A Personal Note from the Publisher
The Fourth of July has always been my favorite holiday. Anyone who knows me, including my family, friends, and the team at TopDoctor Magazine, knows that. But our celebration of independence would mean little without the men and women who have served to defend it. The freedoms we enjoy today have been protected by generations of service members who stood watch through cold, lonely nights, often facing threats most Americans would never have to imagine.
I think often of my father, Jim, who served in the U.S. Army in West Germany during the Cold War. He and his fellow soldiers faced the possibility of an invasion by millions of Soviet Bloc troops stationed just across the border. I once asked my dad what their plan was if that threat became reality. He told me their job was to serve as a deterrent, holding the line until the rest of the American forces could arrive. In his words, they would be little more than a speed bump. It was a sobering reminder of the risks these men accepted in service to our country.
At that same time, my father-in-law, Larry, was serving in South Korea in similarly difficult conditions, facing a mission of his own. To my dad, Larry, and every veteran who has stood in harm’s way to defend our country, thank you.
It takes extraordinary courage to put yourself in harm’s way so that others can live in freedom. We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to those who have served and to the men and women who continue to serve in our armed forces. Honoring that service must mean more than words. It means showing up for our veterans long after their time in uniform has ended.
That commitment is at the heart of this issue of TopDoctor Magazine, in which we recognize service members and veterans across all branches of the U.S. armed forces, as well as the families back home who support them.
Leading our coverage is Jimmy Watson, a Marine veteran and former Navy SEAL whose story is one we are proud to share. His new book, Hold Fast, is coming soon, and we are honored to feature it in these pages. My uncle David, also a Marine veteran, would have summed up his pride in one familiar phrase: “Semper Fi, Marine.”
We are also proud to feature General Bob Dees, one of our favorite Army generals. After 31 years of service to our country, he continues his work on behalf of veterans through the National Center for Healthy Veterans in Virginia. I have personally witnessed the remarkable work the general and his team do every day. Their dedication is a powerful example of what it means to continue serving long after a military career has ended.
Our back cover features Gray Livingston, a U.S. Air Force veteran who served for 21 years and now owns and operates Pale Horse Coffee in Virginia Beach. My nephew Matthew, a U.S. Navy pilot, introduced me to Gray’s business, and I can honestly say it is some of the best coffee I have had in a long time. I encourage our readers to support this veteran-owned business by picking up a bag of coffee and checking out its merchandise.
We are also honoring our longtime friend James Bradley, a former U.S. Senate candidate from California who served six years in the U.S. Coast Guard and continues to serve through the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. James has dedicated considerable time and effort to helping homeless veterans, and we are proud to recognize his work alongside that of others who care for our veterans as they navigate life after military service.
We must also recognize the wives, spouses, and families who stand beside our service members and veterans. Their sacrifices often happen away from the spotlight, whether through years of deployments, raising families while loved ones serve overseas, or helping veterans navigate the lasting effects of military service long after they take off the uniform. In this issue, Marah Lago shares a deeply personal perspective on what it means to love and support a veteran after their military career has ended, reminding us that the impact of service extends far beyond the person wearing the uniform. Their strength, loyalty, and unwavering support deserve recognition and gratitude, too. Our veterans do not walk this journey alone, and neither should the families who stand beside them.
These stories are a reminder that our responsibility to veterans does not end when their service does. As citizens, I believe one of our most important obligations is to ensure that the men and women who have sacrificed for our country receive the care and support they deserve. Everything else can wait. Their needs cannot.
Our veterans have spent their lives standing watch for us. Now it is our turn to stand watch for them. We must do everything in our power to ensure they have access to exceptional medical care, mental health services, and the resources they need to live healthy, fulfilling lives.
At TopDoctor Magazine, we are committed to advancing conversations around both traditional and complementary and alternative approaches to health and healing. We believe veterans and all patients deserve thoughtful consideration of the options available to them, along with access to the care and support they need.
Freedom comes with a responsibility to those who protect it. For our veterans, that responsibility must be more than a promise. It must be a commitment we honor every day.
