Acknowledgement for All Veterans

May I thank you for your service?

Today, I acknowledge all veterans- all those who served and fought for a country worth fighting for. You are seen.

You not only gave your time in the military, but you sacrificed…so much more than most can even begin to understand. Many gave their lives.

I have had the privilege and honor of working with the Veteran population. It was in a criminal justice setting involving mental health treatment, which I think speaks to the magnitude of the risks and sacrifice it takes to be a soldier in the armed forces. The veterans were all different and unique in what they were experiencing, including what they had experienced while serving. Most had suffered one or more traumatic event, whether that was in combat, on base, or after returning home to find a type of loss of identity.

A soldier leaves home and the life they once knew. They’re trained to ‘kill or be killed’. So much is put into preparing a soldier for war, but so little is done to prepare him or her to return home to civilization. Sure, there may be some preparation, but it is mediocre at best, with most veterans reporting that they’ve gone from a warzone to home in 72 hours. When a soldier returns home from deployment, any and all preparation to return to civilization is rushed and not prioritized. As a result, they’re thrust back into society and homelife, without time to process any of it. What about all that they’ve seen and experienced? How about the loss of camaraderie? Another question - how have their home environments changed, if they still have a home to return to?

A U.S. Veteran has sacrificed their very selves in order to fight for this country. I do not think they are shown the proper thanks or gratitude. Their discharge type, if anything other than Honorable, means society turns their backs. Well, they had our backs, even when we did not realize it.

So, to all those veterans, I acknowledge your sacrifice. If I may, I thank you for your service. The country may not be as it was when you fought for it, but there are many of us who stand and applaud your service.

To those who may not be too familiar with military culture or what life is like when a soldier returns home, I ask that you be kind and considerate. You never know how something, even a sound, can be triggering to a veteran. You never know how mental health issues are the result of some horrific trauma that we have the privilege of not living firsthand. You never know how the return home can be isolating, because they no longer have their brothers or sisters. You never know how much the invisible wounds hurt from losing one or more fellow comrades. Be kind. Be empathetic. Be willing to listen to understand. Be willing to support. For a small snippet of how distorted homelife can be to a veteran, please watch this short YouTube video from the David Lynch Foundation (may be triggering for some).

If you or someone you know is a veteran and in need of mental health care, Love & Light Journey works with veterans, providing an empathic and judgment-free space. I understand that the VA may not always be a veteran’s first choice, and for this reason, we provide care. Families and loved ones are always welcome to reach out.