Reading through the The Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity by Veteran Status, and the verdict is not good. Veterans made up only 6% of all new entrepreneurs last year, compared to 12% in 2000.

Kauffman cites, "The total share of the working-age veteran population declined from 11.2 percent in 1996 to 6.4 percent in 2011. These estimates confirm that the decline in the veteran share of the working-age population drives most of the decline in the veteran share of new entrepreneurs." In other words, less Veterans means less Veteran-Owned businesses.

In Maine, Veteran-Owned businesses have fallen 48% since 2000. An aging Veteran population, multiple deployments, high rates of PTSD and suicide, on top of record unemployment have stacked the deck against Veterans, but we have seen this situation throughout history. Granted, it is a smaller army, but the "Next Greatest Generation" is smarter, better educated, better trained and more motivated than any other soldier in history. It's just a matter of time before the ranks of business swell with those that know how to get it done.

Thank you for your sacrifice and continued service.

Remember hearing about this guy who proposed a new concept that sent all cargo to a central clearinghouse, or hub, and then it would be sorted and send to where it needed to go. Sounded stupid, "why would I send cargo from Dallas to Memphis so it could be delivered to Houston?"

He got a "C" at Yale for this stupid idea.

He graduated from Yale and joined the Marines, served two tours in Vietnam in a number of capacities, including working with the military logistics system and forward air control (FAC) flying in the backseat of an OV-10. In 1969 with the rank of Captain, having received the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and two Purple Hearts, was honorably discharged.

That Marine, Fred Smith, came back to Memphis and created Federal Express, now FedEx.

Think big and remember that every great advancement came from a stupid idea.

Because every story needs a moral, I'm going to use a recent post on the Maine SBDC Facebook page (thanks Jen).

"Nearly every man who develops an idea works at it up to the point where it looks impossible, and then gets discouraged. That's not the place to become discouraged." ~Thomas Edison

Thank you for your service.

Recently my sister sent me an email about some genealogy research she is doing. It appears that my grandfather was John Henry Lummus....his mother was Vira Ann (Key) Lummus, her father was Dr. James Henry Key....his father was William Henry Key, his father was John Alfred Key, which was Francis Scott Keys' brother....

So, Francis Scott Key is my great great great great Uncle.... I think!

This prompted further investigation: Every American knows that Francis Scott Key wrote the words to the National Anthem, but few know that the tune was written in 1780 by John Stafford Smith, as "To Anacreon In Heaven," the constitutional song of the Anacreaontic Society of London. Basically a drinking song from an English gentlemen's club.

Listen: http://www.astrococktail.com/anacreon.html

The Star-Spangled Banner was adopted as the National Anthem in 1931.

To paraphrase a Veteran on LinkedIn - The power of the Star-Spangled Banner is not within the Music, but the words attributed to those that fought at Fort McHenry. Have a Happy 4th.

Thank you for your Service and Sacrifice.

"Our power doesn't come from stating that we're veterans, but from using the attributes we've developed as veterans." Lance T. Walker, USAF Veteran

A co-worker passed on a story from the New Hampshire Business Review (NHBR) about more NH Veterans starting their own business. See article here

This is not a new story for veterans and it shows that they continue to take things into their own hands and move forward, and not just for themselves, but for other veterans. When veterans start businesses, they hire veterans.

Matthew Bernard (the Vet in the interveiw) goes on to say, "Veterans must "re-educate themselves" for the civilian work world and be able to highlight their transferable skills such as problem-solving under pressure, discipline, ability to adapt, and their leadership experiences."

Bernard, like many other Veterans have realized that their military experience and training is their path to success, for themselves, other Veterans and this nation. We owe so much more than freedom to our Veterans.

Thank you for your service!

Wanted to welcome home the 130 Marines and Sailors assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Marine Corp Forces Reserve. We wish them well and thank them for their service.

On another note: I wanted to comment on Col. David Sutherland's story "Key Pentagon aide views Maine as ideal destination for veterans".

"Sutherland stressed that returning service members are not victims, they are veterans, and that they don't need pity, they need understanding."

Damn right!

One other thing, saw where Gen Libby was stepping down. He will be missed. His parting words said volumes.

"A decade of War has taken its toll on this nation, its treasure and this generation of warriors and we owe them what we promised them, our full support and necessary resources as they recover from their visible and invisible wounds."

Thank you General for your service and sacrifice, it was my pleasure to have met you.

Years ago when I was running a small electrical contracting business I had a guy that worked for me that spend time in the Merchant Marines, then got his Electrical Journeyman's license because he got tired of the ocean. Great worker, and as it happened he came to me one day saying he was leaving, that he had been accepted into Naval flight school and had to get to Florida PDQ. He apologies profusely that he was leaving me a bit in a lurch, but I remember telling him that I would cut off my right arm to have that type of opportunity. I was truly proud to have that caliper of employee. I knew not everyone gets accepted to Naval flight school and fewer made it though. I felt my business was somehow raised a few notches. I couldn't wait to tell everyone that one of my employees was going to Naval Flight School. This was about the same time that "Top Gun" came out.

So about 6 years later, out of the blue I get a call. It was him; he had been flying P3s out of Florida and was looking to get out. He asked me if I could give him a reference.

Well, by this time, I had folded up the business and moved on, but was shocked that someone with his experience, knowledge and education would track me down to ask for a reference. I told him, "with your experience, I expect that you could write your own ticket." I'm not sure my reference would have meant much, but I could see he was covering all his bases. Of course I told him I would do anything I could to help.

Well, so what's the moral of the story? No moral, just like to brag on the highly trained people that do the job. Oh, did I mention, he used to work for me.