An easy way to support our veteran neighbors

It was hot that day — not the hottest, but always hotter than it was in Alaska. The truck bounced along the road, and a split second later just another hot patrol ride jolted into a life-changing explosion.

Here at home his military service is a thing of the past, but his injuries are a thing of the present. The blast injured his brain and left his back in continuous pain. The experience of war in service to his country and neighbors fundamentally changed who he is, but not in a way that his community can see.

His community knows him as a nice guy. He shovels his elderly neighbor’s driveway when needed, brings in his trash can every week and supports the recycling center. He shops locally, waves and smiles at his neighbors and goes to church.

Behind the door of his house the demons of war haunt him. But he doesn’t talk about it.

His neighbors, all of whom support the troops and consider themselves patriotic, don’t know he is a veteran. If asked how they could really support veterans beyond flying flags or offering a military discount, they have no answer. They mean well, but don’t really know what to do.

We are his neighbors. As a community we do our best to stand by those who have served us by going to war on our behalf. But it’s hard, if not impossible, to do that if we don’t know what they need because we don’t even know who they are. Most veterans don’t wear special hats or sport bumper stickers to let us know where they went, what they saw or the injuries they brought home.

There is an easy way to fix that.

Join Team Red, White & Blue, a national organization that seeks to enrich the lives of America’s veterans, as we spend a few hours near Veterans Day simply listening to our veterans. Sit with us Sunday, November 13 at 2 p.m. as we meet at the Palmer Depot to hear our veteran neighbors’ stories.

If you are a veteran, Team Red, White & Blue invites you to speak for up to 10 minutes to your community about what your service means to you. If you are a community member we invite you to listen, learn and understand.

Day-of registrations are welcome, or register in advance with amy.bushatz@teamrwb.org.