Maybe more than ever before, the annual Veterans Food Drive is proving to former servicemembers just how much people care. Archie Callahan, a veteran of three Middle East deployments, told the Chicago Tribune that the generosity shown him and his family by the food drive "feels like a great big hug."

Callahan, and each of the other 1,200 veterans who showed up at the Bridgeview Sports Dome on Saturday, was given a 20-pound turkey and seven bags of food that, when arranged in the correct order, spelled out "thanks." More than 250 volunteers were at work organizing thousands of boxes of food for the big day. Veterans only had to show their current military ID or discharge papers in addition to some proof of their Illinois residency.

The food drive was so popular that some veterans faced long lines. Mary Jarvis Anderson, an Army veteran who served in Fallujah, Iraq, told the Tribune that she and her father, a World War II veteran, were happy to spend more than an hour in traffic outside the sports facility because the care packages were worth the wait.

"I was unemployed but I just started a new job and this is so going to really help," said Anderson. "This is beyond nice that they are doing this. It means so much that people think of us and want to help."

Last year the food drive fed 800 people. An advance online registration targeted a higher goal of 1,000 for this year, but so many donations came in from around the state that walk-in veterans were able to receive bags of food as well.

Similar Thanksgiving food drives are happening all around the country. In Jacksonville, Florida, where about 1 in 6 people does not reliably have access to food, the Clara White Mission announced a huge food drive specifically for veterans. With the holiday season approaching, charitable donations are more frequent and veterans will find many organizations supporting them. 

Photographers across the country are putting their art to use as a unique means for honoring veterans. On Veterans Day, Trish Logan photographed 50 veterans as they left a Veterans Day program. She offered them both individual portraits and group photographs with their families. All photographs were free of charge, the Oxford Hills Sun Journal reported.

"They all have great stories," Logan told the Journal. Her project to commemorate veterans is part of a wider effort to give back to her Maine community, called the Logan Legacy Project, which offers donations to local high schools, college scholarships and opportunities for students to learn about photography. 

Logan's veteran project began in 2010, when the Wreaths Across America initiative stopped by the Maine Veterans' Home. Seeing the veterans' faces as they watched the procession go by in the cold wind outside left an indelible impact on her.

Speaking with local students opened Logan's eyes to how little they knew about certain moments in history, particularly the experiences World War II veterans. "It's a generation," Logan told the paper, "that's vanishing." To correct that, she's taking their photographs with the aim of recording the stories of every veteran in her Oxford Hills community within the next few years.

In New York, Stacy Pearsall, a former Air Force combat photographer who served two tours in Iraq, is addressing old wounds with new photographs in her life after service. Pearsall's military career ended abruptly when she was wounded by an IED blast. 

"When I got wounded, I spent a lot of time in the hospital. I was looking around at other veterans. They really inspired me to want to do portraits," Pearsall told CNY Central. 

After getting healthy, Pearsall founded the Veteran's Portrait Project. She has already taken 3,000 portraits of veterans nationwide. 

Transitioning to the civilian world in their life after service isn't always easy, but veterans are finding that the tech industry is eager to employ programmers and technicians with the kind of skill sets they perfected while in the military. According to CIO, a website for Chief Information Officers and other IT professionals, a few major organizations have seen great recent success in helping put IT employers in touch with veterans.

Hiring Our Heroes, an initiative that began in March 2011 with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, is a nationwide effort dedicated to helping veterans and military families find stable employment. In four and a half years, the program has held more than 900 jobs fairs nationwide and assisted more than 27,000 veterans and their spouses in securing jobs. One of HoH's many IT partners is Microsoft. The company conducted training events and workshops for thousands of veterans earlier this year to help them refine their networking chops and better present their field-related experience.

Kim Morten, Hiring Our Heroes' senior manager of communications, told CIO that "Many times the media will portray returning veterans as 'broken heroes,' but that's not entirely true. They don't want pity, nor do they want to be put on a pedestal. They want the chance to get a good job, doing good work and show what they're worth."

