Today is Memorial Day in America, recognizing those that have given the ultimate sacrifice for our country. To those who have sacrificed everything so I might be free to blog about you today, I salute you.

Through my work in Hollywood, I've been responsible for helping to create the image of super-hero soldiers that overcome impossible odds to save the day, and ptsd addled vets who end up as drug addicted, homeless, fragile time bombs.

Surprisingly, most veterans are neither of these harmful stereotypes. Organizations such as Got Your 6 and the GI Film Festival are trying change the perception with realistic portrayals of veterans in film and television.

I had the opportunity to attend the VetFronts hosted by gotyour6 and the Hollywood Radio & Television Society last year and the largest take-away I received from the event was that the accurate portrayal of veterans in film and television provided the most favorable impression on viewers towards them. The over the top super-human feats of strength and daring were written off as fantasy, while ptsd addled vets invoked pity and the perception that they're all broken and damaged individuals.

Shows showing former military vets such as the former army medics on NBC's The Night Shift or even Ed O'Neil's character "Jay" on Modern Family in everyday situations are more accurate portrayals of veterans than the Mark Wahlbergs and Bradley Coopers of the world.

The reality is that more than one million military veterans will reenter civilian life in the next three to five years and we have worked alongside many, many more for years, and probably never knew it. Ask around the set, and I'm sure you'll find a driver or a grip who served. Maybe the medic or even one of the actors. They're really all just regular guys, paying their bills, coaching their son's little league team, and trying to do the best for their families and their communities just like you and me.

So please, take a moment to ask them if they lost any battle buddies or shipmates tomorrow, offer condolences for their loss, and next time you're trying to fill out your crew, understand that not all vets are adrenaline junkies or war mongers, but by and large they're just good guys trying to get by like the rest of us and maybe a vet might make a good additional to your team.

For more information, check out this Washington Post article about the Veterans and Hollywood [here].