I stand in awe of any volunteer who has served in our nation’s military for 39 years. That kind of dedication — year after year, through changing times and countless challenges — speaks to a rare and unwavering sense of purpose. While only about six percent of the U.S. population has worn the uniform, at United Airlines we’ve always had a far higher concentration of veterans. The reason is clear: the skills, discipline, and mindset required to fly complex aircraft translate directly from military cockpits to commercial aviation. It is with the utmost respect that I can say I have nothing more to add beyond what RUPA’s Vice President, Captain Chris Bird, so eloquently expressed in his message below. His words capture the heart and meaning of service better than any I could offer.
Each Veterans Day, we pause to honor those who wore our nation’s uniform — men and women who answered the call, packed their bags, kissed their families goodbye, and went where they were needed most. For many of us in the Retired United Pilots Association, that call wasn’t theoretical; it was personal. We lived it — the deployments, the distance, the quiet resilience of those waiting at home, and the gratitude of returning safely to friendly soil.
To serve is to live with purpose. It’s to take the oath, shoulder the mission, and trust your training and your crew — no matter how uncertain the horizon. Service isn’t about glory; it’s about responsibility. Whether flying the line, leading troops, or managing the chaos of deployment, the goal was always the same: get there, get it done, and bring everyone home safely.
Before my last deployment, a friend said to me, “Haven’t you done enough?” It was said with care, but it lingered. The truth is, most of us who served knew the answer deep down. You go not for recognition or reward, but for purpose — for the greater good — because something inside you says it’s still your duty. You do it for the mission, for your comrades, and for the belief that what you give matters.
Deployment tests even the strongest among us. You leave family, friends, and familiar skies behind, knowing that life moves on in your absence. The ache of missing milestones is real — the birthdays, holidays, even the small routines that give life rhythm. I’ve had the honor — and the challenge — of returning from deployment twice. Each time reminded me of the enormous sacrifices made not just by those who serve, but by those who wait.
Our spouses bore that burden in ways words can hardly express. They kept the homefires burning, often alone, while carrying worries they rarely shared. We did our best — even from a distance — to make things a little better, a little lighter. A call, a letter, a brief connection to remind them that we were still there in spirit, even when duty had us halfway around the world. Those moments of shared hope and strength sustained both sides of the distance.
Both times when I came home, there were faces I’ll never forget. Among them were the friends and comrades who had served beside me and those who showed up when it mattered most. Their presence during those times meant more than words can describe. They were there again later, when the uniform came off and reality set in — those darker moments that many veterans know all too well, when we realize that some things aren’t quite the way we left them.
Not all of us had the homecomings we imagined. Some came back to quiet airports, to changed circumstances, or to find that the world had moved on. There weren’t always banners, brass bands, or people waiting — and that’s a truth that many veterans carry silently. But in that solitude, we found strength — in faith, in friendship, and in the simple pride of having done our duty.
There’s something about those who’ve shared the same road — those who can read what’s unspoken and steady you when the weight feels too heavy. Many of us in the veteran community understand that struggle, and we know how vital it is to have someone who truly gets it. I was fortunate — I had friends who did.
Our RUPA ranks are filled with men and women who balanced military service and airline careers, often side by side. The discipline, composure, and teamwork forged in uniform carried seamlessly into commercial aviation. Whether in the cockpit or the crew room, that same quiet professionalism — that sense of mission — never left us.
Veterans Day reminds us that we are part of something enduring: a tradition of courage, service, and loyalty that binds generations of aviators and patriots together.
Looking back on those years — the deployments, the homecomings, and the lifelong friendships forged along the way — I’m filled with gratitude. Gratitude for those who served, those who waited, and those who welcomed us home. For every pilot who ever looked down from 35,000 feet and felt proud to serve this nation, this day is ours.
To all who served — and to those who stood beside them — we salute you. We remember, we honor, and we carry on. I salute you. I remember. I am proud to be among you.
Chris Bird, Vice President, RUPA
Over the years, I’ve often heard those kind words — “Thank you for your service” — from people I have met on the street or in passing conversations. I truly appreciate the sentiment and the respect behind it. Yet to be honest, I’ve always felt a bit uncomfortable hearing it. I willingly served 24 years and truly enjoyed every deployment, every drill weekend, and every mission. Service for me was not a burden; it was a privilege — a calling I was proud to answer time and again.
If there are words that would mean the most, they would simply be “Welcome home.” Two words I rarely heard outside of those spoken by loved ones — yet they carry a warmth and understanding that only those who have served can fully feel.
So today, to every veteran — and to the families who stood by them — I say from the heart: Welcome Home!
Fraternally and Forever Grateful,
John Yackus, and
On behalf of the Retired United Pilots Association Board of Directors,
Chris Bird, John Rains, George Cox, & Dan Petrovich