Another program that has seen great results is V.E.T.S (Vocation, Education and Training for Service members). V.E.T.S began in 2012 as a means for addressing the dearth of high-level talent in the IT field and veterans' high unemployment rate. A study conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs found that, even now, about half of post-9/11 veterans can expect to face a period of unemployment as they transition to the civilian workforce. The V.E.T.S initiative hopes to change that. It has already trained and placed more than 100 veterans in IT jobs, and hopes to expand to 500 or 600 in the near future.

Newman's Own Foundation announced on Thursday that it would award $1.5 million in grants to organizations that support military servicemembers, veterans and their families. In a press release, the philanthropic nonprofit, formed in 2005 by the late actor Paul Newman – who was himself a World War II veteran – described the donation as a celebration of its 10th anniversary.

Twenty-nine organizations will receive money to fund the work they do in assisting veterans with physical and mental rehabilitation, housing, education and career development. "Our men and women in uniform make great sacrifices in their own lives to protect the unique freedom, privileges, and opportunities we enjoy as Americans. It is not so much a responsibility to support them, but more a privilege to express our gratitude for their service," said Robert Forrester, the president and CEO of the foundation, in a statement.

Cathy Cook of Work Vessels for Veterans, one of the organizations receiving grant money, told the Military Times that the $30,000 they were awarded would go a long way toward providing veterans with the type of vehicle or equipment they needed to pursue civilian careers or higher-level educations. Cook said that the group's 20 pending requests for pickup trucks could now begin to be filled.

Milton Pitts Crenchaw, one of the original Tuskegee Airmen flight instructors, died Tuesday in Georgia. Crenchaw had been fighting cardiovascular disease and pneumonia, the Associated Press reported. He was 96, and one of the very last of the surviving instructors for that proud and distinguished group of veterans.

Crenchaw was among the first African Americans recruited for the Tuskegee Airmen program. President Franklin Roosevelt established the initiative as a way to train black pilots to fight in World War II when it became evident that the U.S. just didn't have enough pilots or support crew for the war effort.

"He began that whole flying experiment – I really think that's what it was because they didn't think it was going to work," Dolores Singleton, Crenchaw's daughter, told the AP. "For a black man to be able to fly, that's just like an astronaut now."

The Tuskegee Airmen were one of the very few black units integrated into the front lines. The Airmen proved so valuable in the American air campaign – earning military honors and respect as aces in the sky – that they broke the mold. Crenchaw studied at the Tuskegee Institute and went on to train hundreds of pilots between 1941 and 1946. He was the primary civilian flight instructor for a time, and eventually became a supervising squadron commander.

More than 16,000 airmen contributed to the Tuskegee legacy, but today only about 250 are still with us. Following Crenchaw's death, that number is a little smaller. The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder reported earlier this month that Tuskegee Airmen Inc., a program founded in 1971, hopes to keep their legend alive. In their life after service, many Tuskegee veterans dedicated their time and effort to talking about their experiences. What this incredible group of men accomplished is something that should continue to be celebrated.

Fort Walton Beach, a small beach-side city in western Florida, was recently recognized as one of the greatest in the country for veteran businesses. Over the last few years the city hosted an entrepreneurial program focused on veterans that proved to be a big success, according to Stars and Stripes. The result is Fort Walton Beach's ranking as the 10th best city for veteran-developed businesses or first careers in their life after service. 

A half-million dollars was set aside for the program by the city council, in addition to seven $25,000 grants offered in conjunction with Venture Hive, an entrepreneurship education company based out of Miami. No restrictions were put on the veterans when it came to developing a business which qualified for a grant. 

The city is close to Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field, where more than 17,000 servicemembers are currently stationed. Ted Corcoran, president and CEO of the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, told NWF Daily News that "We have a great availability of military folks who love being stationed here, and want to stay. If they retire here, they often make the transition to a second career by starting a business." 

