Caption: This photo was taken during a Veterans Day service at Trinity View in 2019.
The United States has been producing veterans for about 245 years now. Trinity View has many to be honored including about a dozen men and three of our women. A third of them were in World War II, the rest in Korea and a couple youngsters who stayed around for the Vietnam Era. Some have harrowing stories to share with considerable near-death consequences. Others were in serious dangers, and a few like yours truly hardly left home, but we all served.
War time experiences vary widely. General Dwight Eisenhower never saw personal combat, while John Kennedy and George Bush Sr. were shot out of their vessels and barely survived.
These are the ones who make it to the history book. There are mortal wounds, incapacitating injuries, and too many of those, but most actually do come home to a relatively normal non-presidential life, and they all served.
However, while less than 1,000 soldiers a year die now in active combat situations, more than 6,000 veterans a year die from suicide. They left the battle field maybe dragging their war with them, maybe missing opportunities in civilian life, or maybe trying to adapt with alcohol or drugs.
We are so grateful for the service of our Trinity View residents, but the casualties of war continue.
While we honor veterans, let’s show our concern for those who are still battling at home. Yes, they also served.
