How Military Appreciation is Expressed

2015-02-02T13:23:40-05:00

Action! That’s how you can show appreciation to our military.

While many an organization, a business, or a community group will show their “appreciation” by hoisting a banner, offering a discount, or giving a speech (which are all well and good), true appreciation comes from actions that demonstrate such a perspective. As a 20-year U.S. Army veteran, I’ve learned to decipher who is sincere in their gratefulness and who is just throwing me a bone and checking the box.

In May, at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association (APA), practitioners had the opportunity to learn about military mental health and battlefield stress. Placing this initiative on the agenda – for the second year in a row – was an excellent gesture from the APA to address a crucial issue among our military. Our own psychologist on Project Sanctuary’s Board of Directors, (Dr.) Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member , serving both the Veterans Administration (VA) and the U.S. Air Force, understands this, too. “I serve with Project Sanctuary because the opportunities for moving forward in a positive direction in marriage, with your family, in mental health, and in life are endless, and there is nothing more important than doing that with loved ones, and people who truly care about you and your service to this great nation.” Thanks to the APA for including military mental health in the annual program. I’d call that appreciation with action!

Senator John Walsh (D-MT) is the first Iraq war veteran to serve in the Senate (that is, until the recent mid-term election results) – and he’s spearheading the Suicide Prevention for America’s Veterans Act. Among the many initiatives contained in this legislation, two of them are: extending special combat eligibility for health care from 5 years to 15 years and boosting the number of mental health professionals at the VA by underwriting medical school costs for psychiatrists in exchange for a VA work commitment. “We do a very good job of taking (a) citizen soldier and making a warrior out of him,” Walsh recently told CNN. “But we aren’t doing a very good job of taking that warrior and reintegrating him back into society.” Sounds – and acts – a lot like appreciation!

Now let’s take this appreciation from a different angle. What about appreciating the families of those in uniform? We didn’t hear a lot about that in November during Military Family Appreciation Month – or throughout the other eleven months of the year. “Way to go unrecognizable Army wife!” “We’re proud of you hard-to-identify Navy son!” “Support our Marine Corps reservist Moms in small towns everywhere!” You get the point.

More and more we’re hearing from family members and caregivers that they’re appreciated at our Project Sanctuary retreats – and we’re really excited about this feedback. One military spouse who attended a recent retreat wrote, “I had a great time – definitely time to reconnect… as a family. I had some time to learn from other moms…we remembered how to enjoy spending time together. We remembered we are fun!”

How do you feel most appreciated for your service?

About Project Sanctuary:
Project Sanctuary has hosted 61 retreats since 2007, serving nearly 500 military/veterans and over 1,300 of their family members. Some simple math from this state-school-educated brain says that 29% of our retreat participants are military, and 71% are family members. Simply put, we’re passionate about serving our military community – those in uniform AND those families and caregivers of our men and women in uniform. We say it all the time: the best way to “support the troops” is by supporting the family. Now that’s appreciation with action to back it up!

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2015 1:53 PM

2015-02-02T13:53:38-05:00

I love what your charity is all about. I love this piece. Thank you for sharing!
I'm curious as to who is in the picture LTC Jason Strickland

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2015 2:45 PM

2015-02-02T14:45:53-05:00

The sacrifice and journey are not only the service member but also the family. We are all in the same fight together and it is good to be reminded of that. Many of us today could not have gotten to where we are or battle the struggles we have without family. Thank you for this post and reminder LTC Jason Strickland

Response by SPC Charles Brown made May 14 at 2015 12:43 AM

2015-05-14T00:43:39-04:00

Just thought I would jump in here and share this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bea_LSccXkU

YES this is Gene Simmons from KISS. I have to admit I never thought I would see this.

Gene Simmons Military Tribute

Response by PO1 John Miller made May 14 at 2015 8:49 AM

2015-05-14T08:49:11-04:00

Thanks for sharing sir. I think one of the ways I felt most appreciated for my service was through USO shows.

I've met way too many musicians, bands, actresses, actors, TV personalities, and professional athletes to even begin to try and remember!

The three most memorable shows though were meeting the Gunny himself. R. Lee Ermy (came to my ship to film an episode of Mail Call), Dee Snyder of Twisted Sister (came to my ship to perform and used musicians from the ship as his band), and the Washington Redskin cheerleaders (put on a show for the Carrier Strike Group in the sandbox of Jebel Ali).

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made May 14 at 2015 9:37 AM

2015-05-14T09:37:02-04:00

One thing I really appreciated was the USO shows when we could see them. The first one I was to was around Christmas '95 and Larry Gatlin came through. I thought it was great he did it. Afterwards I've seen a few on different deployments, Kosovo and Iraq. Thanks to all those who took time to give us a bit.

But the ones I will remember most was while deployed to OJE I got some "any soldier mail" One letter was from a lady in California. We wrote a few times and she sent me two 3lb coffee cans full of homemade cookies for me and my team! The other was a teacher had each of her students write a letter and I got a large envelope with them. I read them all and took the time to answer one question from each kid and sent it back to the teacher. She wrote back and thanked me for taking the time and the entire class loved it. I wish I could remember who it was today.