With today being the anniversary of D-Day, I've been thinking of that phrase so many of us just casually fling out as we pass a person in the armed services - Thank you for your service. Personally, I believe the better greeting is, "Thank you for your sacrifice." They've sacrificed limbs, pieces of their sanity, time with loved ones, and a small part of their souls so that those at home and who came later didn't have to. So that we could be protected from the full horror of man's inhumanity to man.
And, if they're with a family member, thank them too - for the sleepless nights spent worrying and for sharing someone so special with the rest of us.
The wrath of the homosexual community will no doubt descend upon you for expressing your concern about wounded and fallen heroes of the Vietnam War. Everything you stated is true, but no matter.....truth is now called mis-information these days. How very sad that our once great country has fallen....and is still falling.... to such a low standard of concern for our fellow men and women.
Thanks Henry, for writing about such important issues. I agree with your point that veterans gave so much for our freedoms. I find it sad that we are asking for donations to such organizations as Wounded Warriors to help our vets while we taxpayers in California, and the other sanctuary states, are being forced to pay for illegal immigrants. It is amazing that some of those on the front line in Vietnam do not have PTSD. President Eisenhower wisely declined France's request for us to help them in Vietnam.
Excellent piece Henry. I also avoided the draft by being married with a child, and like you have lots and lots of friends that did not and served their time honorably. I still, at times have regrets about not serving but have and always will admire our veterans. I try and support any veteran activities and will always help a vet, past and current in my store.
A great read about PTSD, vets and in good timing with D Day. But why the weird negative side trip down Pride month? A quick google search show that June is host to more than a handful of awareness campaigns. To my knowledge none, including PTSD or Pride are being shoved down on anyone. It sounded like the author thought Pride month was invented to compete with PTSD month. There is room for lots of various causes.
This is just a handful of what I found for June: Cancer Immunotherapy Awareness Month, Cancer Survivors Month, Caribbean-American Heritage Month ,Children’s Awareness Month, Great Outdoors Month, Gun Violence Awareness Month, Hemiplegic Migraine Awareness Month, Immigrant Heritage Month, Men’s Health Month, Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, National Pollinators Month, National Returning Youth Month, National Rose Month, National Safety Month, National Zoo and Aquarium Month, etc.
And lets not get bogged down into awareness weeks. The last week of June is Rabbit Awareness Week. Again, I don't think this was created to compete with PTSD awareness month.
And which one of any of those have you heard about? Were you aware of PTSD Awareness? But I know you were fully aware of it being Pride month. I was merely pointing out the disparity and who gets all the attention and the role our military plays in allowing others to express themselves. You kind of missed the point. I too read the same list. And it's filled with causes every single month. I was going to list them myself. I could have chosen to add Gun Violence Awareness considering another illegal shot two cops.
Harry, I honestly did not know it was Pride month. I crossed state street this afternoon and I couldn't tell what banners were hanging on the side - but they were mostly blue and not rainbows. Gun Violence awareness is another worthy one.
PTSD Month vs Pride Month. The answer to your question could just be a matter of population size. Approximately 1% of the U.S. population are veterans, and not all suffer from PTSD. Whereas, 5-7% (estimates vary) of the U.S. population are "gay". That also means that 5-7% of U.S. veterans are also "gay." During my 34 years in the Army I knew several service members who were "gay," some even before the "don't ask, don't tell" policy was initiated in the 1990's. So what, why do you even care? It's not as if it is like a disease that you can catch. Back to PTSD...while researching to obtain veteran headstones for the unmarked graves of Civil War and Indian Wars veterans scattered around Arizona after I retired I was struck by how many had lived alone and committed suicide (PTSD?). As for "D-Day", I had the honor of knowing and talking with many veterans of the "Longest Day" and while stationed in Germany I had the opportunity to visit Normandy and other U.S. cemeteries in France and Luxembourg (Where Patton is buried). I will spend the rest of the day reflecting on what they shared with me about this day.
I wonder why we don't see PTSD flags flying on government buildings during June....or ever. No PTSD books for young kids in schools. There is no PTSD story hour in libraries. No marches. No rallies.
