We Celebrated Veterans Day 2025!

Our 29th Annual Veterans Day Celebration was an unforgettable evening!

We were thrilled to welcome over 230 community members, veterans, and leaders who came together to honor those who served and to stand behind Swords to Plowshares’ mission. As the nation faces a significant housing affordability crisis and attacks on safety net programs that support the most vulnerable, the Bay Area community must continue to confront these challenges head-on – and together.

“This year, our Veterans Day Celebration brought together some of the nation’s leading advocates for veterans, housing, and social justice to discuss how we can work together to end veteran homelessness,” says Tramecia Garner, executive director of Swords to Plowshares. “We’ll celebrated many wins – including the announcement of our newest housing site at 1035 Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco. We look forward to continued and future partnerships to ensure no veteran is without a home.”

The speaking program highlighted that veterans' service to their country doesn't end once they leave the military. In civilian life, veterans are protectors of our collective freedom, activists who understand the true costs of war, and neighbors ready to lend a helping hand. We are deeply grateful to Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and Mayor Daniel Lurie for their advocacy for the veteran community, and to John Keker for his powerful reminder of the role servicemembers and veterans play in defending democracy.

We also honored Erica Graham, a Gulf War-Era veteran and mother, with the Profiles of Strength Award for her remarkable resilience in overcoming barriers and rebuilding a life for herself and her children. At the podium, Erica reminded the audience that homelessness can manifest in unexpected ways and that those who face housing instability are not a monolith. You can learn more about Erica's story by watching her Profiles of Strength video.

Throughout the night, Swords highlighted our Fund-A-Need campaign, and we are grateful to our committed attendees who raised $45,365 towards our direct services, helping veterans access housing, legal aid, mental health care, and community connection.

This year’s Veterans Day Celebration was made possible by the generous sponsorship of Bay Area supporters including Bill and Trudy Drypolcher, the Keker Family Foundation, Kay Kimpton Walker and Sandy Walker, Michael Thiel and Marcie Vu, Meta, and Qatalyst Partners. The Official Media Sponsor was ABC-7 News Bay Area.

See the full list of sponsors and event details on the event webpage: 29th Annual Veterans Day Celebration.

Since 1974, we have worked to ensure that veterans thrive after transitioning from military to civilian life. In our 51 years, one truth remains clear: we cannot do this work alone. Thank you for standing with us and helping create a community of belonging for all who served.

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**Relive the night by checking out the 29th Veterans Day Celebration photo gallery! **