Why don't people protest for what the warriors need?

Today we went on a ride along with a lot of other bikers for a young soldier. Sergeant Joel Tavera is that one young soldier.

Joel Tavera at the Tampa Polytrauma Center gets a visit from J.R. Martinez and Andy Pujol Building Homes for Heroes, in conjunction with The Windermere Country Club Foundation, will be holding a Golf Outing to benefit Joel.. ...Click here for Event Details

Sergeant Joel Tavera

Army Sergeant Joel Tavera of Havelock, North Carolina (originally from Queens, NY) was deployed to Iraq in the fall of 2007. He was just 19 years of age. Prior to enlisting in the Army, Joel first fulfilled one of his lifelong dreams; he became an active member of the brotherhood of volunteer firefighters. He spent over two years serving as a volunteer fireman, before following in his father’s footsteps by serving the country in the military. Joel’s father served the country in the United States Marine Corps.

In March of 2008, the Humvee that Joel was riding in was hit by five rockets. The blasts killed three men. Joel was thought to be dead as well. Tragically, Sgt. Tavera lost sight in both of his eyes, his right leg, four fingers on his left hand, and suffered very serious head trauma and critical burns to 60 percent of his body. His parents, Jose and Maritza, have been told that their son is the second most severely injured Army soldier to survive since the war in Iraq began. Joel received The Purple Heart and Bronze Star.

read more here

http://buildinghomesforheroes.org/hero-stories/joel-tavera.htm

There are more and more everyday needing to be taken care of, needing to know that people care about the fact they are willing to serve this country no matter what even though when they come home, they have to fight another battle to have their wounds taken care of.

Oh, the physical wounds are easy to understand because we are reminded of what combat does to those we send but it is the wounds we can't see that also need to be taken care of. Not just for the soldiers coming back but for the entire family.

Spouse Calls has a post up with conversations between spouses over PTSD. Well worth the read if you know little about PTSD and what it does to the families.

To the hope of another good day

I wasn't planning on posting today because it's been a long day but as I was catching up on some emails, I came across the articles about protests against the war in Iraq. Stunning when you think of the fact the troops are being pulled out at the same time they are being sent into Afghanistan instead. People have a right to speak out against what they think is wrong. It is better than sitting back complaining while they do nothing. If they feel strongly about it, let them protest but over the last few years, after tracking what is happening to our veterans across the nation, it still puzzles me what they are motivated by.

Are they out for peace? Then why haven't they included the combat in Afghanistan all these years? Are they really fighting for the troops? Then why aren't they fighting for the troops to be taken care of when they come home and face a mountain of red tape along with endless lines at the VA?

I have friends on both sides and I know they care deeply but when they are done arguing over politics, done trying to prove their own points, is it possible for them to at least come together and start really fighting for the troops and the wounded veterans these wars have produced? When you think that both military campaigns are still going on producing more wounded, don't you think it would make a stronger point to fight for them?