End the stigma of PTSD and TBI with medal

Letter faxed to Senator Akaka and Congressman Bob Filner.

I have been doing outreach work with veterans who have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder for 25 years. My husband is a Vietnam Vet with PTSD. I have a blog, web page and videos on PTSD as well as extensive research. I am associated with many organizations in America and communicate with veterans from around the world. One of the biggest obstacles in seeking treatment for PTSD is when the veterans do not know what it is. When they do, the other obstacle is the stigma associated with it.

We treat PTSD and TBI as a sub-standard wound. While a service connected disability rating is treated the same, we do not acknowledge it as a wound caused by combat. The Wound Chevron was discontinued and replaced by the Purple Heart for bloodshed in service. It is my belief that we should restore the medal but change it to reflect the wounds we cannot see. It has blue stripes to signify mind, body and spirit along with a heart because it is a wound that can be seen when you look at the veteran with your heart.

I am asking you to provide a bill to provide this medal for our veterans to remove the stigma and treat both wounds the same as all others.