Katie Chorbak is a fifth-generation combat veteran. She’s passionate about helping other vets adjust to civilian life. She started a movement called Our Sister’s Keeper, which advocates for veterans who survived sexual assault just like she did. And she was arrested last month at the Capitol for protesting the war in Iran alongside other vets.

Basically, Katie is a badass.

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So when we asked Katie about what patriotism means to her, her answer was… it’s complicated.

“Patriotism to me today is fighting back against a government that is ripping apart our Constitution. That’s true patriotism — believing in your convictions, no matter if you’re the only one standing.

I took an oath to the Constitution. That’s my patriotism today, is that oath. It’s not these people out here waving flags, screaming that we’re not patriots. Like, you’re not the patriots. You wanna rip apart this country. We’re out here trying to hold it together.” (Katie Chorbak)

We were also joined today by Torrie, a Red Wine & Blue organizer who’s been part of a military family her whole life — from growing up with a father in the Navy to now having a husband in the Army. Between Katie and Torrie, we learned so much about how veterans and military families are doing right now and what we can all do to help.

Everyone says they “support the troops,” but few people understand what that actually means. (It definitely doesn’t mean cutting mental health services for veterans to pay for a war in Iran!) This week’s How To Not Lose Your Sh!t podcast is full of eye-opening stories about mental health under an administration that claims it supports the military but actually lets them down at every turn.

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What Patriotism Means To A Veteran