preview

Making A Difference In The Armed Force

Decent Essays

If I were in charge, I would take the opportunity to make a difference in the world of our men and women in the armed forces. Nelson Mandela once said, “We can change the world and make it a better place. It is in your hands to make a difference”(Nelson). I believe one of the ways I can make a difference is through encouraging others to show appreciation for our United States military and help provide support for our veterans when they return home.
My grandfather, a Lieutenant Colonel in the Marines, instilled in me an appreciation for the United States Military from a young age. He would take my sister and I past the marine base, telling us stories about attending the United States Naval Academy, and about his career as a Marine officer. …show more content…

However, they were well behind on their goal, and we knew we had to help. We went to the school and pitched an idea to start a program where we get every student to write letters to soldiers at Thanksgiving. The administration thought the project was a great idea and let the two of us ask the students for their help. The entire school embraced the project, kindergarten through twelfth grade, and the next week we collected the letters and took them to the radio station to be sent overseas. The first year we collect just under a thousand letters and each subsequent year we have increased that number. My sister went off to college a few years later, and I took on running the entire project. I did not want the project to end, because I wanted to continue putting smiles on the faces the men and women of our armed forces. During, my junior year scheduling issues at the school were making it look like the Letters for Soldiers project was not going to take place that year. The school told me that there was not enough time to do the Letters for Soldiers project that year, and I was very disappointed. I made up my mind to find a way to continue the project. I met with the administrators repeatedly, begging them to find a way to continue the project. At all times I …show more content…

I would provide financial support to help pay for their training. Another important issue facing returning veterans is Post-traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD. “Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health condition triggered by a terrifying event, with symptoms being flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts of the event” (Mayo). After going through the entire trauma they experience overseas they are expected to come home and go back to normal daily life. It is not easy for many veterans. I know my grandfather would very rarely talk about what happened during the war, because it brought back painful memories. Suicide has become a major issue for our veterans; “twenty two military veterans commit suicide every day” (Powderhouse). These veterans have made it through war, only to fight a new battle when they get home. They go through so much pain and distress when they get home that they feel that they have to take their lives. We need to change

Get Access