Updated information on Veteran Benefits, featured Military Bloggers, the You Served Podcast and various other news and information relevant to Veterans.
If this is true… in the slightest then the Red Cross has way overstepped boundaries. If this is true then this means that the Red Cross has taken American dollars to show the enemy how to stay alive. When did the Red Cross meet Code Pink? Nato wants impartiality? We are not talking about a uniformed military, we are talking about a band of terrorists. Since when is helping and aiding terrorists in the Red Cross or NATOs job description?
I know our military treats wounded enemy combatants and I am all for that… because they are then in our custody. If a Taliban puke is wounded I want him either in our custody or I want him dead. There is no other alternative.
The Red Cross in Afghanistan has been teaching the Taliban basic first aid and giving them medical equipment to help fighters wounded in battles with NATO and Afghani forces, The Guardian claimed Tuesday.
More than 70 members of the “armed opposition” received training in April, the Red Cross has said.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it had offered its medical expertise because it was difficult for the wounded to get to hospitals because of battles, land mines and roadblocks.
The organization aims to remain neutral in the conflict. It has also trained Afghan soldiers, policemen and taxi-drivers who act as a make-shift ambulance service in Helmand and Kandahar.
However, a leading figure in Kandahar’s local government, who wanted to remain anonymous, expressed outrage over the development.
He told the Guardian: “They [the Taliban] are like animals, and they treat the people they capture worse than animals.
“They kidnapped and killed an American lady and then wouldn’t even return her body. These people don’t deserve this help.”
The Afghan ministries of defense and interior both refused to comment on what they said was a highly controversial issue.
A NATO spokesman said: “NATO has tremendous respect for the humanitarian work carried out by the ICRC and we recognize the need for this work to be carried out impartially.”
Injured insurgents are generally accepted at Afghan hospitals but there have been cases of security forces raiding hospitals and arresting staff for treating the Taliban. LINK
My good friend and NYS Public Affairs Officer, LTC Paul Fanning wrote the article below. – Troy
The history of the New York Army National Guard from the Spanish American War to Iraq and Afghanistan will be featured in a New York State Museum exhibit that opens May 28.
Entitled “Citizen Soldier: New York’s National Guard in the American Century” the exhibit includes almost 7,000 square feet of gallery space covering the service of New Yorkers through world wars, natural disasters, the 2001 terrorist attacks and Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom.
Wall panels, dioramas, photos, uniforms, equipment and weapons displays are being completed. The exhibit will also feature personal stories of Soldiers – past and present – including women Soldiers serving in the modern Guard’s ranks.
“This is something we really wanted to do and felt this was the time,” said Dr. Clifford A. Siegfried, the museum’s director. His son is a Naval Reserve officer and Iraq veteran.
“The scope of this display and the role the Guard plays for our communities, state and nation made it easy for the staff to really get behind it. So many of us feel connected,” he said.
A restored World War II M8 “Greyhound” Armored Car was moved into position in front of the Citizen Soldier Gallery on Wednesday, May 19 as delighted visitors including fourth grade elementary school students from Jeffersonville, Sullivan County looked on.
The vehicle is just one of many display items that will be used to tell the story of New York’s Citizen Soldiers who served at home and abroad during some of the nation’s darkest times. New York Soldiers of the 101st Cavalry Group used M8s in Europe during World War II.
“This is one of the largest exhibits ever produced here,” said Pat Jordan, the museum’s Director of Community Relations. “This will be here through March 2011,” she added. “We are also developing a series of special events and programs including documentary screenings, book signings and other events that are being scheduled during the exhibit’s run.”
The New York State Museum is the nation’s largest and oldest state museum and hosts innovative exhibitions and programs year round. More than 700,000 visitors annually come through its galleries to see both permanent and temporary exhibits including the “World Trade Center: Rescue, Recovery, Response,” “Adirondack Wilderness,” and “Native Peoples of New York.”
Expert curators, historians, designers and other professionals design and produce the exhibits on site from photos and artifacts in New York’s archives and historic collections as well as using selected items on loan from private sources, like the armored car and other items from Gregory Wolanin from Albany.
“Citizen Soldier” will also include materials from the New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center in Saratoga Springs who have been working with the New York State Museum staff since last year to plan and support the exhibit.
