MORE FROM HUFFPOST
MORE FROM HUFFPOST
Invisible Casualties
As Americans, we have a duty to provide our nation's heroes with the care and resources they need. Health care reform provides an historic opportunity to find new, collaborative approaches that could better serve them.
There's nothing more important than knowing that our families are healthy and happy. And after spending so much time with military families and hearing your stories of service and sacrifice for our country, I know that that's your priority as well.
In the military, fighter jets fly in formation, with the lead aircraft ahead and a backup plane off the right wing and behind. The wingman protects the lead pilot, watching his back. Each of us must be a wingman to the Veterans, service members and military families in our lives.
For many years, the prevailing culture among first responders, and members of the military and Veterans, has been stoicism. Whatever it was you'd gone through you'd better deal with quietly, deal with it alone and get back to work.
WHAT'S HAPPENING
WHAT'S HAPPENING
Sometimes, something as simple as talking to a Veteran can help them open the door and rediscover what matters most in their life. Whether the Veteran you know has just returned home, or they served years ago, you can be there to support them and help them remember what matters.
Aiding our men and women in uniform has always been integral to the American Red Cross' mission. Today, the American Red Cross' professional, compassionate team staffs an Emergency Communications Center dedicated to the military community.
Finding Hope Amid Devastating Loss: A Military Widow Who Lost Her Marine to Suicide Shares Her Story
While most military deaths are traumatic and violent in nature, suicide poses special issues that the parents, spouses, children, siblings and other family members must grapple with. It's extremely important that we get these families into bereavement care and support following a death.
