From Sacrifice to Solidarity: War Veterans as Catalysts for Intergenerational Healing Through Cultural Revitalization

Contemporary societies face growing generational divides characterized by fragmented social connections, eroding cultural continuity, and increasing psychological distress across age groups. This conceptual paper proposes an innovative framework for rebuilding intergenerational solidarity through structured narrative engagement with military veterans' lived experiences. Grounded in integrative psychological theory, we examine how veterans' stories of sacrifice and resilience can serve as powerful catalysts for social healing and cultural preservation. Our theoretical model synthesizes three key psychological perspectives: (1) narrative identity theory, which explains how shared storytelling shapes collective memory and personal resilience; (2) intergroup contact theory, adapted to address age-based divisions; and (3) cultural psychology principles emphasizing collectivist values as protective social factors. Together, these frameworks demonstrate how purposeful intergenerational dialogue can transform veterans' experiences into meaningful resources for community connection. The paper introduces Stories of Sacrifice for Solidarity (SOSS) as a conceptual prototype for interventions that honor veterans' contributions while addressing contemporary social challenges. This approach features three core components: oral history preservation, facilitated intergenerational dialogues, and community-based remembrance practices. We discuss critical implementation considerations including trauma-informed narrative practices, cultural adaptation processes, and ethical dimensions of collective memory work. Beyond theoretical contributions, this work highlights practical applications for mental health promotion, cultural heritage preservation, and social policy development. The veteran-focused approach offers unique advantages, as military service narratives inherently embody themes of sacrifice, resilience, and collective purpose that resonate across generations. We argue that such intergenerational solidarity initiatives can simultaneously address veterans' social marginalization and youth's need for meaningful historical connection. This conceptual foundation provides mental health professionals, community organizers, and policymakers with a psychologically-grounded framework for developing culturally-responsive solidarity programs. Future directions include empirical testing of the model and adaptation for diverse cultural contexts. The paper ultimately advocates for recognizing intergenerational connection as vital social infrastructure in an increasingly fragmented world.