Is there such a thing as a "PTSD Flag"? Why not just use the POW-MIA flag, and it is already flying from a lot of flag poles. My personal experience with why there isn't a _______ (fill in the blank) hour at the library is because I didn't contact the library to arrange it, and because I didn't do the presentation. "If you want something done..." the saying goes, and just can't expect someone else to do it.
I suspect you know that PTSD is not the same as POW-MIA. Society's fixation on Pride and not PTSD is a cultural touchstone, not merely an issue of rolling up one's sleeves. If PTSD generated the same amount of cultural clarity, virtue signaling, political contributions, financial resources for schools, and corporate sponsorships as Pride, perhaps then we would all know what a PTSD flag looked like.
As you state we need to be aware of PTSD, the forever scars from the sacrifices of every veteran. Trauma, mental wounds, are too often forgotten: out of sight, out of mind.
Your article provokes thought. So why nationally are we expected to celebrate Pride? What’s the purpose of Pride Month?Why the national movement to sexualize self-identity and daily life? Why this major attempt to prioritize daily recognition of what sociologists once studied as deviant behavior? Why do you or I need to know about the private lives of others now that full legal protections of ‘marriage’ are accessible to any couple? I find it alienating, being force fed Pride daily, from the White House and military to the Pride flag flying high at SBCC and in some public government school classrooms. Is a law required for our government funded buildings and schools to only fly the American Flag and the state’s official flag?
Lastly, why do some Americans choose to engage in offensive public behaviors, including paraded nudity? By sexualizing life, aren’t we being gaslighted into acceptance? Tolerance is not acceptance.
Most Americans have not experienced war, any required service, loss of freedom, domestic or economic hardship, or daily life in a foreign non-European country — like Vietnam, Laos, India, Somalia, Botswana, Afghanistan — to name but a few. Is that the difference in awareness, and depth of character?
Well done Henry. An absolute shame PTSD Awareness Month is not front & center in this day & age. Department of Defense posted June is PTSD Awareness month.... at the same time on the same post promoting a celebration of Pride Month. Unacceptable. The DOD has since changed the post.
I was watching the June 4 City of Goleta council meeting & sure enough, item B2 on the agenda was Proclaiming June LGBTQ+ month. No mention of PTSD Awareness month. Great, promote a sector of the population & give them their trophy & time in the spotlight. I applaud the council for the recognition. This is the day & age of everyone's a winner & deserves a trophy. Or is it, when there is little or no mention of the countless individuals who suffer from PTSD.
They saw things they do not talk about. They saw things they cannot talk about. They saw things we do not want to talk about. Just know that. And hug them when you can.
I don’t know too much about PTSD, gays or anything else - the only thing I know for sure is bless Phil and the guys and gals in the military now and in the past who keep us safe and secure. It sure is nice to be able to sleep easy at night - so many people in this world don’t!
Thank you for the reminder. My father fought in Vietnam. He still will not openly talk about what occurred over there.
When his tour was over he gave his knife to a buddy. The next day his buddy used that knife in a fight for his life in a fox hole.
Americans do not know what war is about. But with Biden pushing for World War I wonder what the youth or the parents will think when he enlists the draft.
Military recruitment numbers are at lows.
Illegal Aliens including about 30,000 Chinese nationals amongst other foreigners have crossed our borders illegally and are hiding under our noses.
We’ve seen the increased crime rates and complete disregard for our laws and safety.
Excellent Mr. Schulte. I was Drafted in 1970, but because I almost lost one of my ankles when I was 12, they didn't want me. Several of my friends that did serve never seemed to have PTSD, but when we would be sitting around talking, I would ask them about their time in Nam. They were usually a little reluctant, but then would start blabbering about their experiences there. Every one of them would thank me for asking about their time there. I figured it was a little release valve for them, and I was their age also.
With today being the anniversary of D-Day, I've been thinking of that phrase so many of us just casually fling out as we pass a person in the armed services - Thank you for your service. Personally, I believe the better greeting is, "Thank you for your sacrifice." They've sacrificed limbs, pieces of their sanity, time with loved ones, and a small part of their souls so that those at home and who came later didn't have to. So that we could be protected from the full horror of man's inhumanity to man.
