“Let every nation know,
whether it wishes us well
or ill, that we shall pay any
price, bear any burden, meet
any hardship, support any
friend, oppose any foe, to
assure the survival and
success of liberty.”
– President John F. Kennedy
We recognize May as being the month of appreciation, but
our gratitude lives on throughout every month of the year,
as we are reminded of the cost of our freedom. An important holiday in the upcoming month of June (the 27th) to
note is PTSD Awareness Day. PTSD or, Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorder, is a psychiatric disorder in which an individual has anxiety-induced flashbacks from a traumatic
event. For our military members, anything from day-to-day
life can be a trigger for these attacks, such as a loud noise,
like a tire blowing out or a dish crashing onto the floor. Being startled easily and feeling constant tension is stressful
for these victims, and they can often become depressed, irritable, and/or reclusive.
member or veteran, or a family member or friend that is
concerned about one, please call the helplines listed below.
We must do our best to raise true awareness of this disorder, and others like it, in order to help our soldiers recover from their harrowing services. When you notice a loved
one struggling, lend a helping hand, and stay up to date on
the latest research, where facilities, such as the Department
of Veteran Affairs, are working round-the-clock to find
solutions and treatments.
We thank you for your service and honor you this May for
National Military Appreciation Month, and in the coming
months where we will once again turn our focus to you on
holidays like PTSD Awareness Day, Independence Day, and
more. Please, reach out when you are feeling hopeless, as
we strive to be a nation of helping hands for you.
PTSD is a gateway disorder to many other physiological
and psychological conditions, so to help as much as you
can, as soon as you can, is imperative. We love you, soldiers.
We want you to feel at home in the country you fought so
diligently and dauntlessly to protect. If you are a military
66 Summer 2016 Adventure Outdoors
Veteran Crisis Line & National Suicide Prevention
Hotline: 1-800-273-8255 – Veterans and concerned
friends/family, press 1.
National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Hope Line: 1-800-622-2255
If you would like to help or give in any way to our troops,
you can do so by visiting supportourtroops.org, or any other
charity, to learn how you can be of service to our service
members.
Thank you to the families of military members as well, as we can’t
imagine the pain you must feel
after losing a loved one to war,
and the longing you must feel
while they’re away on duty.
We’re thinking of you, too.