Sunday, March 12, 2017

Vietnam Vets Donation Is Still Important Today

By Christine Parker


Most of today's returning soldiers are welcomed back with open arms and waving flags. This was not the case in the nineteen sixties and seventies when veterans returned from the war in Southeast Asia. Many of them were received with open hostility. It was not unusual to hear of angry confrontations and threats between war protesters and soldiers. In many cases this made reentry into the civilian world very difficult. That is why a Vietnam Vets donation was so important in helping many get their lives back on track.

There are a lot of nonprofits that have been organized to help retired service people with various problems they face after combat. Many soldiers return with debilitating physical challenges that require multiple surgeries and rehabilitation that can last for years. For the majority of these veterans holding a full time job is impossible, and their families suffer financially as a result.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a serious mental condition most people were unfamiliar with before the veterans of the war in Southeast Asia began to complain of the symptoms. Not only have they experienced the effects of this disorder, many were also exposed to agent orange and have had to live with its deadly aftermath. Suicide is an unfortunate result of life after combat for some. The percentage of veterans who commit suicide is alarming, and there are nonprofits that use the donations provided to work tirelessly to reduce these numbers.

Understanding what benefits they are entitled to and how to go about getting them, is very confusing for a lot of veterans. One of the things donations help nonprofits do is to make sure benefit paperwork is filled out correctly and goes to the right agency, so the veteran can begin to receive assistance as soon as possible. They keep up with the legislation going through Congress that will affect soldiers and contact representatives on these veterans' behalf.

A lot of young people who graduate from high school, but aren't ready to go to college, enlist in the military. After they have completed their tours of duty, many don't know how the skills they learned fighting will translate in a civilian workplace. Nonprofits help a lot of these young people with resumes, counseling, and interview techniques. They even help them apply to colleges if they are interested. The staff of these are experienced in getting the financial aid packages that help these veterans find work or higher education.

Veteran's nonprofit groups work on Capitol Hill to lobby for benefits and rights concerning these soldiers. They meet with committees and are in constant contact with the Armed Services committee members in Congress.

Many returning veterans feel isolated when they return from active duty. They need a community of veterans who understand the issues they have to deal with every day. One of the most important sources for them are the outreach programs provided by nonprofits.

Whether the men and women who have served have volunteered or been drafted, they have done their part to keep the country safe. Helping them reenter the civilian world successfully is an obligation everyone should take seriously.




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