During this holiday season, many Americans look forward to time with family, homes filled with warmth, and moments of reflection on what truly matters. It is a season defined by gratitude and connection.

For many military and veteran families, the holidays can be one of the hardest times of the year.

Behind the celebrations are service members, veterans, caregivers and survivors carrying invisible burdens such as grief, trauma, isolation and stress. These challenges do not pause because the calendar says it is time to celebrate.

We ask a great deal of the men and women who serve the nation. We ask them to deploy, to sacrifice time with loved ones, and to face risks most Americans will never experience. And when their service ends, or when injury, illness or loss changes their lives forever, we owe them more than words of thanks. We owe them care, connection and action.

That obligation does not end when the uniform comes off.

One of the most urgent challenges facing our military and veteran community is suicide. The numbers are alarming, but the human cost behind them is devastating. These are not statistics. They are sons and daughters, spouses and parents. They are people who once raised their right hand to serve, only to later find themselves struggling in silence.

The holidays can be especially dangerous for those at risk. Loneliness can feel heavier. Painful memories can resurface. Financial strain, family stress and the lasting effects of trauma do not take a holiday break. For some, the sense that everyone else is celebrating only deepens feelings of isolation.

At Fisher House Foundation, we see this reality daily. We see families far from home during the holidays, staying near hospitals while their loved ones receive care. We see caregivers who are exhausted but determined. We see parents trying to hold it together for their children while quietly wondering how they will get through the next day.

What we have learned over more than three decades is simple but powerful. When families are supported, healing is stronger. When people know they are not alone, hope has room to grow.

That is why caring for the military and veteran community must go beyond medical treatment. Mental health support, family stability, financial relief and human connection all matter.

This holiday season, each of us has a role to play. Check on the veteran or military family in your life, especially if you have not heard from them in a while. Make the call. Send the text. If someone is struggling, help them find support and remind them that asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but of strength.

Get involved with organizations that provide direct, tangible support to military and veteran families. Volunteer your time.

This holiday season, let’s make sure our celebrations include compassion for those who may be struggling and a commitment to stand with them, not just now, but always.

Ken Fisher is the chairman and CEO of Fisher House Foundation, which provides free lodging and support to military and veteran families/InsideSources