Each November, our nation pauses to honor the men and women who have worn the uniform of the United States, and the families who stood faithfully beside them. National Veterans and Military Families Month carries that gratitude through the entire month, and on November 11, Veterans Day asks every one of us to stop and remember what their service has made possible.
At Lima Charlie Inc., this month holds a special meaning. We are a service-disabled veteran-owned small business, and the reason this company exists traces back to military service.
Our Founder, David Waldbauer
David Waldbauer, Lima Charlie’s founder and president, is a proud veteran, having served our country in the United States Armed Forces. His service reflects a commitment shared by generations of Americans who answered their nation’s call and carried that sense of duty with them long after they took off the uniform.
For many veterans, the desire to serve doesn’t end when military service does. It simply finds a new form. For David, that new form became Lima Charlie, a company built to help people find a safe place to stay when disaster turns their lives upside down.
The Meaning Behind Our Name
In the NATO phonetic alphabet, the letter L is Lima and the letter C is Charlie. Over military radio, “Lima Charlie” means “loud and clear.” It is the confirmation that a message has been received and fully understood.
For those who have served, those words carry real weight. They mean the line is open, the message got through, and the person on the other end can be counted on.
Our name is a reminder of that. When someone reaches out to us, often during one of the hardest moments of their life, they deserve to be heard clearly and answered with care. That is the meaning behind our tagline, “We hear you loud and clear.”
“Lima Charlie” means the message was received and understood. We strive to honor that meaning in everything we do.
Service That Continues
Military service teaches that the mission is bigger than any one person, and that the people who depend on you come first. That belief is woven into the company David built.
Today, that service means providing emergency response housing when disaster strikes. When fires, floods and storms force families from their homes, we work alongside emergency agencies to find furnished, safe places for displaced families and response crews to stay, so communities can focus on recovering and rebuilding. As our community page puts it, “We believe veteran leadership brings accountability and trust to the communities we serve.”
With Gratitude to Those Who Served
To every veteran, and to every military spouse, parent and child who sacrificed alongside them: thank you. Your service has protected the freedoms we share, and it is a debt this nation can never fully repay.
This month and throughout the year, we invite our partners and neighbors to honor veterans through action, by hiring those who served and by supporting veteran-owned businesses and military families in their communities.
From all of us at Lima Charlie Inc., thank you for your service. We hear you loud and clear.
