And their stories are being highlighted this holiday season. Monday marks the debut online of a few early Christmas gifts for all of us: short movies commissioned by ABC and made by veterans who are now soldier-filmmakers.
It's part of our parent company Disney's initiative called "Heroes Work Here", and the network got some of Nashville's finest to record a theme song.
An old song, 'Celebrate Me Home', is being given new life by the members of Lady Antebellum.
The tune Kenny Loggins first released back in 1976 inspired these musicians as children growing up.
"The lyrics didn't really mean anything to me at that point, I was just enjoying the melody of it," said Lady Antebellum's Charles Kelley. "Now, being a travelling musician and being away from home a lot, it really does mean so much more to me now."
The lyrics are perfect for ABC's "Home For The Holidays" campaign that honors our veterans much as this station does every year, but this season offers servicemen and women an additional opportunity.
"ABC is giving veterans the ability to write, direct and produce short films," said Lady Antebellum's Hillary Scott.
Captain Rebecca Murga served in Afghanistan and came home looking for work in TV.
"I'm a young Puerto Rican kid from Chicago," she said. "When I was growing up, you didn't see a lot of people from my neighborhood growing up to be directors."
She entered a network competition: to choose five veterans who would be given the chance to make short films reflecting their experience.
You can check out "The Letter" and the four other films right now at abc.com.
Each veteran was teamed with a mentor and a professional crew. Captain Murga got guidance from one of the executive producers of "Grey's Anatomy."
