“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 the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.”
— President George Washington
So, I had a post all set and ready to go. I was about to share it with Eric so he could post. I wrote about Remembrance Day; (I have it at the end of this). I like to write about history as it pertains to the military, mainly the Navy. But something is going on that should not be ignored. It is only really talked about but when it happens to someone you know. But I think because of the stigma attached to it, no one will continue to talk about it. Many veterans out there are suffering from a lot of different things, physical and mental. Depending on what report you read, up to 22 veterans commit suicide every day. Some reports say higher and some lower, but they are not that far apart. Regardless of the daily number, Veterans have the highest suicide rate among any other group. It is not just the vets from the War on Terror, either. This number represents all the wars and conflicts from which we still have survivors. And it’s not only a U.S. problem, as many of our allies are dealing with the same issues. If you know someone or you might be having problems, PLEASE talk to someone, anyone. The Veterans Crisis Line is 1-800-273-8255 and press 1.
I have lost some very close friends to suicide, and I never want it to happen to anyone ever again. Please look out for the signs and symptoms; sometimes they are easy to see, while other times you have no clue and it will happen to someone close to you. But if you are thinking of hurting yourself, please talk to someone. If you believe the world is better with you not in it, it is not. The people you leave behind will always have to deal with what happened and still have to think they could have done more. I know I do, but I also know I did all I could have done to help. But there will always be that .01% that thinks I could have done more to help my brother. People, especially military people, are good at hiding things and it’s not always easy to see. Please keep an eye on your brother and sister. I look at the military as a family.
www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/suicide/symptoms-causes
Remembrance Day, also known as Armistice Day or Poppy Day, was started by the U.S. and the U.K. to remember the fallen and honor the end of World War One, which occurred at 11 am on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. Traditions used to observe Remembrance Day include wearing poppies, and a two-minute silence at 11 am on the eleventh day of the eleventh month. It wasn’t long after WWI ended that the day the armistice was signed was adopted as a suitable time and date for countries involved in the war to mark their soldiers’ sacrifice, with official remembrance services taking place in the U.K. and USA in 1919. After World War II, both countries started to use that day to pay respect to the fallen from all wars. Despite the shared history, Remembrance Day has evolved in different ways. Depending on where you are in the world, it can be known as Armistice Day, Veterans’ Day, Remembrance Day, Poppy Day and may not even be celebrated on November 11th. In 1938 it was made a legal holiday in the U.S., and, in 1945, it was changed to honor all military veterans. Please take a moment on November 11th to remember those who serve and have served in the name of our country and who continue to bravely give their time for the freedoms we hold so dear.