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In the January, 2012 issue of the VFW
Magazine, our VFW Commander-in-Chief,
Richard De Noyer succinctly writes:
“…the
public is perfectly content to let a
fraction of a percent of the population
shoulder full responsibility for its
safety.”
“Members of the military
have been all too aware of such
sentiments for a long time. The vast
majority (84%) of recent war veterans
believe the public has no idea what they
or their families have to cope with
during constant overseas deployments.”
“…Only a small percentage of
citizens pay any real attention to
events taking place in Afghanistan or
Iraq. With the Iraq war over and fewer
newspaper headlines on the 10-year-long
war in Afghanistan, you can bet that
interest will wane even further. This
is what makes the general public, as one
writer called it, ‘war-illiterate’”
So, I want to ask you point blank, who’s
back do you have. Is it only the
friends you know at our VFW Post? Do
you go to the canteen to watch
television or have drinks with friends
or listen to music? Or, do you feel an
overwhelming responsibility, as a
seasoned veteran, to go all out and
encourage and listen to our younger
veterans?
You have already experienced how
difficult it is to adjust to civilian
life after returning home. You already
know that isolation is protective in
dealing with adjustment. Heck, some of
us older veterans still turn to
isolation at times. Are you really
content in letting our younger veterans
be mired down in Post Combat Stress and
civilian adjustment without lending a
helping hand?
There are no “loose cannons” at any VFW
Post—only those struggling day after day
to shake their emotional conflicts and
adjust to what should be “normal”. We
Vietnam Veterans didn’t get help in
these areas and it’s crippling us today
when it comes to helping others.
As the Apostle Paul wrote to the church
in Galatia, ( which was the central
region of Asia Minor):
2Bear one
another's burdens, and so fulfill
the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone
thinks himself to be something, when he
is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But
let each one examine his own work, and
then he will have rejoicing in himself
alone, and not in another. (Gal
6:2-5) NKJV
No matter what your religious beliefs
are, isn’t it your mission as a member
of the VFW to “honor the dead by helping
the living”? Here’s what’s going on:
The first meeting of the St Johns River
State College Veterans Club is being led
by our Adjutant, Steve Buckingham, Life
Member; Adam Bagby, Life Member, is
leading the Veterans Club at Flagler
College. (It was a privilege to attend
and observe the interaction of young
veterans at their first meeting); the
Jacksonville Public Defender’s office
will soon be asking for veterans to
mentor other veterans entering the
Veterans Treatment Court. Wouldn’t it
be great to sponsor a local chapter of
the national Vets for Vets organization
here?
We already have enough life experience
behind us to help and recognize a need
and the scope of your helping others can
have far reaching benefits to yourself
as well. After all, isn’t it just the
right thing to do?
After you watch the following video, ask
yourself: “why have I waited so long to
help”? Our Creator is probably asking
the same question if he nudges you a
little. If you want to help—ask me
how—and I will. After all—that’s my
deal—helping others.
http://maketheconnection.net/stories/story.aspx?story_id=7#.TySZMPcCwVk.email
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