The Morning After Veterans Day: Why the Fight Doesn't End With the War

But just as there is a morning after Veterans Day, when most of the country goes on with little thought to those who give their lives for our freedom, there is the morning after our soldiers come home, when most citizens go on with little thought for our soldiers' continued-- often unseen--struggle.
This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. If you need to flag this entry as abusive, send us an email.

"This is my husband's Veterans Day shirt. He wears it once a year."


"It is a list of the men in his battalion who did not make it home.

This shirt reminds me of the sacrifices men and women in our country make, some times for the benefit of few, most often for the benefit of many.

Towards the bottom of this shirt there are men who lost their lives after war.

This is a reminder that for a combat veteran, the fight doesn't end when the war does.

They must come home and continue an unseen fight. For many, this is the most difficult aspect of their service. And this is why many end up isolated from friends and family, or even homeless...

We must remember those veterans today.

And remember that they need our help all year long.

There is no better way to appreciate them than to give back."

--Lauren Kong, wife of Veteran Jin Kong*
*Jin Kong served in the 'Deuce Four' battalion (24 Battalion--scroll down to find "OIF: Operation Iraqi Freedom") from 2002-2006. He was in Mosul, Iraq from 2004-2005, and fought in the Battle of Mosul. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, JIN!

Yesterday was full of reminders of our Veterans: beautiful tributes to their service, social media posts about their sacrifice, ceremonies to honor the fighting and the fallen. This is right and good and honorable.

But just as there is a morning after Veterans Day, when most of the country goes on with little thought to those who give their lives for our freedom, there is the morning after our soldiers come home, when most citizens go on with little thought for our soldiers' continued-- often unseen--struggle.

While the world goes on around them, but they are never the same.

Jin's shirt reminds us all that the fight doesn't end with the war.

This morning and every morning, I hope you will join me in supporting the following organizations, recommended by Jin and Lauren Kong:

NEVER FORGOTTEN.

Connect with Reba Riley on Facebook Twitter Goodreads

More about
(Available in hardback, e-book and audio formats. Paperback coming 3/15/16.)

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot