Happy Veterans Day

[Hydrotroop91]

Happy Veterans Day to my fellow vets! Enjoy your day today and remember you are not alone! Enjoy the free meals if you can go out today!

 

[Deleted member 12723]

Thank you to all vets everywhere on the planet. Thank you so much for all of the real good that you do.

 

[TXbandit]

Thank you for your service @Hydrotroop91!!!

 

[Deleted member 27524]

Not a vet here but a supporter of one. I have to say that until meeting my D and trying to learn about him and his PTSD, Veterans Day and July 4th were just another day to me. A reason to get together and have a cookout honestly. Now it means SO much to me.

I took my son to school this morning and there was this humongous flag hanging off the side of the school along with 100's of flags lining the drive. I immediately got emotional. It's just been an ongoing thing for me all day. I just wanna hug my D so bad today but after having a very wonderful meaningful talk yesterday, he's sticking to himself today which I assumed he would.

I've come to realize that these vets although they may have made it home, their struggle still isn't over. The flashbacks, nightmares, family problems and so much more they struggle with everyday. I've read stories in here from both sufferers and supporters of vets and just been in tears.They sacrificed so much just for our freedom and I'm just blown away by that selflessness.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart veterans! You are much appreciated this Veterans Day!

 

[Hydrotroop91]

That is awesome Thunderstorm!! I skipped classes today a little bit because I could not handle it. The flashbacks and how I am not proud of my service or to put the uniform on makes it hard to be thanked all day long. I went out in regular clothes without any type of military clothes to eat alone today then hid at my church because I should not be alone today as it has been triggering. Thank you for supporting him and while we know it is not easy we really do appreciate it.

 

[Friday]

The flashbacks and how I am not proud of my service or to put the uniform on makes it hard to be thanked all day long.

Me, too @Hyrdotroop91. I've hid my service for the better part of 10+ years. My son wouldn't even know, except my family all knows, and has pictures and shit up and around. It occasionally leaks out when I'm feeling all happy and forget myself / use jargon around someone who catches it, or have friends home on Leave. This is the first year I've been trying to face it, but most of the time it still just makes me sick. I won't / can't even use shit I really should. Never used my GI Bill / paid school out of pocket. You'd have to shoot me outside of the VA to get me inside. Even a VetCenter ended up being too much to handle. 2 days in the parking lot, throwing up and shaking, and then was pretty much limited to ma'am sirs / couldn't talk about anything real once inside/ didn't go back.

From experience... This kind of avoidance isn't super healthy. Hopefully you don't get that "It never happened, I don't rate, guilt/shame, lalalalalalaaaaa" run. But I'm starting to meet more and more Vets who did the same thing I did. Just a word to the wise.

 

[Hydrotroop91]

I'm sorry Friday! And not I'm not there got counseling from the local vet center and now am a work study there. It is a great place one place I almost feel at home with.

 

[Deleted member 20280]

Me, too @Hyrdotroop91. I've hid my service for the better part of 10+ years.

I served late 80's UK Military. I have hidden almost my entire Military career into a deep black hole I just can't get into for fear of getting stuck.

Salute to comrades from across the Atlantic Pond