Blog Post

Thoughts on a parade
Posted by on February 15 2012

On February 3, IAVA received the following letter from a civilian supporter. Over 20,000 Americans have signed IAVA's petition calling on the President and the Mayors to establish a National Day of Action to celebrate the service and sacrifices of Iraq veterans.

Yes, I agree we need to have a parade. All I have to do is sign the petition (which I have done) and then go on my merry way. Sign and forget. Sign and get on with my life. It's easy to do. But let's carry the analogy a step further.

The New York Giants, no doubt, will get a parade along with a visit to the White House.

Ah, but what about the New England Patriots? We'll probably not hear another word about them until next season. That's what happens when you're not a 'winner' no matter what you've given before the final play.

Everyone wants to get on the 'band wagon' for the successful. However, that makes it easier to forget to address the tougher issues facing us as a nation--like suicide within the military and veteran community. When are we going to make a concerted effort to call attention to that?

I, for one, want to see some effort given to keeping this in the public eye. I want someone who is in a position to do so, who has the bully pulpit, to start calling attention to this 'life altering' problem.

You are one of those people. You may be doing things behind the scenes that I don't know about and if you are, I thank you. If you are not, please start today.

It often seems to be that the suicides of our young military personnel and our veterans have just become something to be mentioned in passing--a headline once a week, then maybe once a month. I see this as the 'prairie dog approach'--someone pops up every now and then and mentions it. But nothing happens to change the situation.

These are living, breathing human beings with potential, with gits that are being lost forever. Don't you sometimes wonder what Clay might have accomplished if he had had the help that he needed?

This is the 'elephant in the living room' and something has to be done about it. Talking about it is a start but it is never going to be enough.

Please help to get the conversation started. Hopefully action will follow. I have no illusions that we could save all potential suicides; but even one is better than none.

If we all get together and push from behind, maybe we can get the elephant out of the living room.

Respectfully,

IAVA Supporter