The museum is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New years Day. For more information, visit the New York State Museum website at www.nysm.nysed.gov
A World War II-era M-8 armored car is manuevered into position by its owner, vehicle collector Greg Wolanin, as the centerpiece of a New York State Museum exhibit honoring the service of New York Army National Guard Soldiers. The 101st Cavalry Group of the New York National Guard operated M-8s during their service in Europe in 1945. The exhibit, titled “Citizen Soldier” opens on May 28 and will run through March 2011.
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff wants Servicemembers to know it is okay to get help for behavioral health-related conditions. In a new video spotlighting TRICARE’s behavioral health care benefits, ADM Mike Mullen sends a strong message to Servicemembers struggling with feelings of stress, anxiety, or depression. In the four-minute video at http://www.tricare.mil/mentalhealth, Mullen urges troops to tell someone in their chain of command if they are having difficulties working through stress from deployments or the demands of military life. To avoid Servicemembers being reluctant to seek counseling, TRICARE’s new mental health options allow beneficiaries to seek help in a more private manner. The TRICARE Assistance Program (TRIAP) brings short-term professional counseling assistance straight into the home. To read this article in full, please go to; http://www.tricare.mil/Pressroom/news_print.aspx?fid=624
Seven Soldiers and three Marines, severely injured during Operation Iraqi Freedom, visited Joint Base Balad, Iraq May 11 as part of Operation Proper Exit, a program created to aid injured service members in the healing process of their wounds from battle.
Richard Kell, founder and executive director of the nonprofit organization, Troops First Foundation, created the nonprofit organization to take service members back to where their injuries happened, raising awareness of the importance of providing a better quality of life for the service members injured in combat. The visit included a meet-and-greet with the hospital staff at JBB, a town hall meeting with service members here and the presentation of certificates of appreciation by Command Sgt. Maj. Mark D. Joseph, senior enlisted adviser with the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) and a Lake Charles, La., native and Col. Knowles Atchison, deputy commanding officer of the 13th ESC and a Fort Hood, Texas, resident.
The Soldiers and Marines took the opportunity to thank the staff at the JBB hospital for what their comrades did to save their lives during their time here, while in transition to Walter Reed Medical Center. “Us sitting in front of you today is actually (the result of) work that you all have done,” said retired Spc. Brent Hendrix, a Forest City, N.C., native who underwent a right above-knee amputation and 66 surgeries. “Now we get to come back and you get to see how much work you actually put into us, how strong we are and how we’re not going to give up. I’m proud of you all. I’ve gotten to do so much ever since I left the battlefield of Iraq. I got to still be a human being as I see fit, just being able to say that is amazing. I’m glad for what you all did to get me better.”
The visit proved therapeutic for the staff as well. Many staff members thanked the group of service members for their sacrifices and their courage to come back to Iraq, because hearing their stories is healing for them as well. “For me and all the medical staff, when we hear how someone’s doing —just to get an update — it means a lot to us,” said Chief Master Sgt. John Elder, the chief superintendent of the hospital with the 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group and an Appomattox, Va., native. “It gives us great satisfaction knowing we are helping in their recovery in some way. We just want to know they’re alright and that they’re progressing in their care.” The medical field has improved over the years, allowing more service members to return home as wounded Veterans instead of deaths on the battlefield.
The rate of survival is much higher now than compared to the Vietnam War. Medics receive better training and get wounded soldiers off the battlefield much faster and more efficiently, said Command Sgt. Maj. Lawrence Wilson, senior enlisted adviser with United States Forces-Iraq and an Austin, Texas, native. “These aren’t easy wounds,” he said. “A human body, no matter how much body armor you try to put on … It’s not made to sustain an 80-pound blast. If 200 pounds of explosive from an improvised explosive device blows off the turret of a tank (and) throws it 30 meters, what’s it going to do to a human body? We are flesh and bone. There’s nothing we can put on us to make us ‘RoboCop.’ The world in which we live as combat warriors on the ground, the enemy will always have a vote. So we have to (wear) as much (armor) as we can … but still be able to maneuver to accomplish our mission,” Wilson said. Of the ten participants of OPE, 10 suffered injuries requiring amputated limbs, including three losing more than one limb.
“Everyday it’s a challenge for us as amputees; even the guys with post-traumatic stress disorder,” Hendrix said. “Everyday, just to be able to get up and act like a normal human being and a normal guy, it’s a difficult process. I have to get up every morning and put a leg on. Then, I have to worry about putting my shorts on, then … my shirts. I’ve got that extra step.” PTSD is not a recently discovered condition. Fresh knowledge is continually being collected with regard to it. Three service members who didn’t have anything physically wrong with them, had enough mental trauma to push them to take their own lives, Hendrix said.
