Health & Fitness
Air Force Mom - Reflections on Memorial Day and Patriotism. It's Not Too Late!
Jeni Cox, an Air Force Mom shares some ideas that you can do to honor our military on this week before Memorial Day.
AIR FORCE MOM - REFLECTIONS ON MEMORIAL DAY
When my son, Andy, came home the first time from Iraq, I asked him to tell me a story. I wanted him to tell me an experience that he had in Iraq. Before he left the first time he told me, “Don’t worry, Mom, I won’t ever be outside the wire.” As it turned out, I think that he was only INSIDE the wire occasionally to eat and sleep. When I realized that, I asked him to tell me about an experience.
He said, “No.”
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I said, “Why not?”
He said, “There are just some things that you don’t tell your mom.”
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I’ve never forgotten that statement, and wondered how many other mothers felt the same way.
Recently, I have had multiple things pop up that made me think of military families this year. I have a friend who visits at the V.A. Hospital. I have another friend who rides with Rolling Thunder, a group of primarily military veterans whose mission is to support other military people. I attended a recent charity event and met a man who started a group for training service dogs for military people suffering from traumatic brain injury and PTSD. I read a pictorial article about active military this week that was outstanding. I attended an Armed Forces Day service on Friday night. I had a conversation with my neighbor.
I watched the news. Benghazi. Boston. Music. Truth. Lies.
MILITARY INJURIES
In Ohio, at least in Northeast Ohio, we aren’t really considered a “military town”. We don’t have a core center, like a military base where we can have the experience of moving among military people on a daily basis.
This doesn’t mean that the military people are not here among us. We just see them in disguise in Northeast Ohio. Blue jeans, t-shirts, at kid’s baseball games, cutting grass and walking the dog. Occasionally, we might get a glimpse of a man or woman coming to or from work in their service uniform. Pay attention. They are working for you and your family.
I asked my friend who visits at the V.A. Hospital what kind of injuries she sees now. She said that it varies. There are Vietnam Veterans who are suffering still from PTSD. There are still WWII men who come in from time to time. She said the first Iraq war had different injuries than the second. The first there were more skin injuries from Sadaam setting the gas wells and oil fields on fire… and the fall out is seen on the bodies and skin of our soldiers.
The second Iraq war produced limbs being injured or blown off by IED’s.
The signature injury in these wars is PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury).
The sum of all US military losses since 1973 is 1/8th the number of Vietnam War dead. Interestingly, 18 times as many US female military personnel died in Iraq and Afghanistan as died in Vietnam.
Fortunately – Thankfully - for our homecoming military now, the public has been supportive to the veterans.
I am 58 years old. I remember the homecoming the Vietnam Veterans received. I have a hard time reading or remembering about that time because of how shamefully the veterans were treated. And yet the Vietnam Veterans are among the strongest supporters of the current active and veteran military today.
WAGS 4 WARRIORS
I met a man named Frank DeLorenzo at an event three weeks ago. He himself is a victim of PTSD/TBI. He has a service dog with him at all times. This is how he functions in the world now. He started a program called Wags 4 Warriors. He acquires dogs, trains them, vets them, and supplies them all at no cost to qualifying veterans who would benefit from a service animal. He told me that since living with his service dog, he doesn’t need to take medication for PTSD. The dog helps him instead.
These conditions of PTSD or TBI are sometimes subtle. A veteran for instance might have his family members notice a difference in his/her demeanor. They don’t like the things they used to like or enjoy. Things like mood swings that can prevent holding a job. Not involving themselves in outdoors - people don’t enjoy the same activities they used to.
When you have time, visit his website - learn a little more – and I’m sure a donation would be cheerfully accepted! This group exists completely on donations for these service animals, which in turn are supplied to the veterans at no cost to them, including training, veterinary and orientation training with the dog.
http://www.veteranownedbusiness.com/business/10897/wags-4-warriors
THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER
Our National Anthem. How we have forgotten the respect and protocol for this. The respect isn’t completely gone, but it is certainly being handed its hat on the way out – unless we stop and remember.
