For the record, I totally understand "the way how many ex-military live" in my neck o' the woods. By far, most of my ex-military signers are in their late 40s and 50s, never saw a lick of combat, their wives have left them, their kids don't speak to them (the stories I hear. Sad.), they think that a stockpile of AKs and ARs and other assorted weaponry, along with 3 dobermans, 2 rottweilers and 1 pitbull are necessary to their barbed-wire lifestyle. And I certainly don't judge about pot since it's legal here.
However, I hope you'll be encouraged to know that a volunteer group that I have participated in, made up of Vietnam War widows and wives, as well as wives of today's military, spend countless hours filling and sending big boxes of wonderful stuff to our men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as other overseas bases. They head up some serious fundraising to help newly returned PTSD victims get counseling, job training and housing. The men do all the hard work in the background with the returnees. It is just amazing how much they have helped some pretty lost souls coming home from the war zones get their footing, get jobs and transportation and become part of the community. The VA here is very engaged, too, so that helps enormously. These strong VFW members and volunteers deserve a medal, but they do it expecting no thank-yous, just for the good of helping. (The other day, a Viet Vet wearing his Purple Heart hat was teasing me as I was drooling over a tableful of cakes and doughnuts at one of the fundraisers. I was awed just to be in his presence.)
And BTW: Good luck in your new NSA career! |
