THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE

Filed Under Tears

By Janet J. Seahorn, Ph.D

Recently I saw the show Thank You for Your Service. It is the true story of four young men and their experiences while serving in combat in Afghanistan/Iraq. The major narrative of the show focuses on the challenges of trying to reintegrate into civilian life following their military service. It is a realistic account of life after war of both family and veteran struggles. For this reason I don’t encourage most veterans to see the film. They, like Tony, have already lived and continued to live with the aftermath of battle. However, for some family members and the broader community, viewing and listening to these young veterans’ stories will give others an accurate description of the sacrifices some have given for our country to preserve our valued freedoms.

I know that the title, Thank You for Your Service, is genuinely meant to honor our military. Yet, it seems so trivial a gesture to merely say “Thank You”. As a nation, as a community, we must all do whatever we can to make sure those who served, both young and old, are taken care of when they return home. Except for Veteran’s Day, too many times we tend to forget the silent suffering of those living in our world after war.

For most Americans it is business as usual, tending to hectic schedules and personal issues that take up our attention – and most of us are guilty of this lapse.

Therefore, take a moment sometime during your busy days, not just to say “Thank You” but to think about how to contribute to the mental and physical health of our veterans. Perhaps you can volunteer at a local veteran hospital or retirement home. There are numerous organizations that need donations such as homeless veteran groups or organizations that train and deliver service dogs to our veterans – just be prudent about which organizations are authentic and which may be scams. Maybe you live next to a veteran/family and can deliver a hot meal, a sweet pastry, or even a card of appreciation. Be proactive. It is nice to hear the words “Thank You”. It is even better for a veteran or a veteran’s family to actually see and receive the “Thank You” in a specific and thoughtful deed.