And, if they're with a family member, thank them too - for the sleepless nights spent worrying and for sharing someone so special with the rest of us.
I have another one Ray - "Thank you for my freedom."
Beautifully written, i hope this is read far and wide. Praying for those who live with these traumas and their families. Thank you for speaking out.
The wrath of the homosexual community will no doubt descend upon you for expressing your concern about wounded and fallen heroes of the Vietnam War. Everything you stated is true, but no matter.....truth is now called mis-information these days. How very sad that our once great country has fallen....and is still falling.... to such a low standard of concern for our fellow men and women.
Thanks Henry, for writing about such important issues. I agree with your point that veterans gave so much for our freedoms. I find it sad that we are asking for donations to such organizations as Wounded Warriors to help our vets while we taxpayers in California, and the other sanctuary states, are being forced to pay for illegal immigrants. It is amazing that some of those on the front line in Vietnam do not have PTSD. President Eisenhower wisely declined France's request for us to help them in Vietnam.
Excellent piece Henry. I also avoided the draft by being married with a child, and like you have lots and lots of friends that did not and served their time honorably. I still, at times have regrets about not serving but have and always will admire our veterans. I try and support any veteran activities and will always help a vet, past and current in my store.
This is our job as grateful citizens to advance PTSD AWARENESS MONTH of JUNE. Thank you for reminding your readers.
A great read about PTSD, vets and in good timing with D Day. But why the weird negative side trip down Pride month? A quick google search show that June is host to more than a handful of awareness campaigns. To my knowledge none, including PTSD or Pride are being shoved down on anyone. It sounded like the author thought Pride month was invented to compete with PTSD month. There is room for lots of various causes.
This is just a handful of what I found for June: Cancer Immunotherapy Awareness Month, Cancer Survivors Month, Caribbean-American Heritage Month ,Children’s Awareness Month, Great Outdoors Month, Gun Violence Awareness Month, Hemiplegic Migraine Awareness Month, Immigrant Heritage Month, Men’s Health Month, Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, National Pollinators Month, National Returning Youth Month, National Rose Month, National Safety Month, National Zoo and Aquarium Month, etc.
And lets not get bogged down into awareness weeks. The last week of June is Rabbit Awareness Week. Again, I don't think this was created to compete with PTSD awareness month.
And which one of any of those have you heard about? Were you aware of PTSD Awareness? But I know you were fully aware of it being Pride month. I was merely pointing out the disparity and who gets all the attention and the role our military plays in allowing others to express themselves. You kind of missed the point. I too read the same list. And it's filled with causes every single month. I was going to list them myself. I could have chosen to add Gun Violence Awareness considering another illegal shot two cops.
Harry, I honestly did not know it was Pride month. I crossed state street this afternoon and I couldn't tell what banners were hanging on the side - but they were mostly blue and not rainbows. Gun Violence awareness is another worthy one.
PTSD Month vs Pride Month. The answer to your question could just be a matter of population size. Approximately 1% of the U.S. population are veterans, and not all suffer from PTSD. Whereas, 5-7% (estimates vary) of the U.S. population are "gay". That also means that 5-7% of U.S. veterans are also "gay." During my 34 years in the Army I knew several service members who were "gay," some even before the "don't ask, don't tell" policy was initiated in the 1990's. So what, why do you even care? It's not as if it is like a disease that you can catch. Back to PTSD...while researching to obtain veteran headstones for the unmarked graves of Civil War and Indian Wars veterans scattered around Arizona after I retired I was struck by how many had lived alone and committed suicide (PTSD?). As for "D-Day", I had the honor of knowing and talking with many veterans of the "Longest Day" and while stationed in Germany I had the opportunity to visit Normandy and other U.S. cemeteries in France and Luxembourg (Where Patton is buried). I will spend the rest of the day reflecting on what they shared with me about this day.
