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This week, National Public Radio featured an in-depth story of the battles
being waged by American soldiers.
The conflict had nothing to do with
violence in the streets of Baghdad or in the deserts of Afghanistan - instead,
the story focused on the struggles of veterans returning from war, facing the
reality of integration into everyday life.
The trauma of combat has
left many former soldiers drifting in a world somewhere between the mainstream
community they grew up in and the chaotic uncertainty of life in a war zone.
Readjustment
into civilian society has been a challenge for veterans long before Iraq. It wasn't
until 1979, however, that the U.S. Government came up with the idea of something
called the Veteran's Outreach Center.
The concept was designed to provide
a support system for soldiers who had served in the Vietnam War and returned to
their hometowns feeling disconnected. Charles Flora, a Vietnam vet who now works
as associate director of the National Vet Center, said the outreach was vital
to the well-being of thousands of soldiers.
"These vets came back
from Vietnam alienated and disenfranchised," Flora said. "We knew we
needed to bring them in, to go find them and take care of them."
At
the Spokane Vet Center on Mullan Road in Spokane Valley, the mission of support
and encouragement continues to this day.
The office is staffed by former
military personnel who meet with fellow veterans to talk about their concerns,
connect them with healthcare, employment and legal resources and, most importantly,
let them know they have a dependable friend. All services are provided free of
cost.
"This is a good investment in the community," said Mike
Ogle, a staffmember who served in places like Bosnia and the Middle East. "It's
about restoring lives."
The center (444-8387) serves as a refuge
and a launching pad, reconnecting veterans with family and friends through individual,
couples and group counseling. Issues like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are addressed
with knowledge, compassion and understanding.
There are now over 200
Vet Centers throughout the country, each one working to reach out to those lives
fractured by war and bring them the healing they deserve. Craig Howard
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By
Craig Howard
