Page 23 - The Military Reunion Network Sept Oct 2017 Issue
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Military Reunion Network | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 | #militaryreunionsmatter

Continued from page 19

The current veteran suicide rate      It also brings up Traumatic Brain      like PTSD, VA benefits issues, or
is over 7,000 per year, according     Injury, Disability, Post Traumatic     employment. A veteran’s post
to the most current Veterans          Stress, and Survivor Guilt. Over the   about a recent PTSD trigger
Administration report published       course of round table discussions,     generated over 100 comments
in August, of 2016. The most          Veterans have alluded to one or        from other veterans that had
troubling to me, of the statistics    more of these characteristics in       experienced a similar situation.
cited, was the 65% of veteran         some form or another. They shared      Social Media can be tricky though
suicide is committed by veterans      the challenges of their service or     because it does not completely
50 years and older. Research          transitioning back to civilian life.   satisfy one’s need for human
shows Veterans connected with VA      Some discussed PTS triggers that       connection.Enter Military Reunions.
services were less likely to become   would set them back. “The sound
suicide casualties. It can be argued  of a ringing phone is still tough for  When veterans get together for
this is result of receiving the care  me.”, said veteran Dr. Art Schmitt,    a few days every year something
they needed. I would argue it is      in a recent interview. Among other     happens. They share stories,
more than that, it is also about      duties, Dr. Schmitt flew rescue        which, according to their spouses,
connection. Veterans going to the     helicopters in Vietnam. A phone        get more exaggerated as the years
VA are among their own.               call set each mission in motion. He    go by. They laugh. They remember.
                                      details many of his missions in his    They forget. They pause for those
For the past three years, I have      book, “A War with No Name”. It is      gone. They break bread. They
had the opportunity to speak          one soldiers story about dealing       create new memories together.
with veterans about the healing       with and surviving PTSD.               Most importantly, and perhaps
power of connection in the form                                              without knowing it, they heal
of military reunions. The Military    Another veteran Cleo DeLoner           because they are among those
Reunion Network holds classes         attempted suicide multiple times       that “get them”. It is the same for
across the country on planning        before finding the right treatment     their spouses. Quiet conversations
military reunions. Lunchtime          and support. She served in Somalia     of struggles after a recent VA visit
topics circle around to why they      during Operation Restore Hope.         or upcoming event may be take
get together in the first place. The  Cleo’s first suicide attempt was       place. These conversations are
responses while worded differently,   a gunshot to the face. She too         next to impossible on social
were always the same. “They get       struggles with PTSD. She now           media because they happen
me, they understand what each         travels the country speaking           organically beginning in the
of us as individuals and as a group   out about veteran suicide and          buffet line or at banquet table
have experienced. They get what       PTSD awareness.                        in the hospitality space.
I have been through, what my
wife and kids have been through.”     When interviewed, Boone Cutler,        Having witnessed the power of
Third Marine Division Association     Cleo DeLoner and Dr. Schmitt           veteran connection face to face
reunion planner, Ron Deverick,        all agreed, “staying connected         over the last six years prompted
said, “There is a bit of smack talk   has a positive impact.” In Cleo’s      my efforts to confirm that
between branches, but at the end      case, she felt isolated physically     staying connected and getting
of the day we all have each other’s   and emotionally. The “suck it up”      together for military reunions is
back regardless of the patch on       military attitude limited her ability  an integral part of keeping our
our sleeve as we have all been        to reach out to family and friends     veteran community off the path
there. We all understand.”            in her community. When she             to veteran suicide. While it seems
                                      separated from the military, she       basic and simple, it is critical.
My interviews included veterans       lost touch with her battle buddies.
who had contemplated or               “Staying connected could have          The mission of The Military
attempted suicide as well those       made a difference as they all lived    Reunion Network is in part to
struggling with PTS. There appears    through what I did.”                   remove all obstacles a veteran
to be a link between suicide                                                 may have in learning to plan
rate and veterans staying well        Social media has allowed veterans      a reunion and/or find battle
connected following military          to stay in touch in greater numbers    buddies. Scholarships for
separation. The experience of         than ever before. Private Facebook     education, event registration and
serving our country brings up         groups provide an outlet for           travel are available. Our goals
honor, patriotism, pride, and duty.   communication and support              is to help you stay connected.
                                      groups struggling with situations      #militaryreunionsmatter 

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