Marine Corps veteran Richard Gagnon, who works in the Warrior Integration Program in Hudson, New Hampshire, finds a lot of ways to remember and serve fellow veterans by volunteering and giving financially. He has supported Home for the Heroes, the Wounded Warrior Project, Run to Home Base, Trees for Heroes, Motorcycle Ride for Veterans, and Operation Delta Dog. While organized activities and events like these give vital assistance to former service members and their families, Gagnon says sometimes the most meaningful support is “just being there for another veteran.” What are you most proud of from your military service? Serving in the Marines taught me to be the man I am today. It instilled in me core values such as honor, courage, and commitment, which I use to raise and take care of my family to the best of my abilities. What made you decide to join BAE Systems? I’ve always had a passion for my country—that’s why I enlisted in the Marines when I was 17. When I had the opportunity to work for a defence contracting company that’s focused primarily on protecting warfighters, I really saw no other option. How do you celebrate National Military Appreciation Month? We have a flag ceremony at BAE Systems Electronic Systems sector headquarters in Nashua that fellow Marine and friend Michael Finn and I perform. We suit up in our dress blue uniforms and proudly perform the flag duties for the site. How does your military experience help on the job? Serving in the Marines, I listened to the advice I received about leadership—that I should strive not just to lead, but to inspire others. It made me strive to be the best leader I can be so that everyone around me is successful as we accomplish our mission as a team. Why is it important that you support the military in the work you do each day? It’s important because what I do protects the men and women who have taken the call to put their lives on the line to ensure our safety as Americans. It’s doesn’t matter what your job entails or what position you hold—everyone plays a part and is equally important to our mission to protect our country’s warfighters.