Page 113 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2024 - Online Magazine

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everything, including our lives. We were armed or often even the real reason they are there. They
and ready to fight and die. Despite all the are committed to serve, to do their duty. Veterans
training, it was possible that we would not make and active military have dedicated our service
it home. to this country because we love it—our families,
our friends, our freedom, and our way of life.
I won’t write about my deployment experiences
here because I want to focus on the aftermath. Today, my respect for my country, for the flag,
When our tour had been completed, we had for the 1% who choose to serve is stronger
earned the title of Veteran. Some re-enlisted, but than ever. I still have scars on my body, in my
many including myself said, “That’s enough.” memory, and in my heart. But I have hope. I
We had been thoroughly prepared for the no longer want to identify as a soldier with
battlefield, but none of us were prepared for the PTSD. I just want to find my place in this world
transition back to civilian life. We were trained again, one step at a time. I am one person, but I
for war, but we found no help in learning to be represent many. And we live among you.
regular people again.

The question was presented to me, “What is it
like to be a soldier with PTSD (Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder)?" My carefully thought-out
answer: “I am who I am, and I can’t change
me. I dedicated my life to my country. Yes,
I may have done it for a paycheck, but it
became more than that. Going through that
experience has given me the courage to live.
I have so much more respect now for every
person who gives their life to be a soldier!
Surviving what we went through gives me
a feeling of accomplishment. Military life is
hard on soldiers and their families.”

I have come a long way since that “out-of-
control" teenager. My service taught me to
respect my country, my appearance, and the
uniform. We even learned to have respect for
other countries. Can you imagine, when war
breaks out, how the soldiers on both sides
feel? They find themselves faced with killing
one another, and they don’t know each other

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