We all joined the service for a myriad of reasons, reasons too numerous to mention. But more importantly, we all entered a different way of life where discipline and training were the main focus.

Being prepared to fight the enemy, knowing how to take orders, following military law, hand-to-hand combat, drills, obstacle courses, etc., become ingrained as that new way of life. Those experiencing war learn a whole new set of values of comaraderie, watching each other’s back, survival and a lot of praying.

Then at term we either re-up or return to civilian life. Our course of action can require another change to another way of life again. Some now have PTSD; some become suicidal, and some suffer from ongoing physical wounds.

Taking one of these changes of life for discussion, let’s center on returning to civilian life. The change of a veteran returning home is often perceived when experiencing societal mores and values that have shifted to a different set as compared to those prior to induction. A sense of frustration is felt until a new understanding and adjustment takes place. In all scenarios our emotions, physical and spiritual, are affected. In most cases this takes place through local VA programs and counseling.

Another great source veterans and the public have is The Veterans and Military Crisis Line. The respondants are available 24/7 and lend exceptional support in two ways:
1. They never judge or take any issue with the veteran.
2. They specialize in making the veteran feel better.

These are crucial means that lead to quality support. It is vital to each veteran to understand and feel how important and special they are having served and experienced traumatic moments that became internalized and not conveyed.

Veterans pay high prices, often wearing their broken hearts on their sleeves. Then they return to a life they once knew only to find much of it has changed. They served with their lives on the line with honor, dignity and a strong desire to preserve a way of life and freedom we enjoy and take for granted every day. Veteran or civilian, may we all join together to lift the veterans’ spirits up, letting each one know just how special they are for the prices they paid for each one of us.

Veterans and Military Crisis Line: dial 988 and select 1, or text 838255.