Being a Service member means something to so many that have sacrificed their time and freedom to “serve.” Some of us serve in so many different capacities, yet service is service. We have deployed on ships, to the desert, to the jungle, and to the FOB (Forward Operating Base). We have driven ORVs, cruisers, tanks, MRAPS, ships, and aircraft. Once our service is over sometimes it’s complicated, as service is still so much a part of our being. Most of us were born to serve, most of us earned our service.
It has gained national awareness that some of us deal with levels of Post Traumatic Stress. This varies from person to person and can deal levels of depression, stress, and anxiety. Many have been able to cope, maintain and move forward. Some have taken to harder times. We cannot begin to assume what a veteran has been through, or what they are going through. We cannot assume how PTSD or other stress has affected them.
Suicide has always been a touchy subject, especially to the pride of a veteran. Many have opinions about it, opinions that simply make assumptions to someone’s well being. The fact is it’s pointless to assume, judge, or quantify. Our job, is to help, support, and guide those that have taken to additional struggle so they don’t become a statistic of the “22.”
It has been said that 22 veterans a day lose their life to suicide. 22 a day is an alarming number, 1 a day is too many. They have not failed, we have failed them.
How can we help? We get involved, we do everything in our power to help those that may be struggling. We show them that there is always a reason to press forward. We show them that they still serve and we will serve them.
From the Head, from the Heart
-Nathan Ramos, Executive Director.