I wonder why we don't see PTSD flags flying on government buildings during June....or ever. No PTSD books for young kids in schools. There is no PTSD story hour in libraries. No marches. No rallies.
Is there such a thing as a "PTSD Flag"? Why not just use the POW-MIA flag, and it is already flying from a lot of flag poles. My personal experience with why there isn't a _______ (fill in the blank) hour at the library is because I didn't contact the library to arrange it, and because I didn't do the presentation. "If you want something done..." the saying goes, and just can't expect someone else to do it.
I suspect you know that PTSD is not the same as POW-MIA. Society's fixation on Pride and not PTSD is a cultural touchstone, not merely an issue of rolling up one's sleeves. If PTSD generated the same amount of cultural clarity, virtue signaling, political contributions, financial resources for schools, and corporate sponsorships as Pride, perhaps then we would all know what a PTSD flag looked like.
As you state we need to be aware of PTSD, the forever scars from the sacrifices of every veteran. Trauma, mental wounds, are too often forgotten: out of sight, out of mind.
Your article provokes thought. So why nationally are we expected to celebrate Pride? What’s the purpose of Pride Month?Why the national movement to sexualize self-identity and daily life? Why this major attempt to prioritize daily recognition of what sociologists once studied as deviant behavior? Why do you or I need to know about the private lives of others now that full legal protections of ‘marriage’ are accessible to any couple? I find it alienating, being force fed Pride daily, from the White House and military to the Pride flag flying high at SBCC and in some public government school classrooms. Is a law required for our government funded buildings and schools to only fly the American Flag and the state’s official flag?
Lastly, why do some Americans choose to engage in offensive public behaviors, including paraded nudity? By sexualizing life, aren’t we being gaslighted into acceptance? Tolerance is not acceptance.
Most Americans have not experienced war, any required service, loss of freedom, domestic or economic hardship, or daily life in a foreign non-European country — like Vietnam, Laos, India, Somalia, Botswana, Afghanistan — to name but a few. Is that the difference in awareness, and depth of character?
Well done Henry. An absolute shame PTSD Awareness Month is not front & center in this day & age. Department of Defense posted June is PTSD Awareness month.... at the same time on the same post promoting a celebration of Pride Month. Unacceptable. The DOD has since changed the post.
I was watching the June 4 City of Goleta council meeting & sure enough, item B2 on the agenda was Proclaiming June LGBTQ+ month. No mention of PTSD Awareness month. Great, promote a sector of the population & give them their trophy & time in the spotlight. I applaud the council for the recognition. This is the day & age of everyone's a winner & deserves a trophy. Or is it, when there is little or no mention of the countless individuals who suffer from PTSD.
They saw things they do not talk about. They saw things they cannot talk about. They saw things we do not want to talk about. Just know that. And hug them when you can.
I don’t know too much about PTSD, gays or anything else - the only thing I know for sure is bless Phil and the guys and gals in the military now and in the past who keep us safe and secure. It sure is nice to be able to sleep easy at night - so many people in this world don’t!
Thank you for the reminder. My father fought in Vietnam. He still will not openly talk about what occurred over there.
When his tour was over he gave his knife to a buddy. The next day his buddy used that knife in a fight for his life in a fox hole.
Americans do not know what war is about. But with Biden pushing for World War I wonder what the youth or the parents will think when he enlists the draft.
Military recruitment numbers are at lows.
Illegal Aliens including about 30,000 Chinese nationals amongst other foreigners have crossed our borders illegally and are hiding under our noses.
We’ve seen the increased crime rates and complete disregard for our laws and safety.
When will the other shoe drop?
Strongest Pride month fan (very weak, prideful, and lacking in discipline vs. Weakest Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus enjoyer
Excellent Mr. Schulte. I was Drafted in 1970, but because I almost lost one of my ankles when I was 12, they didn't want me. Several of my friends that did serve never seemed to have PTSD, but when we would be sitting around talking, I would ask them about their time in Nam. They were usually a little reluctant, but then would start blabbering about their experiences there. Every one of them would thank me for asking about their time there. I figured it was a little release valve for them, and I was their age also.
Well said. Thank you for sharing Henry!