Lately, the TV shows I’ve been bingeing have been on Peacock, and one commercial that keeps making an appearance is for USAA, the financial services company “for the military community and their families.”

These ads—there are several versions—feature actor Sam Elliott and football star Rob Gronkowski (I had to look this up since I’m not a football fan.) While I was at it, I was curious about Sam’s military background and learned that, while he was never deployed, he served in the California Air National Guard. 

There seems to be some debate within the military community (at least online) about whether Sam is considered a veteran. By definition, he is. And in my opinion, anyone who puts themselves in a position of military service shows a level of commitment and sacrifice that deserves our respect. 

The commercial also mentions that USAA membership extends to military families—“even if your grandparent served.” This got me thinking about my own grandfathers who served. While it may be less common to have family members in the military these days, we must never forget our veterans’ sacrifices and continue to keep their stories alive.

In our November issue of the BEACON, we share some of these heroic (and entertaining) stories just in time for Veterans Day. Be sure to check out the Veterans Day events featured in this month’s calendar and find valuable resources for local veterans.

Local veterans resources in Western Colorado: support, benefits and more

Trust BEACON's local expertise for a list of local veterans resources, connecting you to VA benefits, employment programs, health services and more. Read More » 

WHAT DO SENIORS WANT FOR CHRISTMAS?

We’ll explore this more in next month’s Question of the Month column, but if you’re stuck on what to give someone who seems to have everything, why not gift them a subscription to the BEACON—and get one for yourself too?

Thanks to our advertisers, the BEACON is available free throughout Mesa, Delta and Montrose counties, but with the growing number of seniors in our area, the latest issue can be hard to find.

The best way to guarantee your copy of the BEACON every month is to subscribe. For a limited time, when you subscribe, you can gift a subscription to a friend. For details about this special 2-for-1 offer or call us at 970-243-8829 or email Contact@BeaconSenior News.com.

GET IN THE BEACON GUIDE

Subscribing also ensures you won’t miss any senior-related news or events, including the release of our 2025 BEACON Guide editions in Mesa County and Montrose & Delta Counties.

Our annual directories feature hard-to-find contact information for clubs, medical centers, government agencies and more. We verify this information every year, making it the area’s most trusted resource for seniors, their families and caregivers.

Know of an organization that should be included? Email us at Contact@BeaconSenior News.com or visit BeaconSeniorNews.com/wc-2025-guide to learn more.

TALKING DIGITAL REBOOT

In this month’s issue, you may notice the absence of our long-time tech columnist, Adam Cochran. After years of providing insightful and relatable advice on everything from using the latest tech gadgets to protecting yourself from online scams, Adam is taking a break from writing to focus on personal matters. While we’ll certainly miss his articles, we look forward to his return when he’s ready to write again.

In the meantime, we’re exploring ways to continue providing valuable tech tips and advice. If you have suggestions or a story you’d like to share, feel free to reach out: [email protected]