It is my strong belief that we need to get this right. From the beginning of time people have been wounded by traumatic events. Regular people, caught in the wrong place at the wrong time often walk away changed in profound ways. Police and firefighters, facing traumatic events in the line of duty, exposed to the traumas of nature and man, often face them one time too much and end up wounded by PTSD. When it happens to them, well it seems to be easier to understand than when it happens to a combat warrior trained to go into where others run from. It is not just the attitude of the "tough" Marine or the "Army strong" soldier that gets in the way. It's the total disconnect between society and them. It's almost as if we want to be able to depend on them to defend this nation but want to avoid any knowledge of what they have to do in order to do it. Then we say we don't want to be bothered when they come home with wounds that need to be taken care of and lives to be provided for financially since their wounds prevent them from earning the wages they could have if they had not served.
Coming up with an award to show understanding of what they went through, giving them the honor we should show out of appreciation for what they went through, is only the right thing to do. I don't know if this pin will begin a wonderful action, inspire others to come up with an award the military can accept to honor the wounded with or not, but I have a feeling it just got us closer to it.
Max A Gabriel from NYS NAMI - I am designing a PIN for Vets who have PTSD...I would like to know if you feel this would be a good idea to send out to the body of the National for their comments...I am looking at presenting these to Veterans who are rated with PTSD but are not getting any awards for it...such as the Gov't is not giving purple hrts for it... but will give a rating...this pin is 1 1/4 " round with a crouching black figure head in hand/ at the top -Cap letters PTSD...curved from left to right the words - wounded internally in the mind.
I would sell them for $2.50 a pin postage included to wherever they would be sent...production time for these is about 3 1/2 weeks and my 1st
order is for 1500..if you think it would go.....Sooooo I am asking if you would send out a blanket E-mail and get a response. I also got hold of a Gov't Contract Mgr/GSA and am looking into a 1.25" medal w/red white & blue 2" ribbon antique brass finish octagon...again with PTSD...
hoping to do this as a NATIONAL campaign ..............again looking into a grant for this one....thanks MAX
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Great Idea. I'm Not real sure about the wording. The stigma of being a "Mental Case" might be a problem if the goal is for folks to wear it like the miniture ribbons. The poster that says I want you to care about PTSD, and All wounds are not visable I think are more positive.
ReplyDeleteDont stop, keep up the good work
Lew
Hi Lew,
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way but as I said, at least it's a start and people are not about to drop the fact PTSD is a wound. The wording you picked would also cover TBI. We can't forget about that one either. Max, the one who came up with the idea started something that could be huge and very, very much needed.