By Erich Almonte

In his book, “Gettysburg: The Pivotal Battle of the Civil War,” Captain Robert K. Beecham wrote: “The power of the soldiers to endure the fatigue of the march and keep their places in the ranks was greatly enhanced by an opportunity to brew a cup of coffee by the wayside.”

Captain Beecham was onto something—a good cup of coffee can be a great equalizer, a pick-me-up, and even a salve for tough times, whether you’re home or downrange.

Last weekend, I joined my fellow Vets for American Ideals leaders in Houston at the Starbucks at Richmond and Woodhead to kick off “SIV Sips,” a new project bringing military veterans, refugees, and Special Immigrant Visa recipients (interpreters and translators who helped U.S. troops in Iraq or Afghanistan) together for coffee and conversation.

Unsure what to expect, I felt immediately reassured that this project was on the right track, when I saw everyone was happy just to sit down and enjoy a cup of joe with one another.

One of the first attendees I met was Abdullah, who served as a translator for Marines in Iraq, losing both of his legs in an ambush. As integral as his service was, though, by helping the Americans, he put himself and his family in danger. When his situation became too unsafe, Abdullah knew that he had to leave his home. Fortunately, he was resettled in Houston, where he lives free from fear.

As an attorney, I represent SIV recipients like Abdullah as they navigate the fourteen steps of rigorous vetting to obtain a Special Immigrant Visa. As of last summer, the average wait time for an Afghan SIV was 736 days. Once they do arrive, however, their struggle isn't over. 

First, imagine leaving your home, your friends, and everything you know. Then, imagine trying to find a place to live and work in a place you aren’t familiar with.

While refugees do receive financial assistance upon arrival, the government is not responsible for helping them find a place to live or a job. That work is led by resettlement groups, who can help furnish a home or provide language services. But even with this assistance, the world has been turned upside down for SIV recipients like Abdullah and their families.

Over coffee, we shared the challenges of adjusting to life here in the United States, exchanged stories, and had some great laughs. But eventually, we got down to brass tacks and I asked the question: “How can I help?”

I met another attendee named Hamidullah. We talked about his struggles adjusting, his ambitions for the future, and his hopes for his family. At that moment I realized, this is where your battle buddies come in. It reminded me of conversations I had several years ago when I led young soldiers and helped them navigate life after the military. So, I imparted some of the lessons from back then to Hamidullah.

I left the gathering energized, and I've realized that being a good neighbor and friend is something I must do, in fact it may well be the most important thing I do as I continue to serve my community and my country as a good citizen.

Our “SIV Sip” is just one of many in our burgeoning partnership with Starbucks. Other VFAI groups are gathering eight U.S. cities—Atlanta, Houston, New York, Chicago, Boston, Denver, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. 

I encourage you to join us by reaching out to VFAI—you can find out about upcoming SIV Sips by visiting our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/vets4amerideals. Or, if your city isn’t one of the eight listed, contact [email protected], and see what we can do to make it happen in your community.

Erich Almonte is a U.S. Army veteran who deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Today, Erich is a lawyer in Houston and currently represents Special Immigrant Visa recipients and their families pro bono. He also co-leads the Vets for American Ideals Houston team.