In honor of Armed Forces Day

Today is Armed Forces Day. According to a New York Times article published on May 17, 1952: "This is the day on which we have the welcome opportunity to pay special tribute to the men and women of the Armed Forces ... to all the individuals who are in the service of their country all over the world. Armed Forces Day won't be a matter of parades and receptions for a good many of them. They will all be in line of duty and some of them may give their lives in that duty."

That same New York Times article states: "It is our most earnest hope that those who are in positions of peril, that those who have made exceptional sacrifices, yes, and those who are afflicted with plain drudgery and boredom, may somehow know that we hold them in exceptional esteem. Perhaps if we are a little more conscious of our debt of honored affection they may be a little more aware of how much we think of them."

In honor of Armed Forces Day, here are the top reasons to hire a veteran (www.forbes.com):

Leadership readiness at every level

Composure and creativity under pressure

Big picture understanding, relentless attention to detail

The ultimate team player mentality

Uncompromising integrity

Habitual goal orientation

The U.S. government has launched initiatives like Joining Forces, Hiring Our Heroes, and The Vow to Hire Heroes Act of 2011. It has also made available several tax credits for hiring veterans.