(no subject)
Two-hundred and thirty-five years ago, our founding father's had a vision. They risked their lives to meet, and discuss a new order. At these meetings, the Declaration of Independence was drafted, and by the end of January 1777, fifty-six people had signed their names. What did this really mean, though? After all, it was only a piece of paper. But it was this piece of paper that symbolized rebellion and traitorous beliefs and action against England. It symbolized hope for a better way of life. It symbolized freedom. It was this piece of paper that catalyzed the Revolutionary War. It was just a piece of paper to England, but to the colonists, it meant everything.
We have fought in many wars since then. Countless men and women have sacrificed their lives to protect the very freedom our earliest leaders acquired for us. But what happens to those soldiers that don't fall overseas; some, instead, fall into the hands of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). One in five suicides in the United States is committed by a military veteran. Tweny-seven veterans a day take their own lives.
This past Memorial Day weekend, my friend Brian was one of them. He was a sniper for the U.S. Army, and he did two tours in Iraq. He was blown up twelve times in the Bradleys (tanks). He lost friends, comrades. There was one death he felt immense guilt for, as the person who died was a friend that switched seats with him just minutes before the explosion. Obviously, I can't know all the details of what happened overseas. What I do know, is that he formally asked the Army for help, relating to his PTSD, in April. The Army wrote back to him, and scheduled an appointment for October. Unfortunately, he didn't make it those six months.
There is a petition out right now, that is aiming to improve "grief counseling", re-entry programs, and support groups for our troops. It only takes a minute to fill out, and it could potentially save lives.
If you'd like to sign this petition, please use the link below:
http://www.petition2congress.com/3256/three-point-program-to-address-military-stress-related-issues/
We have fought in many wars since then. Countless men and women have sacrificed their lives to protect the very freedom our earliest leaders acquired for us. But what happens to those soldiers that don't fall overseas; some, instead, fall into the hands of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). One in five suicides in the United States is committed by a military veteran. Tweny-seven veterans a day take their own lives.
This past Memorial Day weekend, my friend Brian was one of them. He was a sniper for the U.S. Army, and he did two tours in Iraq. He was blown up twelve times in the Bradleys (tanks). He lost friends, comrades. There was one death he felt immense guilt for, as the person who died was a friend that switched seats with him just minutes before the explosion. Obviously, I can't know all the details of what happened overseas. What I do know, is that he formally asked the Army for help, relating to his PTSD, in April. The Army wrote back to him, and scheduled an appointment for October. Unfortunately, he didn't make it those six months.
There is a petition out right now, that is aiming to improve "grief counseling", re-entry programs, and support groups for our troops. It only takes a minute to fill out, and it could potentially save lives.
If you'd like to sign this petition, please use the link below:
http://www.petition2congress.com/3256/three-point-program-to-address-military-stress-related-issues/