Thank You For Your Service 

We are in the midst of the American holiday season. And, no, in my opinion, it does not start with Halloween. However, the season does include Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year’s. It is a time of celebration and reflection. This is particularly true of Thanksgiving. Many families have the tradition of prior to the meal for each member to share one thing for which they are thankful. Gratitude is frequently expressed for family, friends, health, and the fantastic meal that is about to be consumed. From a business standpoint, NASBP members have much to be thankful for as we close out 2017. It has been fast-paced, exciting, and challenging. The Executive Committee recently traveled to Washington, DC to host the annual holiday dinner, where we expressed our deep appreciation to each member of our professional staff for their contribution to our efforts to promote, protect, and advance the surety product. I know you join us in extending a heartfelt “thank you” for their efforts.

As we celebrate the holidays, it is important to pause and give thanks for the millions of men and women who serve in the various branches of the U.S. military. The title of this article is “Thank You For Your Service.” Many of us use this phrase when we encounter a veteran or a member of the military.  In this day of an all-volunteer military, many of us do not have a direct relationship with those who serve. Retired General John Kelly recently remarked that only one percent of American families have a member who is serving in the military. Those members of the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard have each stepped forward to defend our nation and protect the freedoms we enjoy. Many of them have served multiple tours in the longest conflict in our history. In addition, thousands have paid what President Lincoln called that “last, full measure” of sacrifice. Countless others have suffered horrific physical injuries, which would have resulted in death in earlier wars. The Veterans Administration and medical communities do a tremendous job in treating those injuries and providing physical rehabilitation.

The purpose of this Pipeline article is to ask to you to reflect on the emotional trauma that many veterans experience as they return home. We have heard the statistics that over 20 veterans commit suicide every day. Numerous divorces have taken place among those who serve, and many veterans’ family members and friends have been alienated due the effects of post traumatic stress (PTS) on our servicemen and women. The efforts of the Veterans Administration, the medical community, and society, as a whole, have been woefully inadequate in dealing with this illness. The approach has been all too frequently to have the veteran take mind-numbing drugs. The encouraging news is that organizations such as NASBP are helping fund a non-drug approach that is producing immediate and dramatic benefits.

NASBP and its membership were introduced to the Research and Recognition Project at the 2015 NASBP Annual Meeting in San Diego. We heard the testimony of an amazing young veteran, Doug Baldwin, who had participated in one of the earliest clinical trials and who is now on the congressional staff of U.S. Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA 50^th). Baldwin has encouraged fellow veterans, who suffer from PTS, to enter the program. Executive Director Dr. Frank Bourke, who has overseen much of the research for the program, recently announced the completion of four clinical trials. Bourke reported that over 90% of those treated reported that their PTS symptoms have dissipated in five hours or less with no drugs. Here are testimonials from two of the participants:

NASBP, under the leadership of several NASBP past presidents, has stayed involved in ongoing efforts to raise funds for the Research and Recognition Project. Members, Affiliates, and Associates have opened their wallets and reached for their credit cards to generously support these efforts. We currently have over $200,000 in commitments and have ambitious goals to raise significantly more donations by the end of the 2018 NASBP Annual Meeting & Expo in Scottsdale. However, you do not need to wait until then to make a difference. As you make your charitable donation decisions at year end, consider donating to the Research and Recognition Project at this GoFundMe webpage: https://www.gofundme.com/randrNASBP. Or send a check directly to:

This fall, I encouraged attendees at our NASBP Regional Meetings to donate amounts equivalent to the cost of a nice steak dinner or to the amount they spend in a week at fast food restaurants or at their favorite coffee shop. Amounts large or small are welcome and appreciated. Each of us have been richly blessed in 2017, but we owe a tremendous debt to our veterans who have given so much and paid such a high price in the service of our country. Please make a payment on that debt.

Howard Cowan is Principal of Acrisure, LLC dba Cowan-Hill Bond Agency in Lubbock, TX. He can be reached at howardcowan@sbcglobal.net.