Look, we just celebrated Veterans Day 2015 this past week, and Im sure, along with sleeping in late, and enjoying the day, many Americans may have thought about our veterans - and may have, for a few moments appreciated them and what they did. AMERICA has a problem - our returning combat veterans are committing suicide at about 22 PER DAY! The high rates of our American military heroes committing suicide, upon returning home from combat is not due, nor a result of living through a war. Its not because these people had to duck bullets, or somehow have become brain damaged. But, rather, these suicide rates have to tell us that WE, as a nation, are failing the men and women who were willing to suffer war and harsh conditions, even POSABLE death, or lifetimes of pain and suffering - for US! And we are failing them every day. We are allowing the VA MEDICAL and OTHER benefits to be eroded. We are not helping them with jobs. We are acting as if we are not interested, nor care. If you know a veteran, call them, be their friend, look to help them adjust back to society. If you see a veteran, take a minute to walk up and shake their hand - thank them for their service. I went to Vietnam - I know how it feels to come home. Everything is different, your friends, who didnt go are busy with their lives - in college, working, with families, and have no time for you. You are without a good job, you are founding to have to compete with those who chose college and now have careers, or are more desired by employers - so you look with envy at the lives, full of this worlds possessions they have - educations and lifestyles, and possessions you gave up to provide for them. You are always playing catch-up with everyone, you left behind. You are alone... Few even speak your language - none understand you - or they joke He was in Vietnam (or, wherever) to giggles, snickers, and laughter, by all walking away or now avoiding you in group gatherings - and you feel - so low! Everything becomes dark and dreary, life seems to have passed you by. Your footing is precarious - your life meaningless. I can remember the exact moment when I was first thanked by a man and a woman, in a restaurant as they came up to me, in person, shaking my hand, for my service to this nation. They quietly and secretly, avoiding embarrassment on my part, paid for my meal - and included the tip! Wow! That kind hand grabbed me! Their smiles and friendly respect filled my empty spot, blew away the darkness growing within me. That kind act, by people I did not know, gave me strength, that day. It gave me strength that has lasted WITHIN MY HEART for over FOURTY YEARS.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Nov 2014 16:04:38 +0000