I’m going to do one of those things I don’t particularly
like doing, I’m going to vent and bitch a little bit on Facebook. Verifiable
Veteran suicide rates are 22 a day. Recent numbers suggest that number is
actually closer to 35. The VA does not account for Veterans that commit suicide
who are not currently enrolled in their systems. Often times they do not count
Veterans who have been out of the service for more than 2-3 years. 35 Veterans
successfully take their own lives every 24 hours. That’s more than one than one
an hour. As I have said before, one is too many and is absolutely unacceptable.
I am not going to get into the details or try explaining why I feel this number
is so high. What I am going to do, is once again, ask that those of you who
read this begin to take an active stand against this growing epidemic.
It saddens me to have to say what I am about to say, but I
feel that it is necessary. Before I say it, I will add the disclaimer that I am
perfectly aware that life happens to everyone, things come up, families have
problems, emergencies, are unable to find babysitters etc. Everyone is busy,
trust me, I get that. I know that everyone cannot be everywhere all at once and
everyone is not particularly interested in doing Yoga, or Crossfit, or going on
hikes. I understand that some of these things are not everyone’s cup of tea.
What I am struggling tonight to understand, is why Patriotism
seems to only be popular on holidays. Yesterday I saw Facebook plastered with
Support the Troops and Remember the Fallen Posts. Everyone and their dog wanted
to give thanks to those who gave all so that they could enjoy the very freedom
they have to thank them for their sacrifices. Today, all the flags were taken
down from the yards and streets. Little to no posts showed up on Facebook to
thank service members, both past and present. Very few people showed up to our
weekly yoga class. Had we done it yesterday would more of you come out to show
your support? Why does it have to be a holiday for people to want to thank the
1% of the rest of us that have or continue to serve? Team Red White and Blue has
one mission, to enrich the lives of America’s veterans by connecting them to
their community through physical and social activity. This mission is to give
them a sense of purpose and reintegrate them into their communities so they
stop doing things like committing suicide. If you want to thank those of us
that still walk the face of the Earth, if you don’t want to have to remember
another one of us next Memorial Day, then start proving it.
I’m not only advocating for Team RWB. I am also advocating
for the IAVA, the Vet Centers, the Red Cross, any of the other organizations
that are putting forth the effort to battle this ever increasing problem. If
you don’t want to come do Yoga and do the physical activity thing then you can
still help out in some way. You can share the event notifications, you can
start educating yourself on why PTSD is such a problem and learn how to deal
with those of us that have it. You can donate time, money, man hours, and
clothes, anything that might help those organizations who are taking an active
stand against suicide rates accomplish their mission.
One of the big reasons that I do advocate Team RWB is because
registration and membership is open to EVERYONE, regardless as to whether or
not you ever dawned a uniform. It’s free, you don’t have to buy or donate
anything but the 30 seconds it takes to fill out their registration form. Registering
and getting involved with this organization does not mean that you have to go
to Yoga or Crossfit every week. It can mean that at events like the triathlon
at Sand Hollow on Saturday you can come help man an aid station and give out
water to those who are racing and participating. It can mean that maybe, just
maybe you can help make a difference in one Veterans life and do something good
for those you praise and shower with accolades when it’s trendy to do so on
Facebook. If not Team RWB then find some way to get involved, that is all that
I ask. I cannot speak for every Veteran, I cannot advocate for every group
trying to make a difference, and I do not speak directly for any of these
organizations. These are solely my opinions and mine alone. Personally, I would
rather feel neglected by the population as a whole 365 days a year than be
praised on a few holidays when it’s trendy to do so and forgotten about all the
rest.
If you truly support Veterans and current Service Members,
then I leave you with an age old adage and a challenge: “Actions speak louder
than words,” prove that you care, get involved.
