Chuck Norris Takes Stand For Veterans

Details how churches can be ‘bridges to healing’ for wounded warriors

by Chuck Norris

In troubling times such as these, what can we do to address the many health issues faced by our military? – Jim D., Massachusetts

This Veterans Day will be our opportunity to honor again an estimated 21.5 million military veterans in the United States, with speeches and parades across the country. A national ceremony will take place again at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. It is our opportunity to honor publicly a commitment to service and sacrifice that has held our nation strong and resilient for more than two centuries. For those of us who have had the honor of serving in the military, it is also an opportunity to reflect on what that service to our country has meant to us, as well as to others.

The fact that Veterans Day falls on a Sunday this year provides us with another reminder. It should serve to remind us of the vital role our faith communities play in supporting veterans, returning warriors and their families. For untold numbers of our military, the ravages of war do not end once their planes touch down on U.S. soil. Emotional, physical, psychiatric, relational and spiritual challenges await them. Many suffer from major depression or combat stress.

Too often these men and women remain silent about their struggles. Nearly 1 in 5 service members who have returned from duty in Iraq or Afghanistan report symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder or major depression, according to a RAND Corp. study, yet only about half of those experiencing mental health problems seek treatment. Many discover that civilian medical resources where they live are insufficient to help manage the range of combat-related wounds and psychiatric trauma war veterans face.

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