War comes at a great cost - the lives of brave men and women, sons and daughters, spouses and friends. Today only 1% of our men and women serve. They give of their time and sometimes their very lives so that the rest of us can sleep easier at night, not plagued by the nightmares they’ve seen. They are willing to go to war so that the war does not come to us. This comes at a price to us as well. As the war winds down, as troops withdraw and soldiers retire, it is our duty as civilians to step forward and help.
The Great Courses has posted a free full lecture in honor of all the men and women who have lost their lives in service to their country. I highly recommend taking time to listen as Professor Thomas Childers tells the story of a family who paid the ultimate sacrifice. Then come back here and discover 3 easy steps you can take to help our nation heal, and if you really want to step it up and make a difference in your community, you will find 2 steps that require a little more commitment.
“In this concluding lecture of World War II: A Military and Social History, Professor Thomas Childers of the University of Pennsylvania evaluates the outcome of WWII, its meaning in a global political and military context, and its historical significance.
Ponder the enormous costs of war on a human level as illustrated by the experiences of a single American family. Listen to your free lecture here.” - The Great Courses
3 Easy Steps To Help Our Nation Heal
#1 Your WORDS matter!
Thank a Veteran and a Gold Star Family. It is as simple as a handshake, eye contact, and two words “thank you”. Take one moment and acknowledge a man or woman in your life who has served or lost a loved one who served. Let them know they are seen. They know when you are sincere. A heartfelt thank you means a great deal.
And if you want to go the extra mile surprise then with an act of service, a paid lunch, or better yet sit down with them and get to know them. LET THEM KNOW THEY MATTER AND YOU SEE THEM.
#2 Your MONEY counts!
- Shop at and support companies that have made a commitment to hire veterans.
- If you are in the position to do so, HIRE A VETERAN. They have acquired a massive amount of skills in their service.
- Did you know 10.7 percent of business owners are veterans? Find which businesses in your community are and share a link in the comments below. As you do, I will add it to the list at the bottom of this post so we can all check out their business!
#3 Your VOTE counts!
It may not always feel like it and I’m as guilty as the next person of occasionally feeling that it doesn’t make a difference and sleeping in on voting day. But if we don’t speak up, if we don’t make some noise, no one will know that we care. Pay attention to the news. Use your vote to speak for your beliefs. Pay attention to how your representatives vote for issues related to Military Budget Cuts and Veteran care. Vote for the men and women locally and nationally that believe in providing continued services for our veterans and their families.
2 Steps That Require Commitment
#1 Learn How To Help
Returning Soldiers are often times stigmatized with a label of DANGER by our society. Movies and media have portrayed a sensational stereotype by focusing on those who have had violent episodes or creating fictional villains who suffer from PTSD. While these cases do occur they are not the norm, not every returning soldier returns with PTSD and the majority of soldiers diagnosed with PTSD are not violent.
The best way to understand PTSD and the emotional, physical, and spiritual needs of our Soldiers is to become educated in these areas.
As we withdraw and wind down this war, Veterans are re-entering the workplace. These men and women should not be feared but treated with respect and dignity. They have earned it. It is our job to help them re-adapt. In order to do this, we need to understand where they are coming from.
I highly recommend the correspondence course I took through Light University called Stress and Trauma Care. This course is “designed to help increase your knowledge and understanding of PTSD and Combat Trauma.
For a list of books I recommend visit My Amazon Store: Military Ministry.
#2 How YOUR CHURCH Can Help
Do you have men and women in your congregation who have served in the military? Do you have men and women in your community who have served? Do you even know? Whether it is a once a month get together, a weekly prayer meeting, or an outreach program the Church NEEDS to reach out to these men and women. If you are a Ministry Leader in your church and are interested in beginning a program I would love to discuss with you how to begin. A Military Ministry is unique in challenges and opportunities. The community you will be reaching is in a constant state of flux through moves and re-deployments. This creates an ever changing group. Anyone who wishes to minister to this culture must be flexible, resilient, and understand the Military obligations set on each soldier and their families. I can help.
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