Mike Anderson, the city's mayor, echoed that sentiment. "Our veterans have such talent and such a great work ethic," he told the news site, "and we really pride ourselves on being a military- and veteran-friendly community." 

The survey to recognize the best American cities for veteran businesses, commissioned in part by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Hiring Our Heroes program, found that Asheville, North Carolina provided the most support and achieved the most success. Other Florida cities that made the top 10 include Sarasota at No. 2, West Palm Beach at No. 3, and Fort Lauderdale at No. 8. 

The beta version of the Department of Veterans Affairs new website, Vets.gov, launched last week on Veterans Day. Still in its rudimentary stages, the site is designed to consolidate the VA's thousands of services and related websites under one roof. A banner on its homepage makes clear that the project is still very much a work in progress.

Vets.gov was developed by a U.S. Digital Service team under contract to the department, according to Fedscoop, a government tech news site and IT community. The website kicks off the VA's "MyVA" initiative, designed to address complaints about the difficulty of navigating and engaging its services, by becoming more customer friendly. VA Secretary Bob McDonald said in a statement that the agency's new focus on costumer service would "drive VA culture and practices to understand and respond to the expectations of our Veteran customers."

Right now, Vets.gov provides basic information on disability and education benefits. The categories are, according to a blog post to veterans from McDonald about the launch, the two "you've told us mean the most to you." Additional features include the Post-9/11 GI Bill Comparison Tool and a function for finding the nearest facility accepting veterans benefits.

New tools will be added on a regular basis. The site's work in progress reveal was deliberate, Fedscoop relayed, because the VA wanted veterans to have a say in how it developed. "The ultimate goal for Vets.gov is to become the single, one-stop shop for information and self-service for Veterans and those that care for them," VA spokesman Mark Farrell told the news site. To reach that goal, the VA hopes veterans provide feedback on how they think tools and content can more fully meet their needs. 

We're approaching the end of November, and that means it's Thanksgiving time again. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, there are currently more than one million active-duty members of the U.S. military, and many of them are deployed overseas. Most will not be home for Thanksgiving, but that doesn't mean your deployed spouse or child can't feel like they're a part of the holiday.

A care package that reminds them of home is the perfect way to connect. But what to send? 

Consider this. In a sense, Thanksgiving owes its holiday status to the military. The Times described how in 1863, on the day after the Union was victorious at the battle of Chattanooga, Abraham Lincoln officially proclaimed Thanksgiving a national day of remembrance. From then on, the last Thursday in November would be "a day of Thanksgiving and Praise." In the field, Civil War soldiers celebrated with salted pork, crusty bread and yes, care packages full of small treats from home. Some things never change. 

Thankfully, some other things do change, like the quality of food and the speed of delivery. In the 19th century, soldiers might not get a care package for several weeks (or even longer) after it was mailed. Nowadays, your care package can get just about anywhere in the world in one or two weeks. So, with Thanksgiving just 10 days away, here are some neat ideas for what you could surprise your loved ones with next week. 

Canned food, or make substitutions. Cans of vegetables, cranberry sauce and turkey spam all keep a lot longer than the fresh food will, so even if they aren't used next Thursday, they could always be eaten later on. But if the idea of canned food isn't appealing, Army Wife 101 says to consider some non-traditional replacements. Instead of turkey, send jerky. Instead of corn, send candy corn. 

Snacks are always welcome. Picking up where we left off – snacks are always appreciated overseas, particularly if they're a brand hard to find outside the U.S. Old standbys, like potato chips, pretzels, and Pop-Tarts will never be turned down by servicemembers craving to remember what a trip to the grocery store snack aisle tastes like. 

Cookies. It's hard to go wrong with cookies. Or brownies, for that matter. Both treats are consistently the most popular additions to any great care package, especially if they're wrapped up fresh out of the oven, just like mom used to make. A firm airtight container will keep the taste of home intact for a longer period of time as your care package makes its way overseas. 

