Speaking properly with a wounded warrior.

• Position: Injured Veterans

Justin Constantine, a wounded Marine who received a Purple Heart for his injuries sustained in Iraq, has put together some rules of etiquette to consider when speaking with a wounded veteran, whether at a neighborhood coffee shop or a top executive business meeting.

"As an injured veteran I find that people want to talk to me, but they aren't sure what to say and how to say it. With a few simple guidelines, you can avoid a lot of awkward conversations. That's not just good for you, it's also helpful for the veteran," says Constantine, senior advisor to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Hiring Our Heroes Campaign and fellow with the Truman National Security Project. He also serves on the board of directors of the Wounded Warrior Project and cofounded the Veteran Success Resource Group.

Constantine shares his five rules of etiquette:

* Do not show pity; do treat us like everyone else. "Although we appreciate your compassion, the last thing any injured veteran wants to do is open up the wounds of war every time he meets someone."

* Do not bring up PTSD; do ask us about our day. "We may have posttraumatic stress disorder, but we very well may not have it. In fact, a far greater number of civilians have PTSD than service members and, even if we have PTSD, many of us are seeking care and treatment for it. Please do not bring up the topic unless we indicate we want to talk about it. Instead, ask us general questions about how our day is going like you would with anyone else."

* Do not make grandiose promises; do make friends. "Many wounded warriors were visited by a wide variety of politicians and business leaders while in the hospital. These leaders typically promised all sorts of great jobs after the warriors' recoveries, and...