Will veterans ever celebrate freedom from PTSD

"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of early wars were treated and appreciated by our nation." - George Washington

Will veterans ever celebrate freedom from PTSD?

by
Chaplain Kathie

At a time in our history, celebrating the freedom of this nation, comes with a dark price being paid by those willing to serve her.

During all the wars this nation has fought, they arrived in uniform willingly or by lottery number, yet as the saying goes, "All gave some, some gave all" equally, side by side risking their lives for their friends and for total strangers.

Yesterday I was at the VA in Orlando with Semper Fidelis while they were serving lunch to our veterans. I was honored to be asked to offer the blessing. Having a loud voice, blessed with a big set of lungs, there was no need for a microphone.

I spoke of how in John 15, Christ talked about the greatest love was being willing to lay down your life for the sake of your friends. Our veterans were not just willing to lay down their lives for the sake of their friends, but for their neighborhoods, communities, states, the nation as a whole and for total strangers. That they were also willing to lay down their lives for all generations enjoying the freedom of this nation. I asked that the Lord bless all of them and that He holds of them within our hearts.

I listened to the stories of some of the patients talking about their service and as I listened, I noticed the sense of pride they felt fall into sadness. Maybe they were remembering friends they lost or wondering how it was they ended up forgotten by so many other people in this country. Glory days long gone but within them the spirit of a great good lives on.

The intent was not to kill, but to win for the sake of the future. They were told they had a threat to defeat, to fight against and to conquer. If all the weapons in enemy hands were laid down, they would live on because the rules of our military is to not harm the defeated in battle. We saw this throughout out history as captives were taken away to be held until the end of the wars. We saw it on film as German soldiers were taken away and we saw it when during the Gulf War, Iraqi forces raised their arms to American soldiers and they too were taken out of the battle. Getting to this day of celebration has come with a tremendous price in terms of lives and funds but we forget that when we see the fireworks, go to parties and enjoy the day they have provided for us.

The fact all come home from battle changed is forgotten while we rejoice. The fact some wage a battle within themselves still escapes us while they are not free to celebrate the freedom from painful memories. PTSD is the enemy carried away within the warrior and it does not surrender willingly. It does not give up fighting to claim the life and defeat hope. It rejoices with the captivity of character.

PTSD does not stop with just taking over the warrior but his/her family. But just as we created new weapons to fight enemies with, people across the nation are trying to find new weapons to use to defeat PTSD. Gone are the dark times when PTSD was held as some kind of secret to be kept within the family. More and more families are stepping forward to speak of the suicides and hoping, praying that one more family does not have to endure such pain alone or one more grave will not be filled with anther casualty of combat.

The military and the VA are trying to find the answers, but they will not find them looking in the wrong places and using the wrong weapons to fight against it. Medications alone do more harm than good because PTSD has been caused by a suffering soul who has seen too much for too long. The healing has to come from people knowing where the pain lives and why it came.

When this happens, when the mind-body-spirit are treated, they rejoice and the enemy they fought within themselves is taken away where it cannot harm them anymore. If we all understand this, then maybe by the next time we celebrate the independence of this nation, they can celebrate the independence from PTSD.

We have been determined to live in freedom since the founding fathers declared this nation shall be free and people were willing to die for it. To ever celebrate this day without thinking of the men and women who paid the price for it, dishonors this day. To forget about the veterans still waiting to heal dishonors them and the price they are still paying.



Chaplain Kathie
PTSD Consultant
Senior IFOC Chaplain
DAV Chapter 16 Auxiliary Chaplain