Decorations and other small touches. Cups, plates and napkins decorated with the Thanksgiving theme are great for brightening up any mess hall feast. They bring the feel of the holiday to the table the same way plastic skeletons and fake spider webs tell the neighborhood it's time for Halloween. 

Thanksgiving is a tough holiday to plan care packages around because it's a day all about hot, fresh food, but that doesn't mean you can't get creative. Non-perishable canned food or unique replacements for traditional dishes, favorite snacks, homemade baked goods and holiday-themed decorations are a great way of reminding your loved one that you care. 

So don't get too anxious about crafting the perfect care package. Retired Gen. Oscar C. Decker told Marysville's This Week News that, when it comes to sending food and treats overseas, "It's not about feeding them or even about getting them what they need. It's about the soldier opening a box and knowing, 'Someone is thinking about me.'" 

Now that Veterans Day has passed, it's important the country not forget that supporting military veterans is a year-round responsibility. Part of that is to ensure that veterans are employed when they return home. Thankfully, some major U.S. companies have made it their mission to hire those who served. 

To affirm its commitment to veterans, Comcast established a new vice presidential position within their company dedicated to veteran employment and outreach. In a press release, Comcast stated that it would hire 10,000 veterans, reservists and their family members between now and 2017. They will find work in every facet of the company's business, from marketing to network engineering.

In 2013, Walmart pledged to hire 100,000 veterans within five years. Earlier this year, however, Walmart doubled-down on their pledge and amended their hiring target to 250,000 veterans by 2020. That is, by the Huffington Post's estimation, an admirable 107 percent of its natural hiring rate. Walmart's Greenlight a Vet campaign has also gained momentum.

Starbucks has recently expanded its educational benefits for veterans. In collaboration with Arizona State University, the coffee giant offers full tuition coverage to its veteran employees, their spouses or even one of their children as they pursue a bachelor's degree online, regardless of whether they are full- or part-time students. The Washington Post reported that their decision to extend the benefits came after many of their veteran employees, who already had degrees or were utilizing the GI Bill, requested that they be able to gift the benefits to family members.

Comcast, Walmart, Starbucks and companies like them are the primary catalysts behind increased veteran hiring. These companies are taking the lead, but they are only a few of the thousands nationwide who have realized the worth of employing former military members in their life after service.

Since close to the end of World War II, when the GI Bill was signed into law by President Franklin Roosevelt, Syracuse University has stood as a shining example of how universities should support veterans in their life after service. But their good reputation wasn't enough for Syracuse. A press release from the U.S. Army stated that when Kent Syverud became the school's chancellor and president last year, one of his first acts was to emphasize his commitment to military veterans. To make that commitment clear, he named Dr. Mike Haynie, an Air Force veteran, vice-chancellor.

Haynie's role is to coordinate the many veterans programs on campus. From the Institute for Veterans and Military Families, to the Air Force and Army ROTC units, to the university's renowned visual journalism course, in which 34 active-duty enlisted personnel are enrolled every year to learn the finer points of communications and photojournalism, there is a wide range of organizations aimed either in part or exclusively toward veterans.

"They take very, very good care of us," Lt. Col. Jason Warner, a professor of military science, told the U.S. Army's news service. "Our ROTC scholarships, for example, include full room and board, and both the cadets and veterans enjoy early registration."

Veterans Day is a very special occasion on campus. On Nov. 11, a Syracuse graduate student and former Marine served as master of ceremonies for school traditions like a Fun Run, according to TWC News, and Air Force Brig. General Michael Fantini served as keynote speaker for the school's main ceremony, which honored veterans of all ages. Nearby, an exhibition celebrated World War I soldier Lorimer Rich, a 1914 Syracuse graduate best known as the designer and architect of Arlington Cemetery's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.