Although these service members were severely injured, some remain in the military as active duty members, while others retired from the military with full retirement benefits. “There are days I look back and think maybe I should have thought a little longer about (retiring), especially (while on) this trip, being able to put a uniform back on,” said retired Sgt. Noah Galloway, a Birmingham, Ala. native, who underwent a left above-elbow amputation and left above-knee amputation. “It’s an honor to put it back on, and then I also think of where I am today in the civilian world and I wouldn’t change that … That goes for my injuries as well. I wouldn’t change anything that’s happened to me.” Whether or not to remain in the military is a personal decision, said retired Marine Capt. Chris Hadsall, a Bailey, Colo. native, who suffered loss of movement and sensation in his right foot, mild traumatic brain injuries and PTSD due to a suicide car bomb.
“No matter what your decision is, don’t look back,” he said. “Transition forward, because whatever you decide to do, depending on the type of person you are, you’re going to make an impact wherever you are. It’s going to be a negative impact or it’s going to be a positive impact. I think you can tell by these men standing up here today, they made the decision to make a positive impact on the lives of others.” The choice to come back to Iraq and talk to fellow service members was a positive experience for the injured Veterans. “It’s a privilege and an honor to stand here before you and see you guys carrying the torch for us,” said retired Marine Sgt. Eddie Wright, a Willis, Texas, native who lost both his hands from a rocket-propelled grenade attack. The trip back to Iraq was an incredible experience for the OPE participants because of the opportunity to meet so many service members who are still fighting, Galloway said.
“Then to come here and meet some of the medical staff in areas a lot of us have come through is just outstanding and we appreciate you being here today to meet us. Thank you,” he said Being back in theater is a great feeling, said retired Staff Sgt. Jason Kokotkiewicz, a Greenfield, Ind., native who suffered a severe traumatic brain injury when he was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade.
“When I got hurt and after I woke up, I was so sad I wasn’t there with my men,” he said. “Just to be able to come back has made all the difference.” The men have had a long journey to healing and will continue the process with the support of their Family and groups like OPE.
“Everyone is changed by war, someway, some more severely than others,” Hadsall said. “The biggest thing for me and the reason why I’m here is my father is alive, but he never (mentally) came home from Vietnam. I didn’t want this place to trap me for the rest of my life. I’m glad I came back.”
Retired Spc. Brent Hendrix (standing), a Forest City, N.C., native, speaks May 11 during a town hall meeting with service members at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, as part of Operation Proper Exit. Hendrix served his tour in Iraq in Mosul and Rawah, and underwent a right above-knee amputation after suffering injuries from a roadside bomb detonation.He is now working on his associate’s degree as part of the TRACK program with the Wounded Warrior Project.He plans to become a U.S. air marshal. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Kimberly Johnson)
Retired Marine Sgt. Eddie Wright (standing), a Willis, Texas, native, who underwent the amputation of both his hands due to a rocket-propelled grenade attack, talks to medical staff May 11 at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, May 11, during Operation Proper Exit. OPE focuses on bringing service members back to where their injuries occurred and raising the awareness of the importance of providing a better quality of life for service members injured in combat.
The Army Times has a story up about a Soldier that has been in Canada with his tail tucked between his legs since 2005. I love this quote from the dishonorable Patrick Hart:
“I’ve bled for my country, I’ve sweated for my country, I’ve cried myself to sleep for my country — which is a lot more than some people who are passing judgment on me have done,” he says. “I would rather go sit in prison than go to Iraq.“
Really? Then why are you in Canada? Sounds like you’re a hypocrite AND a coward to me. What were the words of our fearless leaders as he was running for office? “Just words. Just phrases.” To a coward like Hart, I guess he could say anything and not really mean it – like when he signed that contract.
I suspect there was something else wrong with Hart that had to do with his decision to paint a virtual yellow stripe all the way down his back. After all, “An Army sergeant with almost 10 years of active duty” must have done something terrible to never make it past the rank of E5 in ten years!!
These people lack the conviction of their beliefs. They run to Canada and then pretend to be heroes and honorable troops who, in Hart’s words, “bled for my country…sweated for my country”. I find it strange that he couldn’t muster enough courage, blood and sweat to rage against the machine from a closer fighting position than Canada.
