Veterans Day - Thank You Is Never Enough!

Every November 10th, John, head of housekeeping for the VA Outpatient Clinic at 251 Causeway Street would stop by my office and do a trivia quiz about the Marine Corps. I would put the birthday of the Marine Corps on my calendar. We'd pause and take some time for him to share the good, the bad and the ugly of what he experienced and despite the ravages of war, he seemed to walk a little taller and a little prouder every year on the Marine Corps birthday.

I left the VA to heal my own life and to leave the work of caring for those who served to the next generation of social workers. There are so many wonderful, caring people available to serve those who served. Recently I was blessed to reconnect with Renee Gallagher who initially replaced me as the outpatient medical social worker and is now providing support to the caregivers of the post 9/11 veterans who live with the effects of modern warfare including brain injury and post traumatic stress. Renee likes to think outside the box and we talk about how complementary therapies, especially the power of positive touch, can heal trauma and provide care to the caregivers.

When we first began to treat trauma at the VA back when I was an intern in 1983-84 there was a sense of hopelessness and frustration in treating trauma. My mentor, Sarah Haley, LICSW fought to get the diagnosis of PTSD into the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Psychiatric Disorders to begin to remove the stigma associated with the manifestation of PTSD such as rages, drinking to self medicate, suicidality and bring compassion to those who experienced trauma.

We have come a long way in understanding trauma and how to treat trauma. There is even a movement to remove the "D" in PTSD saying that the effects of trauma are not a disorder but rather a normal reaction to extraordinary events.

Research is being done on the effects of meditation, yoga, massage, and acupuncture on the effects of trauma. Neuroscientists are touting the good news that the brain and nervous system have neuroplasticity which means that once something happens to the body or the brain, it is not the end of the road but a new beginning. The mind, body and soul have an enormous healing capacity and through love, kindness, compassion and support trauma is transformed into resilience!

As I scrolled through my Facebook feed this morning it was filled with photos of veterans past and present. I thought, someone should share these in one place ... what better place than this place?

Thank you to all who served and to all who continue to serve to protect and defend our freedom. To you I bow! I salute you with hand over heart!

>



US Air Force
Integrity First
Service Before Self
Excellence in All We Do

US Coast Guard
"Semper Paratus"
(Always Ready)"

US Marines
"Semper Fidelis"
(Always Faithful)

US Navy
"Honor, Courage, Commitment"

US Army
"This We'll Defend"

Through 11/15 please join the #Give2Veterans campaign that donates $1 for every hashtag #Give2Veterans to the Bob Woodruff Foundation. Veterans Day is every day and we need to find ways to support and help our veterans on the home front because thank you is never enough!

The Power of a Hashtag #Give2Veterans

I know first hand that while the VA can provide many wonderful services to help veterans heal, it takes a village to help the heroes and their families heal on the home front. The veteran family is blessed to have the love, support and care of the Bob Woodruff Foundation. For those of you unfamiliar with how the Bob Woodruff Foundation came into existence:
While reporting on U.S. and Iraqi security forces for ABC’s “World News Tonight,” on Jan. 29, 2006, Bob was seriously injured by a roadside bomb that struck his vehicle near Taji, Iraq. In a miraculous recovery, just 13 months later, Bob returned to ABC News with “To Iraq and Back: Bob Woodruff Reports.” Since then, he has reported from around the globe on a variety of subjects for the network. He was honored with a Peabody Award for his reporting on traumatic brain injury.

Bob and his wife Lee Woodruff knew that they had to do something to help those who served to protect and defend our freedom. Their mission:
Since September 11, 2001, 2.8 million troops have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Now, they’re coming home.

Yet even after they return to the love and support of their families and communities, many will struggle. Physical and hidden injuries are challenging on their own. But sometimes, these injuries can lead to a cascade of other trouble — unemployment, depression, substance abuse, even suicide. Our mission is to ensure injured veterans and their families are thriving long after they return home. That’s why we find and fund innovative programs in communities where veterans, their families and caregivers live and work. That’s how we tackle the problems that can prevent our veterans from fulfilling their dreams for the next chapter of their lives.

As we get ready to celebrate Veterans Day - which I believe should be every day - there is a way for you to help veterans and their families and it's simple and easy as Lee Woodruff explains in her blog post, "The Power of a Hashtag":



“How can we help a veteran?”

We get asked that question all the time. Now I have an answer that allows you to give without opening your wallet.

If you post #Give2veterans on social media, share it or retweet it, our foundation will earn $1.00 for EACH post, thanks to Love the GIVE.

Retweeting someone with that hashtag or sharing on facebook or instagram ALL COUNT as $1.00.

That’s easy. And it all adds up to help us do some good for the injured veteran community and their families through the Bob Woodruff Foundation.

You can cut and paste this post right now and ask your friends to share….

“Do something to help those who served for Veteran’s Day #Give2veterans with @Stand4Heroes — and pass this on!”

Thanks for making a difference on Veterans Day.

Let's #Give2Veterans and make a difference in the lives of those who served to protect and defend our freedom.

Thank you!