--- title: Veteran Community in the Tech Space | D-Day Remembrance description: In honor of D-Day, MetroStar employees, partners, and friends gathered at our Reston HQ Patio for a cigar and scotch night. image: https://blog.metrostar.com/hubfs/MicrosoftTeams-image%20(342)-1.png --- [![MetroStar Systems Logo](https://blog.metrostar.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/MetroStar_Jan2021/images/Logo-2021.png?width=413&name=Logo-2021.png "MetroStar Systems Logo")](https://www.metrostar.com/) - Who We Are - [Meet MetroStar](https://metrostar.com/who-we-are/) - [Leadership](https://metrostar.com/leaders/) - [Partnerships](https://www.metrostar.com/partnerships/) - [Innovation Lab](https://www.metrostar.com/innovation-lab/) - [Contract Vehicles](https://www.metrostar.com/contract-vehicles/) - What We Do - [Artificial Intelligence](https://www.metrostar.com/ai-and-government/) - [Digital Experience](https://www.metrostar.com/digital-experience/) - [Application Modernization](https://www.metrostar.com/application-modernization/) - [Enterprise IT](https://www.metrostar.com/enterprise-it-services/) - [Products + Solutions](https://www.metrostar.com/federal-government-products-solutions/) - Who We Serve - [National Security](https://www.metrostar.com/national-security/) - [Defense](https://www.metrostar.com/defense-customers/) - Insights - [Blog](https://blog.metrostar.com/) - [Case Studies](https://www.metrostar.com/case-studies/) - [News + Events](https://metrostar.com/news-events/) - Join Us - [Careers](https://www.metrostar.com/join-us/) - [Open Roles](https://www.metrostar.com/jobs/) - [Cleared Jobs](https://www.metrostar.com/cleared-jobs/) - [Veterans](https://www.metrostar.com/veterans/) - [Internships](https://www.metrostar.com/internships/) - [Contact Us](https://metrostar.com/contact-us/) - Who We Are - [Meet MetroStar](https://metrostar.com/who-we-are/) - [Leadership](https://metrostar.com/leaders/) - [Culture](https://metrostar.com/culture/) - [Partnerships](https://www.metrostar.com/partnerships/) - [Innovation Lab](https://www.metrostar.com/innovation-lab/) - [Contract Vehicles](https://www.metrostar.com/contract-vehicles/) - What We Do - [Artificial Intelligence](https://www.metrostar.com/ai-and-government/) - [Digital Experience](https://www.metrostar.com/digital-experience/) - [Application Modernization](https://www.metrostar.com/application-modernization/) - [Enterprise IT](https://www.metrostar.com/enterprise-it-services/) - [Products + Solutions](https://www.metrostar.com/federal-government-products-solutions/) - Who We Serve - [National Security](https://www.metrostar.com/national-security/) - [Defense](https://www.metrostar.com/defense-customers/) - Insights - [Blog](https://blog.metrostar.com/) - [Case Studies](https://www.metrostar.com/case-studies/) - [News + Events](https://metrostar.com/news-events/) - Join Us - [Careers](https://www.metrostar.com/join-us/) - [Open Roles](https://www.metrostar.com/jobs/) - [Cleared Jobs](https://www.metrostar.com/cleared-jobs/) - [Veterans](https://www.metrostar.com/veterans/) - [Internships](https://www.metrostar.com/internships/) - [**Contact Us**](https://metrostar.com/contact-us/) [blogs](https://blog.metrostar.com/) > [MetroStar Culture](https://blog.metrostar.com/tag/metrostar-culture) # Veteran Community in the Tech Space | D-Day Remembrance 2 MIN READ 06/07/2023 | [MetroStar Culture](https://blog.metrostar.com/tag/metrostar-culture) ![blue background with white overlay of American flag. Text reads: Veteran Community, Honoring D-Day with Friends and Partners](https://blog.metrostar.com/hubfs/MicrosoftTeams-image%20(342)-1.png) In honor of D-Day, MetroStar employees, partners, and friends gathered at our Reston HQ Patio for a cigar and scotch night. Hosted by MetroStar's CEO, Ali Reza Manouchehri, and Director of Army Operations, Kent Friederich, the event was our[first annual exclusive rest and relaxation](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7072327005752475648)[(R&R)](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7072327005752475648)[event](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7072327005752475648).  Attendees celebrated our friends and partners, as well as remembered the sacrifices made for the ability to live freely while enjoying a little R&R.   “I think it is important to remember that this country and our veterans have made great sacrifices so we can enjoy nights like tonight and recognize their sacrifices. We owe our freedom and a night like this to our veterans,” Friederich said.  Andrew Bice, a Business Development Analyst at MetroStar, was in attendance and reflected on the importance of honoring anniversary events like D-Day.  “Recognizing D-Day is about honoring those who have made sacrifices. We are reminded that the world is not as nice as we want it to be, and there have to be people willing to sacrifice it all for their loved ones back at home,” Bice said.  During the event, attendees were surrounded by good company, rich tobacco aroma, and scotch’s smooth taste. They shared their lived experiences as veterans, supporters of the veteran community, and what it means to be “one team, with one mission at MetroStar.”   “MetroStar champions our veteran community by making sure we deliver on the missions we are fortunate enough to support and by recruiting amazing individuals who are transitioning their careers,” Manouchehri said.  A friend of MetroStar and combat veteran John Hillen also commented on what supporting the missions of government defense clients means to him. “For the government contracting community that supports national security missions, we live the customer mission to secure the peace and prosperity of the country. I find it hard to imagine a more inspiring reason for a company to exist than that chain of custody,” Hillen said.   Learn more about the veteran culture at MetroStar.  [![ explore veteran community culture](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/7196770/89cb9447-a44e-40bd-99c6-681f473dfa17.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/7196770/89cb9447-a44e-40bd-99c6-681f473dfa17) ![Picture of Lily Theisen](https://blog.metrostar.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(10).png?width=150&name=Untitled%20design%20(10).png) Written By: [Lily Theisen](https://blog.metrostar.com/author/lily-theisen) Community & Culture Coordinator ### you might like these too ### [MetroStar’s Cedric George Honored for Advancing Readiness, Empowering Veterans, and Delivering Mission-Critical Impact](https://blog.metrostar.com/cedric-george-nvc-veteran-of-year) ##### Career Growth | Management | MetroStar Culture | Making an Impact ### [Delivering Real-Time Insights for Faster DoD Mission Planning](https://blog.metrostar.com/merlin-dod-mission-planning) ##### MetroStar Culture | Human-Centered Design | Innovation Lab ### [Stephanie Haynes Positioning MetroStar as a Federal AI Powerhouse](https://blog.metrostar.com/metrostar-federal-ai-powerhouse) ##### Career Growth | MetroStar Culture | Making an Impact | AI/ML [view more](https://blog.metrostar.com/tag/metrostar-culture) ## want to stay in the loop? 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