Let me tell you something there, you young, pathetic “sergeant”: First of all, I hope you aren’t ever accused of being a sergeant in an article again. You were an E5! NOT a sergeant! Second, I know privates with LESS active duty time that would criticize your cowardice and have every right! They’ve honorably met their obligations. Others that didn’t want to fight had the courage of their convictions to stand up to the man and face the pied piper full on. But, you chose to run away to be with the Canadians.
You are a coward. And for the record, I have a LOT MORE time than you do and happily pass my judgment. Enjoy your new citizenship as a canuck – although, I don’t think most Canadians want you since they have heroes who don’t shirk their obligations!!
At the Association of the United States Army’s Medical Symposium and Exposition in San Antonio, TX, MEDCOM will formally roll out a new Comprehensive Behavioral Health System of Care (CBHSOC) Campaign Plan. The CBHSOC is nested under the Army Campaign Plan for Health Promotion, Risk Reduction and Suicide Prevention to standardize and optimize the vast array of behavioral health policies and procedures across the MEDCOM to ensure seamless continuity of care to better identify, prevent, treat and track behavioral health issues that affect Soldiers and families during every phase of the Army Force Generation cycle. For more information on behavioral health, visit the Army Behavioral Health website at:http://www.behavioralhealth.army.mil/ and the comprehensive Soldier Fitness website at:http://www.army.mil/csf/
Almost exactly two weeks ago, I found myself in the fetal position at the foot of my bed crying my eyes out. It was culmination of many stressors that threw me over the edge and caused to seriously think about taking my own life. Thankfully, I had great friends I could turn to. I sent an email to one friend as sort of a last ditch cry for help, thinking in my mind it was futile due to the late hour. As fate (or God) would have it, I got an almost instant response to call someone quick. I did just that.
Looking back, it’s easy to see where I went wrong, but it doesn’t make the result less frightening. One of my Soldiers lost his entire family and I took that hard. Both my grandparents died within a week of each other at the same time. There was a lot of self-induced work stress trying to get up to speed on a new job. Writing. Radio Show. Family. Lack of sleep. Pain. Nightmares. Trying to get the house rented or sold. Lawsuit against the school. Household goods delivery. Getting the new house ready. And the straw that broke my spirit – I ran out of my medications.
I work on West Fort Hood and we only have a small – but great – clinic over there. When I first was about to run out of my anti-depressants, I went to the clinic to get a refill. Unfortunately, they can’t do transfers at the West Fort Hood (Apache) Clinic from other duty stations and I was referred to the hospital on main post. It’s such an inconvenience to go to main post. I either have to miss work or spend my entire lunch fighting lines and traffic getting over there. One day turned into the next and before I knew it a week had gone by without taking my medications – along with everything else happening. An argument with the love of my life threw me into an out of control tailspin. I’ve never been so deep and desperate. For the first time in my life, I thought seriously about ending it.
My saving grace was my very strong belief that suicide is pointless, weak, and stupid. I’ve said it numerous times that there is nothing in this life we can’t handle; Nothing worth taking our life over, and I believe that. And while I personally don’t find a lot of worth in myself, I know that there are people out there who do find me a worthy person. People rely on me, love me, and want to help me. The same goes for every one of you. There are people that rely on you, love and want to help you, regardless of what you think. It’s difficult to describe exactly where my head was that night. Looking back, I’m honestly baffled at how I got there. It doesn’t seem like me.
This past week, I had the privilege to sit in on a bloggers roundtable on “Signs, Symptoms, and Treatments of Psychological Health Concerns”. On that roundtable, was a Soldier named SSG Meg Krause. She is a combat medic with the United States Army Reserves, did five years of active duty from 2002 to 2006 and returned from Iraq, in 2006, thinking that she was going to be just fine.
Like most Soldiers, she just figured that a few nightmares or flashbacks here or there were normal, and did her best “to cope and avoid triggers I knew bothered me such as movies or crowds and things like that”.
It’s a common problem what we need to address, but the problem is that there are still people in the military that don’t quite understand what they’re dealing with. Big Army gets it. Most leaders understand that PTSD is real. What many leaders get wrong is dealing with it.
