Introduction
Every cigar smoker knows that lighting up isn’t just about the cigar itself — it’s about the moment it creates. But at the Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival 2025, I was reminded that sometimes a cigar is much more than a moment; it’s a lifeline.
One of the true highlights of the festival wasn’t the endless rows of cigars (though my humidor is still smiling about that). It was the chance to see Operation: Cigars for Warriors (CFW) in action — a nonprofit whose mission stretches far beyond tobacco and smoke. For me, as a First Responder Chaplain, their work resonated on a deeper level.
The Booth That Stopped Me in My Tracks
Festivals like RMCF can feel like a whirlwind. Booths full of cigars call out like a midway at the state fair: “Try this stick, taste this blend, here’s a lighter you didn’t know you needed.” But when I saw the Operation: Cigars for Warriors logo — the silhouette soldier holding a cigar — I stopped.
That wasn’t just another vendor. That was a reminder of something bigger: the men and women serving overseas who can’t be here with us, but who still deserve a taste of this community.
What Operation: Cigars for Warriors Does
Here’s the heartbeat of their mission: CFW collects donated premium cigars and ships them to U.S. troops deployed in combat zones or remote duty stations.
To the uninitiated, that might sound small. But to anyone who’s ever sat with a cigar at the end of a long, stressful day — you know it’s not small.
I’ve been a Chaplain long enough to know that the smallest act of normalcy, the briefest moment of calm, can make all the difference. Sometimes peace doesn’t come with a sermon. Sometimes it comes with shared silence and the glow of a cigar.
A Chaplain’s Perspective
As a first responder Chaplain, I spent years walking into people’s worst days. Tragedy, trauma, loss — those are places where words often fail. My job wasn’t to “fix” the moment; it was to be present.
And you know what? Sometimes presence looked like sitting down quietly, saying nothing, just letting someone breathe. That’s exactly what a cigar can offer a soldier. Ten, maybe twenty minutes of steady breathing, a taste of normalcy, and the feeling that someone — somewhere — thought enough of them to send that cigar across the ocean.
That’s why Operation: Cigars for Warriors matters so much. It’s not about tobacco; it’s about presence. It’s about dignity. It’s about giving someone the reminder: You are not forgotten.
Dropping My Own Donation
I’ll admit, I wrestled with what to give. The cheap sticks? The ones I wouldn’t miss? But then I thought about my own role as a Chaplain. When I walked into those hard places, I never gave leftovers. I gave my best — my full attention, my full presence.
So I reached into my bag and pulled out the good ones. The sticks I was saving. And yes, I may have shed a tear as I dropped them in that donation box. But I knew those cigars weren’t really leaving me — they were going on a mission of their own.
Why This Organization Matters
Here’s the truth: our military men and women can’t always sit in a lounge, kick back with friends, and enjoy a cigar the way we do at RMCF. Their lives are tougher, faster, louder, and filled with risks most of us will never face.
CFW bridges that gap. They send a message along with every stick: You matter. You’re seen. You’re appreciated.
And that message carries more weight than we know. I’ve seen firsthand how small comforts — a warm coffee, a handwritten note, a shared prayer — can carry someone through the darkest nights. For a soldier, that donated cigar can be the same thing.
Cigar Culture at Its Best
Cigar culture has always been about connection. It’s why we herf, why we share sticks, why we swap stories under clouds of smoke. Operation: Cigars for Warriors takes that culture and stretches it across the globe.
At RMCF 2025, I saw dozens of people dropping sticks into the box. One guy gave a handful, another just one or two — but the size of the donation didn’t matter. What mattered was that we all contributed to a bigger story.
A Moment of Humor (Because It’s Still Me)
Of course, I couldn’t resist cracking a joke. I asked the volunteer if they had a “buy one, donate one” deal. She smiled, but the look said, “Sir, this is a donation box, not a drive-thru.” Fair enough. I took the hint, laughed at myself, and walked away lighter — in both cigars and heart.
Reflections as I Walked Away
Here’s what hit me: the best cigar I smoked at RMCF 2025 wasn’t even mine. It was the one I gave away.
That’s something every Chaplain learns — sometimes the most meaningful thing you do isn’t the sermon you preach or the word you say. It’s the gift you leave behind, the peace you help create.
And in this case, it was a cigar, waiting to bring calm and connection to someone serving on the front lines.
Call to Action
If you’ve never supported Operation: Cigars for Warriors, I can’t encourage it enough. Whether it’s at a festival, a local shop, or online, one cigar can make a difference.
So next time you light up, take a moment to think: Who else could use this peace? And if you can, send a stick or two through CFW. You never know whose hands it will end up in — but you can be sure it’ll matter.
👉 To the men and women who serve: as a Chaplain, as a fellow cigar lover, and as a brother in smoke — this one’s for you.
#RMCF2025