- This topic is empty.
-
Posts
-
Hi. I just want to write something on Memorial Day because I have many vet friends and family, some no longer alive. But it’s about the living vets I wish to talk about. With about 22 suicides daily it has been am important issues for me to reflect more on the living veterans. I wanted to mention a few things I have experienced in doing so as often veterans do not get noticed or isolated or get a chance to tell there stories personally. It’s gets emotionally isolated and depressing for them. Here is an example:
Quote:Brock McIntosh, Afghanistan veteran (U.S. Army) (at listen2veterans.org) said: When I came back from Afghanistan, hearing the words “Thank You” from people who didn’t know what I did or saw was an empty gesture. More than anything, I wanted my community to listen to the stories of veterans like myself—to participate in that moral struggle, and gain a deeper awareness of the meaning of war. The Welcome Johnny and Jane Home Project understands the important role that civilians can perform simply by listening to veterans actively and without judgment, generating new opportunities for veterans to serve their communities by educating them about the nuanced reality of war.
A nonveteran who listened to a veteran’s story in The Welcome Johnny and Jane Home Project said: I decided to do this to try to help a veteran, and the veteran I listened to said it did help. What I had not expected was the powerfully positive effect that the listening had on me. My politics are very different from the veteran’s but that was irrelevant. This was about human connection. By listening to what this veteran had been through in the military and then after coming home, I learned about their humanity but also about my own. I was inspired by the person’s integrity and honesty and the courage in speaking so openly to me.
I hope we can consider this on the weekend we usually focus on those that have passed away and more in the living with getting them the help they need, just to listen to them and let them share there stories. Let them know they are still relevant and that they did matters(regardless of how you feel about war: I hate it anything to do with control of others physically or mentally). Happy Memorial Day. Help those they need help of you have the time. Take the time to listen and let them share there stories. I hope we can do better as a society to help those in need. Thank you for your time to read this.
I like this. I hope the US does more, officially and unofficially, to support vets of recent Mideast wars. Those wars went on so long but on the other hand I don’t think a lot of Americans even thought about the fact that we were at war. We felt so removed from their awful experiences and we risk not appreciating what they went through. Because the wars went so long, I fear many vets will be suffering from the psychological after-effects for years to come. This is not a bragging post. I needed the reminder, but I have tried as many times as I can remember to ask people where did you serve, and see what happens. We have a famous tourist waterfall in our area, we were taking family up to see it. I was standing by one of the look outs and a Vet with a hat on stood by me, I thanked him, asked where he served. He talked for a half hour. The conversation improved when my father in law, who was visiting joined us, my father in law was gunnery trainer. The two men connected instantly. It was actually really fun to be an observer at this interchange. My daughter and I were in front of a vet at Costco, we asked the same question and he and his wife chattered all the way to the door. Again totally interesting stuff.
We do owe our vets much more than we give. Thanks Forgotten for the necessary reminder.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.