My daughter, Melanie, son in law, Will and my 2 grandchildren live on Scott Air Force Base in Illinois. I was talking to her on the phone the other day and I heard music in the background. I asked her about it and she said it was 5:00 and it was the Star Spangled Banner. The base plays the National Anthem at 5:00 daily. I didn’t know that. I asked her more about it. She said that when the National Anthem is being played, everything stops. Children playing stop playing. People cutting the lawn, stop what they are doing. If you are driving, you pull over and stop. If you are walking, you stop and stand still. A couple of minutes a day to reflect and a show of respect for our National Anthem and what it means.
While it would be a great thing to have in our towns everywhere, I can’t see that happening due to the back-breaking political correctness the politicos have foisted on us these days. HOWEVER… What you CAN do is this…
When the Star Spangled Banner is playing – and/or when you see a Color Guard carrying our flag, both of which are usually at a school or sporting event, a parade or a memorial service, you do the following – and teach your children:
STAND (unless you are unable to stand)
MEN SHOULD REMOVE THEIR HATS. HATS MAY BE PLACED OVER THEIR HEART.
ALL OTHER AMERICANS SHOULD PLACE THEIR RIGHT HAND OVER THEIR HEART.
STAND STILL. DON’T TALK. DON’T TEXT. SILENCE YOUR PHONE.
SING IF YOU WISH. LEARN THE WORDS.
It is a minute of your time – show respect to our nation. Take a look at this video if you haven’t seen it – published on the Huffington Post – of the crowd at a Boston hockey game after the Boston Marathon massacre. You’ll get the idea of what I am describing.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/17/national-anthem-bruins-fans-boston_n_3104964.html
Watch next time you are in public – and see who is and is not teaching their children the proper way to respect our flag and nation. This is something that you CAN do – Teach your children well.
FACES BEFORE-DURING-AFTER
I read with interest an article this week by a writer from the U.K. He took pictures of military faces before deployment- during the conflict and after returning home. Here is the article website if you would like to view the photos.
Look at the eyes. Hopeful. Resigned. Changed.
I wrote to the author and told him how moving I thought these pictures were. I also told him that he should do faces of the mothers and fathers before-during and after. Fear. More Fear. Relief and More Aged. That’s what I would expect to see on the faces of mothers and fathers.
MEMORIAL DAY and THE RIDE FOR THE 3095.
This weekend is Memorial Day. Take a moment to go to a Memorial Day Service. There will be a service in or near where you live. It will take an hour out of your day. You will be glad you did.
An amazing event will take place the weekend after Memorial Day on June 1st. It’s called The Ride for the 3095. The state of Ohio lost 3095 precious lives in the Vietnam War. The Ride is a memorial motorcycle ride starting in Richfield and ending at the Ohio Vietnam Memorial Park. The Ride raises funds by carrying sponsored flags on their motorcycles that will benefit the park.
Here is the website for the particulars!
PARTICIPATE BY JUST SHOWING UP!
I will be standing on the Hametown Road Bridge over Route 21 taking pictures as the thousands of motorcycle riders come by. If you’re not doing anything that day – come and join me! Bring a Flag – Or show your support just by standing there and waving at the riders. I’ll take your pictures and post it on my Fairlawn Patch blog!
Additionally, I would just love to hear from ANY veteran that would like to tell someone his or her story. I will listen. My son might not want to tell HIS mom – but anyone else can! You can email me at jennettecox@gmail.com. If you would like your story told, I will post it on my blog. If you want to just tell me about it, and not have anyone else read it, I will honor your wishes. Sometimes simply writing down a story can be healing.
Thank you, my friends, my family and the many, many veterans that I do not know personally, for your service to our country. May God bless you – And God Bless the USA!
I remain,
Jeni Cox – A Proud Air Force Mom