I have several loved ones who serve/served in the U.S. Armed Forces. One was in a medical helicopter, that was shot down over the Euphrates, he was found barely alive on the bank of the river. My grandfather served in Korea. My nephew is currently in Iraq, his third trip. Two uncles who served in Vietnam. One cousin in Vietnam now dead from health issues related to Agent Orange.
My family and I are of the dig your heels in and do what has to be done folks. We take care of our own.
As we have walked the path of life, we have never asked for more than what we earned. Sometimes that means holding our governments feet to the fire.
Attached is a very interesting item I read today on USA Todays website. I cannot overstate how hard it can be to get the services our soldiers earned. How difficult it is for a Wounded Warrior to seek help for the mental damage done. The things they are asked to do, things they see, that they hear and the guilt they feel when following orders that harm innocent civilians causes scars that we will never understand.
www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/01/15/veteran-disability-costs-c...
During your day, if you have even an extra 30 seconds, remember our warriors, say a little prayer, do a good deed, smile at a stranger, do these things that are so easy as a way to pay it back. We who have not served will never fully understand the sacrifice they make on our behalf.
Comments (3)
Add comment@Hennysmom...
Thank you for reminding us of the sacrifices your family members and others have made on our behalf.
I'm not affiliated in any way with the Wounded Warrior project, but I have donated. I encourage everyone to do the same.
http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/
The Rachel Maddow show
did a story recently on how long it is taking to get benefits for soldiers who are coming home maimed and emotionally decimated. Sometimes it is over a year and a half! She promotes the Wounded Warrior Project very often, and I stand with all of you who do the same.
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When you are trying so hard to help someone heal after putting it all on the line for their country it can be so disheartening. I went to an appointment with a loved one when they were trying to understand their mental health benefits. This young man was 21 years old and had hit rock bottom after coming home from a recent deployment. He was reminded that if he availed himself of these services it would put his future with the military in jeopardy. It might limit how far he could advance, these records stick with you for life. hint, hint, wink, wink. Of course, the words were said in a much nicer roundabout way. See he signed up for the long haul, 8 years, he knows this is his job, he doesn't even regret it. According to him this is his career. When you get hurt at work you at least get work comp. He just gets an appointment for 7 weeks out, and by then he can't get off work from his part time job to go. Instead we are forced to take him for a psych intake at the ER just to keep him from hurting himself. Most of these young people don't have the maturity to deal with scars behind their eyelids. We have failed them. Miserably.