When Soldiers are feeling suicidal and have the good sense to reach out for help, leaders have to understand that they may NOT be the ones they reach out to. Commands need to adjust their SOPs to account for this. Some leaders think that if a Soldier doesn’t call his squad leader or section leader at such a time of crisis first, the problem rests either with the Soldier or the leader. They will say that a good leader would have such a great and wonderful relationship with his troops that they would call them first when contemplating suicide or any other personal problem. It just doesn’t work that way.
When I found myself balled up on the floor of my room wondering if this was my last night on earth, the last person I was thinking about was someone in my chain of command. It’s not because I don’t trust them or get along with them. It’s just the way it is. I have a GREAT relationship with my supervisor, my Sergeant Major, and my battle buddy, a fellow Master Sergeant. But, the first people that came to my mind when I needed it the most was my wife, my mother, and Wendy. Those are the people I reached out to and I didn’t inform my chain of command until the next day.
The problem lies, I think, in the “serious incident report” (SIR) timelines. In most cases, the timeline kicks in with the event. So, technically, my command was hours behind because they didn’t find out about the event until nearly 6 hours later. If your SIR reporting procedures call for a report submission of incident plus one or two hours, you’re already behind and people get more stressed and frustrated when they are questioned about the lateness of the report. This doesn’t make sense in my case or many others. It’s understood that chains of command need to be informed, but to that Soldier the most important thing in his/her mind is survival – not an SIR reporting timeline.
By the time I had finished talking with those three people, I was so exhausted, I just wanted sleep. My wife wouldn’t let me hang up that phone until she was absolutely confident I was going to make it through the night. I definitely wasn’t in the mood to answer a bunch of questions so that a formal report could be filed. The success is in the fact that my training worked and I called someone – anyone – when I needed it. THAT is what is important – not an SIR. And because I have good leaders, they were the first people I told when I got to work the next day and went to my Chaplain.
Depression and PTSD are debilitating issues. I never in my wildest imagination thought that I was even capable of having those thoughts. It still confuses me how I got there. I look back to two weeks ago and I still can’t comprehend the depths of my despair that night. But, I know what I felt that night and I never want to go there again.
I’ve already said how thankful I was to the people that were there for me that quite literally potentially saved my life that night. It was the first time I’d ever felt like that and I hope the last. But, I know that if it does come back, I have people I can turn to. I learned the hard way that when dealing with depression, it’s ok to be prescribed anti-depressants. We tend to have this attitude that being on anti-depressants is embarrassing or weak, but it’s no different than heart attack victims that need blood thinner or diabetes patients that need insulin for the rest of their lives. There’s no shame in that and leaders that think there is need to be replaced immediately.
If you are a servicemember and you’re contemplating suicide, you also have someone you can turn to. And as SSG Krause said in the conference call the other day, you need to understand “that seeking help for post-traumatic stress disorder is so important to not only your psychological health, but your overall lifestyle; and that there is no shame in admitting it” to anyone, including your friends, family, and chain of command.
It then becomes the chain of command’s responsibility not to immediately jump to any conclusions. I learned something about myself today in helping one of my Soldiers who was where I was a few weeks ago just last night. I learned that even I have some biases to overcome and I’ve been dealing with this for nearly 7 years. I should have recognized the signs a little better and I didn’t. I jumped to incorrect conclusions that this Soldier was a poor performer who couldn’t be relied upon. What I didn’t do was look into the WHY of his performance or his history. I would have seen that he used to be a stellar performer and outstanding Soldier. I jumped to inaccurate conclusions and falsely labeled him. I’m a little ashamed of that, because I got so angry last year when I was losing my mind that no one understood what I was going through. They made things worse instead of better and my family is the only thing that kept me going. I was officially labeled a “trouble maker”, a “disgrace to the NCO Corps”, and a “poor leader”. While they can kiss my ass three ways to Sunday, it still added stresses on top of my already-challenged emotional instability at the time.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying to allow Soldiers with PTSD to get away with anything by any means. If a Soldier commits a crime, he should be punished for it while weighing his mental state into the conviction and/or sentencing process. PTSD isn’t an excuse, but it could be a factor. We, as a society, need to understand that. We can’t coddle our suffering vets, but we can’t throw the book at them either.
As is customary when I’m in this type of mood, I have a song to go along with what I’m about to say. It’s from a band I learned about just a few weeks ago – not long after my episode – called 7 Years Today. The lead singer, Mylon, got out of the Army after a tour in Iraq a little more than a year ago and wrote this song as his coping mechanism. We will be interviewing Mylon and the rest of 7 Years Today on June 3rd. Keep in mind that I just threw this together real quick.
