Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program alumni Dave Lee and Elizabeth Pletcher discuss their respective roles at CVS Health and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society to contribute to a unique and collaborative effort called HonorCare. This program -- of which CVS Health has signed on to be the founding sponsor -- will serve as the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s internal program that will provide high-quality support to Medal of Honor Recipients and their families.
What was your personal leadership project (PLP) as a Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program Scholar?
Dave: My PLP focused on creating a program to hire and retain veterans and military spouses at CVS Health. I recognized this would be a component of a larger initiative, as I’ve always believed veterans and military spouses want to join organizations that genuinely serve the military-connected community. In my view, no private or public company is better positioned than CVS Health to serve the health and wellness needs of this community, and that’s the foundation we’ve built upon.
What have you been working on since completing the Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program?
Dave: After graduating in 2018, I initially had no team and no budget beyond recruiting resources. The real turning point came in 2021 when CVS Health became an in-network provider for TRICARE, prompting the company to invest significantly in our strategy focused on the health and wellness of the military-connected community. This expanded our capabilities and impact substantially.
Which lessons learned during the Veteran Leadership Program have stayed with you the most, and how have you put those lessons into action?
Dave: Two lessons have profoundly influenced my work. First, I’ve learned that with a strong network, you can accomplish virtually anything. This began with my VLP classmates and extended to partnerships with organizations like Combined Arms and The Mission Continues, as well as working with John Boerstler during his tenure as Chief Experience Officer at the VA. These connections literally saved a veteran’s life when a CVS Health leader approached me in a moment of crisis.
Second, I’ve regularly attended alumni meetings since completing VLP and particularly value former White House Communications Director and Bush Center Senior Advisor Kevin Sullivan’s sessions. His insights have been invaluable as I’ve worked to drive strategy at a Fortune 10 company, which requires influencing others to act. I’ve found nothing accomplishes this more effectively than sharing a compelling story that resonates with stakeholders.
Elizabeth: This question is difficult for me to answer because I walked away with so much value from the program that it’s hard to narrow it down. As a civilian, the program helped me find a deeper confidence in my role within the military space. I’ve always believed in my ability to contribute, but I walked away with a better understanding of the unique value I bring and felt confident that my voice not only matters, but is welcome and encouraged. The experience has really shaped how I approach my work and how I engage with this community.
Similar to Dave, the way the program expanded my network has been remarkable. It’s not just a list of names and phone numbers, but a community of people who genuinely show up for each other. My classmates have adjusted their calendars to take my calls, taken the time to help me brainstorm solutions and have an authentic desire to collaborate in meaningful ways.
How did VLP spark this partnership, and what else do you hope to work on together in the coming years? 
Dave: Elizabeth and I had the privilege of attending a White House Christmas event together in 2023. While we’d briefly met at a Veteran Leadership Program reunion previously, this occasion gave us the opportunity to connect more meaningfully. Elizabeth quickly became friends with both my wife Kathy and me. When she began her work with the Congressional Medal of Honor Society (CMOHS), she shared her experiences and vision. Having been fortunate to meet many Medal of Honor Recipients throughout my life and hear their remarkable stories, I immediately recognized the potential in the HonorCare initiative she was working on and knew CVS Health needed to support these extraordinary Americans.
Elizabeth: Dave tells the story perfectly! We had the chance to meet at several events over the course of about a year and I continued to update him on how the HonorCare Program was growing. CVS is now the founding sponsor of the HonorCare Program, and it absolutely would not have been possible without VLP.
The incredible work of Jane Barnes, Senior Director of Healthcare and Advocacy at the Congressional Medal of Honor Society has been taking place for nearly seven years. When I joined the team, we began looking at ways to better structure the program and make it something that we could talk about with organizations like CVS in an effort to gain the support we needed to move forward with our mission.
Dave, can you talk about your work with CVS Health to be the founding sponsor of HonorCare?
Dave: Our involvement aligns perfectly with CVS Health’s purpose: “Bringing our heart to every moment of your health.” We recognize that military service uniquely impacts the health and wellness of veterans, and this is certainly true for the humble individuals who wear our nation’s highest award for valor. Many Medal of Honor Recipients have continued serving our nation for decades after leaving military service, and through HonorCare, we can support their well-being just as they’ve supported our country’s ideals through their extraordinary courage and commitment.
To learn more about the Medal of Honor and The Congressional Medal of Honor Society, visit: Instagram |Facebook | CMOHS.org
