Behind the Mask: Lindgren Pays Tribute to Veterans

Goalie mask designs often serve as a way for players to creatively express themselves through art.

For the Washington Capitals' Nov. 11 game vs. the Tampa Bay Lightning, Capitals goalie Charlie Lindgren decided to use his mask to raise awareness for an important personal cause.
Lindgren saw the game taking place on Veterans Day as the perfect chance to highlight Every Third Saturday (ETS), a Minnesota-based non-profit whose purpose is to foster hope and support post traumatic growth for veterans.
"This mask really is about just showing support for an organization that I have so much respect for," said Lindgren.
He added, "I've always felt like supporting veterans is something that's very important. I think they're the most unselfish people in our community, and we need to repay them for what they do for us."
Lindgren and his family, who are from Minnesota, were first connected with ETS through a family friend.
"We've gone to their complex and seeing what they do, it's really unbelievable," said Lindgren. "They do a great job for our men and women that have served."

ETS Veterans Advocate Tom McKenna said the mission of ETS is to foster hope and promote post traumatic growth.
"Our belief is that there is no better medicine than being in a community with other veterans and their families, rediscovering purpose, and serving a cause which is greater than ourselves," Said McKenna.
It is a purpose that Lindgren completely aligns with.
"A lot of times our veterans come back from serving and struggle with PTSD," said Lindgren. "I think it's our job as a community to help them and build them up. It's really all about showing our veterans that we're there for them."
Lindgren's grandfather, who served in the Navy, has experienced firsthand the power of ETS and is involved with ETS's Warrior's Path program as an ambassador, supporting veterans who go through the five-week course that supports veterans as they design and pursue a better future.

"I know that's had a huge impact on my grandpa, and I'm really close with him," said Lindgren.
When it came to creating a mask that would properly honor veterans and highlight ETS's work, Lindgren took a hands-off approach during the design process.
"[ETS] designed the whole thing," he said. "I really had nothing to do with it. I just said, 'This is your project. I want you to take it and run with it.'"
The mask incorporates several elements that are core aspects of ETS. The back of it includes the organization's mission statement, the top has a PTSD awareness ribbon with "some wounds are not visible" written inside it, and the sides feature ETS's logo and the phrase "pop smoke."

"Pop smoke is a military term for the act of requesting evacuation from an unsafe situation," said McKenna. "Our use of the term is designed to let veterans know it is okay to 'pop smoke' if they are in need of assistance."
On his reaction to seeing the mask for the first time, Lindgren said, "Just super proud."
He added, "This is probably the mask I've been the proudest of. A lot of times when you design a mask, it's kind of showing who you are, but this one feels way bigger than myself."

In addition to paying tribute to veterans and ETS, Lindgren hopes that wearing it in a game sends an impactful message.
"If there are veterans in the stands, I think it's saying that it's okay if you need help," he said. "There's plenty of organizations out there that are willing to help."
For McKenna, the desired outcome of Lindgren dawning the mask is two-fold.
"The hope is that fans become aware that even though the wars in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan have ended, the battle continues for so many veterans and their families," he said. "Also, we hope veterans might see the mask and be encouraged that it is okay to put their hand up and ask for support. The stigma around mental and emotional wounds is a huge obstacle and not feeling alone can go a long way in helping a veteran."
In terms of the organization's biggest area of need right now, McKenna said, "Our biggest area of need is awareness, both of our organization and also of the obstacles veterans face once they get out of the military. The more fans that are aware of those obstacles, the more likely it is that they will recognize when a veteran is struggling."
To learn more about ETS and the organization's work, please visit:
https://everythirdsaturday.org/
.