day about any one individual. This day belongs to the countless men and women whose service shaped them in ways few words can capture—those who deployed, trained, led, and sacrificed, and those who continue to hold each other up long after ETS dates and retirements.

For EO’s founder, nearly nine years in the U.S. Army included assignments in Korea, Joint Base Lewis–McChord, Fort Hood, and deployments to Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom) and Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom).

The Author at the Advanced Leadership Course

He left service as a Staff Sergeant, having served as a Platoon Sergeant in Afghanistan—a leadership role where the responsibility for people is real, not symbolic. Veterans Day for him is a celebration, almost like a class reunion. A group chat among former soldiers from his platoon is still active more than a decade later. That’s what today represents: the enduring relationships formed through doing difficult things with exceptional people.

But this day also carries a harder truth. Those relationships don’t always survive the transition home. Veterans are still lost at a staggering rate—an estimated 22 a day to suicide. EO’s founder has felt that loss personally, including the death of a former soldier who served under him in Afghanistan. They made it home from war, only to be lost here. He didn’t learn about it until after the funeral. That pain is not unique. It is part of why Equalized Outdoors supports organizations focused on veterans’ mental health and why this message is delivered with honesty, not sentimentality.

The Author and fellow group chat member, as civilians after a successful hunt

To honor the day properly, EO is sharing the perspectives of veterans whose experiences speak to what service really means.

Master Sergeant Gregg Kimbell, currently serving on active duty with over two decades in uniform, shared this:

“As a seasoned service member with over two decades of experience and multiple deployments, I can attest to the profound sense of brotherhood that can be cultivated within the military. This camaraderie often becomes a cherished memory once one leaves service, akin to the invaluable hunting experiences that contribute to personal growth and resilience. While it may be challenging to articulate fully, the unique bond formed through shared experiences and sacrifices transcends words and resonates deeply with those who have walked similar paths.”

Image courtesy of Gregg Kimbell

From the small-business world, Jerry Grose, owner of Custom Gear Modifications and a veteran himself, offered this reflection:

“With both of CGM’s founders, my son and I, being vets, we quickly realized that the mobile hunting population is full of fellow veterans or like-minded individuals. There's no better way to continue the camaraderie and relationships experienced while serving than this community. We don't just honor veterans on this day, but every day. Sure, we honor them through discounts, but more importantly we honor them by keeping the dollars they spend with us right here in the country they fought for. American made, veteran owned, and veteran operated.”

This year’s message also touches on how public attitudes have evolved. In Episode 769 of the MeatEater Podcast, a guest remarked that “protect public lands is the new ‘thank you for your service’”—a line that resonated with our founder. Equalized Outdoors reached out to MeatEater’s public-relations team for clarification; however, they were unable to respond to non-press inquiries due to volume. Regardless of intent, the discussion highlights a real feeling among many veterans: the sense that public appreciation has become more symbolic than substantive.

Yet what endures is the bond between veterans themselves. Veterans Day is not defined by discounts, slogans, or marketing language. It is defined by the people—those who served together, who keep each other upright, who check in on one another, who step in when others step back.

Author and members of his Platoon in Afghanistan

Equalized Outdoors honors all veterans today: the ones still serving, the ones who transitioned into new careers, the ones building businesses, the ones raising families, the ones fighting silent battles, and the ones who continue to carry the weight of leadership long after deployment ends.

Today, EO says simply: We see you. We honor you. We’re still in this together.