Albany Area Chamber of Commerce, Phoebe Health System hold event to honor veterans ahead of Veterans Day

ALBANY, Ga. – With Veterans Day coming this weekend, one Phoebe Health System leader is highlighting the need to hire veterans after they retire from service.

Members of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce’s Military Affairs Committee alongside Phoebe Health leadership spoke on the need to hire veterans in the present day.

Phoebe’s Network Manager, Michael Leach is a veteran himself, and he discussed reintegration into the workforce.

“I think there is some stigma with veterans about the issues that they may have. But, I think we need to look past that and help them to move on. And, helping employers find good employees,” said Michael Leach, Network Manager, Phoebe Health System.

While Veterans Day will pass after this weekend, leach tells us that hiring veterans would be just as good of a way of thanking them for their service any time of year.

“We should just stop and think about hiring veterans. We should thank them for their service, because veterans are who keeps us safe. People who serve in the military are the ones who keep the freedoms we enjoy,” said Leach.

And, in thinking back on his own reason for serving, leach spoke about passing on treating veterans with respect for veterans to the next generation.

“When I grew up, service was very important, it was a a very big issue with my family. There’s a lot of goodness that can happen with service. And, so, if we teach our young people to serve a community, to serve their country, then I think a lot of good can come from that,” said Leach.

While the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce and their partners are doing their best to reintegrate veterans into the workforce, they know there’s still plenty of work to be done.

The Albany Young Marines will be hosting a Veterans Day celebration this Saturday, November 11th at Noon at the Veterans Park Amphitheater.

Brian Roche reporting.

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