OPINION: Supporting Veterans Where It Matters Most

As a Walmart store manager, I've always believed our role extends far beyond retail. We're community anchors, employers, and neighbors. That belief was never more evident than during our participation in 23XI Intersect Indianapolis, where we had the privilege of supporting our veterans in a truly meaningful way in the lead up to the Brickyard 400.

When our corporate team approached us about participating in the event, I'll admit I wondered how we'd fit alongside DJ Envy, NASCAR drivers, and Toyota's prototype vehicles. But as I learned more about the Face the Fight Encouragement Booth initiative, the timing couldn’t have been more perfect, as July 25 was also National Hire a Veteran Day.
Walmart’s commitment to veterans is not just talk—we’ve hired more than 500,000 veterans and military spouses since 2013. As someone who regularly hires veterans in our stores, I see firsthand both their incredible work ethic and the challenges they sometimes face transitioning to civilian life. The opportunity to address veteran mental health and suicide prevention felt personal and urgent.
What struck me most was watching race fans who came for the simulators and unique, up-close experiences pause at the Walmart Encouragement booth and decide to record messages of encouragement. The booth was a remarkable place where visitors could record 60-second messages of hope for veterans contemplating suicide. The transparent design meant everyone could see the recording process, creating powerful moments of understanding about the gravity of veteran mental health challenges. Between the cornhole games and checking out the Toyota displays, real conversations about veteran suicide prevention were happening. That's community engagement at its finest.
As retail managers, we're trained to think about customer experience, but this event reminded me that the best experiences create lasting value beyond the transaction. The 1,500+ 23XI Intersect attendees who interacted with our booth didn't just learn about Walmart's veteran hiring initiatives, but rather they became part of a movement supporting veteran mental health.
23XI Racing's mission to make NASCAR more inclusive aligns perfectly with Walmart's values. Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Driver and winner of the Brickyard 400 said, there's "a place for everyone in NASCAR." At Walmart, we believe there's a place for every veteran in our workforce and communities. But first, we need to ensure they're getting the mental health support they deserve.
Events like Intersect prove that corporate responsibility isn't about writing checks or displaying logos but showing up authentically when your community needs you. As Walmart managers, we have the privilege of serving millions of customers daily. Supporting our veterans through initiatives like Face the Fight isn't just good business; it's our duty as community members.
While the race weekend has concluded, Walmart’s commitment to veteran mental health continues every day in our stores and communities. We hope to see others join us in this endeavor.
Tammy Seitz, Walmart Store Manager, Indianapolis