Veterans and Remembrance Day - What You Can Do to help · 2:27am Nov 12th, 2020
Howdy folks,
Most years I write a reflection on Veterans Day (Remembrance Day in many countries). This year, I regretfully do not have time. Instead, I would like to issue a simple call to action:
Charities are hit hard by COVID. Veterans charities are suffering right now. That means veterans are suffering. Men and women coming home from war often need help for any number of reasons, ranging from a lack of employment to dealing with post traumatic stress or physical disabilities.
While the idea that all veterans are depressed and wracked with PTS is a ridiculous over-generalization, even mundane difficulties like employment gaps can be a significant problem, especially in the current climate. The organizations which help them adapt to and overcome challenges both large and small are often struggling to do so.
This Veterans/Remembrance Day, I encourage you to consider how you might support these brave men and women who sacrificed their time, energy, safety, and health for our respective nations.
That may mean supporting a charity; I’ve listed a couple that I’m more familiar with below.
That may mean buying from a veteran-owned and operated business like Black Rifle Coffee Company (who’ve made it their mission to employ 10,000 veterans; also, their coffee rocks).
That may simply mean reaching out to the veterans in your own life and making the connection, because the need for human connection is a universal constant of our species.
Raising awareness of the frequency and dangers of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI, see Warriors Heart below) can save lives, as many soldiers don’t report their injuries at the time and then are denied VA care later.
Thank you all for reading.
Thank you to all who served.
Warriors Heart: Strength Through Healing - https://www.warriorsheart.com/kyle-lamb-john-lovell-discussion/
Headstrong - https://getheadstrong.org/
To any veterans who are struggling with depression and suicide, I am placing a link to the Veteran Crisis line here, as well as links to the national suicide prevention hotline and a list of international hotlines. There is no shame in needing help. In truth, it is courageous to ask for it. Special operations veterans Kyle Lamb and John Lovell discuss this in the Warriors Heart link above.
Thank you for posting this.
Thank you, my friend. There is also a resource called Mighty Oaks, founded by a former Marine (not sure exactly what he did, and don't have time to look it up at the moment) named Chad Robicheaux. From my understanding, it's one of the programs that assists vets who face hardships such as post- traumatic stress, various addictions, and helps them to bridge the chasms often found after coming home from abroad. Check it out.
Thank you for bringing these organizations to light!
I did share messages of thanks on Facebook and Twitter, I know it's not much, but I hope it helps a little bit. People like you do more good work than I do.
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Not everyone has to do everything; if we all so something, that's what makes the difference.
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Thank you, I will.
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I know, but I sometimes see things about people who, for example, lost a loved one saying they are tired of hearing "my condolences". It has become an expected gesture from society. But to the grieving, it is lip service, sure there are people like me who at the moment are genuine, but certainly, by the next week, I likely will have forgotten all about them.
In fact, in all honesty, I had completely forgotten that it was Veteran's Day at all until I asked if the mail had been retrieved and my stepdad said "you know it's Vet's Day right?" "huh, looks at the phone, so it is". I could give the excuse that Covid and all the weirdness therein has made this year particularly hard to track.
As I sit here thinking about it though, that doesn't quite cut it.
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I'm of the opinion that nothing can ever really "cut it." That's fine. We're not capable of perfection; we're just called to strive to do good. Falling short doesn't matter as long as we strive.
And I think the little gestures go farther than some give them credit for. Chris Cappy (Army Vet from Task and Purpose) posted some remarks on Veteran's Day to the effect that he appreciates the little "thank you for your service" moments because (and I'm paraphrasing here) sure, people who haven't been the war can't really understand, but the fact that they're trying means they want to do something, even if it's a small something. He's grateful for that, and he encourages other vets to think that way too. Most vets I know feel that way.
I, personally, waste too much time worrying about whether or not something will be "good enough," which leads to me not doing anything. Better to go forward with my best shot - if I try and it doesn't work the way I want, at least I made the effort. If I try and it works the way I want, bonus!