In Honor
Of Our Heroes.
Everything we do is in honor of those men and women who put their lives on the line for us, for our Constitution and for the great promises of America and Democracy.
What We Do
At Somewhere I Read, our work exists to realign the nation with its moral and constitutional center through media, civic engagement, and principled action - with a particular and unwavering commitment to those who have served.
“A nation loses its moral compass the moment it forgets those who defend it.” - Jen Appel
Veteran-Centered Mission
Honoring veterans is not one initiative among many - it is foundational to who we are.
Service members leave their families, place themselves in harm’s way, and swear an oath to defend the Constitution so the rest of us may live freely. What they give demands more than gratitude. It demands care, dignity, accountability, and honor when they come home.
We support veterans through:
Expert guidance from retired high ranking military leadership, including opportunities for both continued public service and integration into the public sector.
Media projects that preserve and elevate our hero’s stories of courage, valor, leadership, loss, and wisdom.
Health, longevity, mindfulness and dignity-centered programs that allow veterans to thrive with pride, stability and enjoy the serenity they are most certainly due.
At Somewhere I read, we feel that what our nation has allowed to happen to many veterans is a moral abomination and a national embarrassment. Failing to properly honor, or even worse, neglect, those who defend our founding principles is not a partisan failure - it is a constitutional and existential one. Veterans are our True North. When we honor them properly, the nation realigns. When we do not, we drift, dangerously, toward our own demise. That’s how it works when you take the defenders of your great nation for granted.
Leading With Integrity
Jon Macaskill
Advisory Board Member
RETIRED NAVY SEAL COMMANDER
Jon Macaskill is a retired Navy SEAL Commander turned mindfulness teacher, leadership coach, and resilience practitioner whose journey spans the battlefield to the boardroom. Having led elite teams under extreme pressure, Jon now brings clarity, courage, and compassion to leaders navigating complexity at the highest levels -anchored by faith, integrity, and lived experience.
Jon, serves as our top advisor for Veteran Affairs and Programming at Somewhere I Read, and is leading our development of national mindfulness and leadership initiatives grounded in his belief that you cannot lead others well unless you first lead yourself. Drawing on a career shaped by the highest orders of discipline, presence, and resilience, his work blends mental toughness with emotional intelligence to help leaders build clarity, trust, and composure in moments that matter.
At Somewhere I Read, Jon brings a leadership lens forged through service and refined through deep work in awareness, empathy, and connection. His approach reflects his conviction that grit and compassion are not opposites, but rather strong strategic partners, and that powerful, ethical leadership must remain anchored in purpose, faith, and humanity. Through this work, he helps shape programming that elevates both performance and people, ensuring leadership remains deeply human even under pressure. From top CEOs to public servants in high intensity environments to all of us just struggling to find our way, Jon has an uncanny talent for getting us all on the right track again and performing at our top speed while remaining at peace. A rare combo, indeed.
Bobby R. Jones
Veterans For Responsible Leadership, President
Bobby R. Jones is a retired U.S. Navy Commander whose career spans more than two decades of operational leadership, global security missions, and strategic planning. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, he served in senior command roles including Commanding Officer of Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron FOUR and Executive Officer of USS Anzio, with deployments supporting Operations Enduring Freedom and Inherent Resolve, service as a United Nations Peacekeeper in Liberia, and work as a Wargames Planner for the Missile Defense Agency. He brings deep national security expertise, disciplined leadership, and a commitment to responsible civic service to Somewhere I Read. We are honored to partner with Bobby R. Jones and look forward to strengthening and empowering America through principled leadership and service under his continued guidance.
Partnership & Pillars of Action
We are honored to partner with Veterans for Responsible Leadership, whose Pillars of Action closely align with our mission and continue to help guide our civic work:
Strengthen and Expand Civic Engagement
Inform citizens about the meaning of the constitutional oath
Showcase responsible leadership and healthy civil–military relations
Support peaceful protest while opposing violence
Hold elected officials accountable to their oath of office
Uphold Constitutional Governance
Ensure public officials operate within the framework of the Constitution
Protect civil and human rights, democratic norms, and the rule of law
Reduce civil tensions rather than inflame them
Protect the Integrity of Elections
Support voter participation and public trust in the process
Advocate for lawful, accessible voting
Stand against voter intimidation
Protect the Non-Partisan Character of National Defense
Preserve national defense as a constitutionally enshrined public good beyond politics
Expand Opportunities for Public Service
Champion service as a core civic value
Extend the privilege and purpose of service beyond the military to all Americans
Why It Matters
How a nation treats its veterans after they come home tells the world, and future generations, who that nation truly is. What we stand for. And what we are willing to fight for.
Honoring veterans is national stewardship and one of our most sacred civic duties as Americans.
“The future of our Republic depends on how we honor our heroes. Full stop.” - Jen Appel