Four Little Letters

As always, I've been doing A LOT of thinking about Veterans and PTSD. As always it is somewhat disheartening to think of all the Veterans out there who are not getting help for it. I absolutely despise the fact that 4 simple letters carry the amount of negative energy that these one's do. It's a tragedy that these 4 little letters are synonymous with weakness, shame, and a shopping list of other stigmas and stereotypes. Their power is so great that many of my brothers and sisters in arms choose to take their own lives rather than face a life carrying this unfortunate label. The current rate of Veterans suicide is 22 a day! That equates to damn near one an hour. This is absolutely unacceptable to me, however, it is also completely understandable to me. I have been there, and I truly know that hopeless and incredibly lonely feeling. Call it the grace of God, good fortune, or some part of my soul that absolutely refuses to give up or accept defeat, call it whatever in the Hell you want, but know that I am living proof that this affliction and it's labels and stigma's do not have to be what defines you. If not my example, then use the undeniable argument that is math and statistics of 22 a day, and realize that you are NOT ALONE.

With that being said, today I am officially asking that you take a stand. Not just the OEF/OIF Veterans, but EVERY Veteran out there. I'm not even going to stop there, if you are a current service member in any branch of the military that has not deployed, or you were a someone that served and did not deploy, or you are the family member of anyone that falls into any of these categories, or if you know anyone that falls into any of these categories, I am asking you to take a stand. I am even going to take it one step further than that, if you are a living breathing AMERICAN who can recognize that the mere 1% of our great nation who choose to serve in the Armed Forces deserve nothing but the best that life has to offer, I am asking you to take a stand.

In asking you to do this I am not asking for much. All that I am requesting is that you start showing your support for the 1%, that you start helping break down the unfortunate barriers, stereotypes and stigmas that 4 little letters carry. We are the greatest nation on the face of this Earth, we can and will defeat any enemy, foreign or domestic, that poses a threat to our way of life. Lets start by raging war on these 4 little letters, let us come together as a nation, as one people and remove all the power that 4 little letters can carry. We have defeated every enemy that we have ever faced, there is a reason that we do not show our palms to the world when we salute, I have to believe that this also means that we can defeat a simple stereo type. Four little letters.

I am going to start by reaching out to those with whom I have served, in particular those that I have deployed with. You are my brothers and sisters. I know that not all of you came back with issues related to these 4 little letters, I get that. But when we were in a combat zone you had my back and I had yours. There is no doubt in my mind that there is nothing we would not have done for one and other to ensure our safe return home. No enemy, weapon, or Army we would not have faced to ensure the safety of one and other. You stood by me in that God awful desert in one way or another, and I stood by you. Now that we are home I am asking that we continue to do so. Our war is no longer in a distant desert on the other side of the world, it is here, at home, against 4 little letters. Today all I am asking of all of you that deployed over seas is to register with the IAVA, help show our strength in numbers via a program that has been developed completely with us in mind. If you have a digital copy of your DD-214 it literally takes less than five minutes to complete the registration. If you do not have a readily available digital copy of your DD-214 it will take even less time, but they will still let you register. The second thing that I ask of you is to start attending the various gatherings that have been organized for, and in many cases by fellow Veterans. Be it a support group, yoga, run/walks, BBQ's, anything Veteran related. I regularly post the dates and times of these events on my page, which if you are reading this, then chances are you are aware of it. If not, and this has been shared then you can find me on Facebook by searching for Phil Ritzert. Even if you are not struggling with these 4 little letter issues come and show that you still care about the people whose lives you once defended along with your own. Take a stand with me against an enemy whose only power is in what people believe its power to be. Together we can strip these 4 little letters of their power and defeat them all together.

Much Love,

Phil