President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed the purpose of what is now Veterans Day on November 11, 1919:

To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with lots of pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations.

It is indeed a day to honor, remember, and reflect upon the heroism of those men and women who have served their nation, both in wars we won and those we lost. But this Veterans Day is becoming something more: a time to serve again.

The news surrounding the transitions home of our most recent classes of veterans -- those from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq -- is disturbing. The rates of unemployment, poverty, homelessness and suicide are much higher than those in the civilian population. Remarkably, it is estimated that almost 3,000 veterans from America's two latest wars have sought assistance for homelessness. Renewed energy must be focused on the mental and physical health, job training and employment, and family and living circumstances of veterans.

Very little attention has been paid in past years, however, to the civic lives of veterans and how they are re-integrated into community and neighborhood. Help is on the way.

Last year, a new effort led by veterans called Mission Serve was launched on November 11 with three extraordinary women -- Alma Powell, Michelle Obama, and Jill Biden -- to give veterans and civilians opportunities to volunteer together and tackle problems in their local communities. The effort was based on new research showing that the vast majority of veterans wanted to serve on the home front and to use their skills to help wounded veterans and military families, at-risk youth, older Americans, and others in need.

The first-ever national survey of veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq also showed that those who volunteered were having much better transitions home than those who were not. And so were their families. The light bulbs went off.

This year, Mission Serve is mobilizing thousands of veterans and civilians to work together to build Habitat for Humanity homes, mentor and tutor at-risk youth, weatherize homes, and deliver food to the hungry, led by Army Specialist and paratrooper in Afghanistan, Ross Cohen. The Mission Continues will mobilize veterans and civilians to refurbish libraries and schools in major cities across America. Veterans again are on the march, with support from the likes of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Joint Chiefs Chairman Mike Mullen, and other leaders across our country.

At our event keynoted by Jill Biden, the new Director of national service programs, John Gomperts, talked about how this Veterans Day is different from all others - how it would become an era of "connection and action," not just a day marked by speeches and store sales. This was significant, given that Gomperts now oversees a new Veterans Corps that can mobilize thousands of veterans in full-time and part-time national service, tackling urgent challenges, while acting as a bridge to successful long-term employment. Such an effort, truly honoring veterans by what they do best -- serving -- is long overdue.

Veterans clearly bring their patriotic motivations back home with them. And those motivations are strong.

After 9/11, a note appeared on my desk telling the story of a sergeant who lost his leg and was being airlifted out of Kandahar, Afghanistan. Despite his pain, his helicopter pilot reported that the sergeant kept saying he wanted to go back into the battle -- reminding me of the words of Nathan Hale in 1776, that he regretted that he had but one life to give for his country.

Veterans want to be viewed as powerful forces for good in America and their volunteer service can improve their transitions home. Let's ensure this Veterans Day begins to fulfill their promise, unleash their talents, and inspire a nation.

John M. Bridgeland is CEO of Civic Enterprises and co-author with Mary Yonkman of All Volunteer Force: From Military to Civilian Service. He is also a co-convenor of Service Nation: Mission Serve.