Aug

18

THE WISDOM OF WARRIORS PAST

Filed Under American Patriotism, Purple Heart 

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by Tony Seahorn

Even in the most devastating and pain-filled moments, we have an opportunity to learn something about ourselves, our world, and the human spirit.

Attending the Purple Heart National Convention in Rogers, Arkansas provided an enormous volume of proof supporting this statement. The group was a moving, living sea of purple where great amounts of blood was given in service to our country. Veterans from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and a few from the current war in Iraq and Afghanistan attended.

It is the Vietnam veteran, however, who have provided evidence of how to do things differently when welcoming a warrior home from combat. These vets had no “welcome home”. Their experience of returning from combat was often met with verbal and sometimes physical abuse. Crowds of protesters were waiting to hurl insults and thoughtlessly displayed signs/banners with obscene language and incredibly cruel remarks and pictures.

What Vietnam vets taught Americans through their touching stories were how badly they were injured – not just by the enemy in a foreign land, but by their own country men. The wound to the soldier was deeper, more personal. It bled into the heart and soul of the veteran and couldn’t heal. Healing requires exposure to the light, the outside air. The Vietnam vets were forced to suppress not only their sacrifice, but their woundedness.

With our present battles in Iraq and Afghanistan, veterans have rallied for a new mission, a promise that never again would our military personnel return home unwelcome. Today there are a multitude of individuals and organizations who support, care and offer hope to serving military members as well as their families. At the Purple Heart Convention we met a few. The “Soldier’s Angels” were there to ensure every military person serving in a combat zone receives care packages, cards, and letters from their fellow Americans. “Quilting for Valor” is another group who painstakingly create beautiful hand-crafted quilts to send to hospitals both in-country and overseas. These quilts cover and comfort the wounded warrior during his/her hospitalization.

And there were others with their own caring mission.

Vietnam veterans taught Americans how words can wound deeper than guns.  How lack of support impairs the ability to move forward. And most of all, how to forgive – their country’s leaders, their country men/women, and sometimes even their own families – because they understand that forgiveness heals.

The significant lesson these past warriors, in their aging wisdom learned, then modeled, was the power of absolution, which granted freedom from their emotional woundedness. Then, through such forgiveness, they have and continue to work tirelessly with the American people and the military to meet the needs of the new combat wounded.

America’s new Purple Hearts hopefully feel only the love, support, and generosity of an America who will never again allow our sons and daughters to return home from combat unwelcome.  

Comments

One Response to “THE WISDOM OF WARRIORS PAST”

  1. MIKE MACDONALD on September 23rd, 2009 12:22 pm

    Any person involved with another person who has PTSD should read a book called Tears of A Warrior written by Tony Seahorn and his PhD wife Janet.
    As a Vietnam veteran who has PTSD, I have purchased numerous copies of this book for wives/significant others & family members of vets who have PTSD. It is the best out there and explains everything in very easy to understand terms. You can find it at http://www.teampursuits.com or http://www.tearsofawarrior.com. $23 includes shipping and handling.
    Mike MacDonald
    Minneapolis, MN
    Co C 2/28th Inf (Black Lions) 1st Inf. Div Vietnam ’68-’69