The point is that if you find yourself someplace that may result in a fatal decision, do something. Call a friend. Write another song. Wright another blog post. Take up a hobby. Confront your pain, don’t run away from it. Write another chapter in your life instead of forcing someone else to write the epilogue.
One day, I’ll spend a little more time on it and make it a bit more in synch.
Sixteen of the nation’s most skilled marksmen have been carefully selected to compete for the title. Some have professional shooting experience, some are amateurs–and all will showcase breathtaking timing, speed and accuracy in their quest to win the $100,000 prize package and the title of “Top Shot.” The winner will ultimately have to be skilled in everything from muzzle-loading muskets and modern pistols to slingshots and throwing knives.
Each week, contenders will face both team and individual elimination challenges until one winner remains. Every challenge will focus on the weapons, technologies and techniques of different historical eras as hi-speed HD cameras capture the skillful execution of each test in extreme slow-motion. (Please visit the homepage for more info – http://www.history.com/shows/top-shot
I resist technology to a degree. Especially technology that everyone raves about as a “must have!” I am just contrary that way. I have enjoyed slowly but surely upgrading at my own pace, and I have managed to avoid the Blackberry altogether. That is until now…
Skype and Blackberry have teamed up to drag me kicking and screaming into the current techno-century.
This is something that will probably draw a lot of military families — free Skype to Skype calls on your Blackberry or Droid phone. Did I mention that my son has orders to Germany after this deployment? I am going to need something to curb the cost of long distance calls.
I am dodging the Droid until the bugs are worked out, but the Blackberry has been around long enough for me to take the proverbial dive — here we go:
From Thursday 25th March, if you’re a Verizon customer with a smartphone and a data plan, you’ll be able to download Skype mobile.
It’ll help you stay in touch with friends, family and colleagues all over the world, by allowing you to:
make and receive unlimited Skype-to-Skype voice calls to anyone else on Skype around the globe send and receive unlimited instant messages with other people on Skype call international phone numbers at our low rates Initially, the app will work on BlackBerry Storm 9530, Storm2 9550, Curve 8330, Curve 8530, 8830 World Edition and Tour 9630 smartphones, as well as DROID by Motorola, DROID ERIS by HTC and the Motorola DEVOUR. We’ll add support for more phones and platforms later this year.
Skype mobile uses the Verizon Wireless voice network for the wireless connection of the Skype-to-Skype calls, giving you a reliable connection and top-notch call quality.
Skype-to-Skype calls will not be charged against your monthly minute allowance or data plan. To make calls to international landline or mobile numbers, you’ll need to buy Skype Credit.
To make sure you’re among the first to know when the app is ready for download, subscribe to this blog, follow @skypemobile on Twitter, or become a fan of Skype on Facebook. Or, if you’re already a Verizon Wireless customer, just text SKYPE to 2255 and we’ll text you back a link when it’s ready. Not long now
I have always observed Memorial Day respectfully. I was raised with a strong understanding of what this Day is about and why we observe it respectfully, gratefully and solemnly. Our family is working hard to ensure our youngest understands the reasons why too, and we know our older children ‘get it’ — especially the two who serve in the military.
Next week I am going to post a tribute to two men who died serving this Country while in Iraq. They both served with my son and one was my son’s very close friend. They died 3-years ago next Friday, but their deaths are still very fresh in our minds and their absence resonates around all those who served with them and loved them.
I will never forget the phone call from my son and the story he shared with me that day. I never repeat it because the details do not belong to me. The details are forever, vividly, etched into my son’s mind as he witnessed the death of these two soldiers. The phone call, the sound of his voice, the story and the overwhelming grief that followed are etched into my own mind as well.
Memorial Day has never been the same for us. It’s a day we weep with sorrow, mourn with broken hearts, and proclaim with fervor “thank you!” to each and every brave man and woman who has paid for our freedom with their own lives.
During this coming week as you look forward to that long weekend off, take a moment to remember our fellow citizens who have died in wars, past and present. We would not be able to enjoy these daily indulgences, and our freedom if it were not for their selfless sacrifice. They are the ‘reason for the season!’ Don’t celebrate without them as part of what you do.
You Served's Claire talks about the life of a military spouse - the hardships, the joys, and everything in between. Join the discussion in our new Spouse and Family section!
