Gratitude for our vets: We love what you do everyday to protect us

During this Thanksgiving I usually come up with a gratitude list but this year I want to just give my gratitude for all our vets who sacrificed so much so we can have the freedoms we so often take for gratitude. Of course not all of those who have served have PTSD symptoms but if they have spent any time at all on the front lines they are more than likely going to have it. As a trainer of Tribal organization staff I have trained a lot of staff who work with veteran programs and many of the staff are also veterans so hear their stories quite often.

David Brooks writes today in the New York Times about this issue in an article called Fighting America's Spiritual Void. He states when he looks at the rising suicide and depression, the rising fragility and distrust he thinks it all flows from the fact that we've made our culture a spiritual void. In a new book by Edward Tick, called "War and the Soul" he writes that PTSD is best understood as a "soul wound". This reminds me of Dr. Eduardo Duran's book on the same topic but which relates to the intergenerational trauma our people have experienced.

Mr. Brooks states that there are a number of programs that are developing rituals to welcome home our veterans to give them the type of homecoming that will help them to adjust to civilian society. Of course we have ceremonies for this which many Tribes use to welcome home our vets. Even so it is still a difficult journey for them to make. One time I was at a sweat and I was very honored go to one in which was specifically for vets. One of the most respected members of the Tribe was in the sweat and he had served in all three wars which included WWII, Korean and Vietnam. He had been going to the VA for counseling for many years but he said he had not slept through the night since his last tour. And yet he was very successful and had found a way to cope with his ongoing trauma. You can learn to forgive yourself and others but you will never forget he told me.

So on this Thanksgiving I want to say aho from the bottom of my heart to all our brothers who have served in the armed services and who are still serving as well as their families. Wherever you are we appreciate all you have done and we wish you all the best as you continue your healing journey.