Veterans Day: A day when Americans thank those who have put on the uniform of the United States to help preserve the liberty here at home we have become accustomed to, for their service to our country!
Often the phrase that is invoked is “Thank you for your service” but, in reality shouldn’t every day be Veterans Day?
The sad truth is that there are great numbers of veterans coming home from serving their country who are suffering with pain every day of their lives.
For some the pain is physical but, for others, the pain is on the inside and therefore cannot be seen by the naked eye.
Nonetheless these injuries can be no less severe and in fact, help to lead to the incredible statistic that 22 veterans are committing suicide each and every day.
So What Can The Average American Do To Say Thank You To Our Veterans In A More Lasting Way?
Get Involved!
Getting involved can take many forms and there are no shortages of organizations that you can choose to help.
But for the purpose of this article I would like to introduce you to the Heroes To Heroes Foundation!
Heroes To Heroes (HTH) serves veterans who are suffering with PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), Moral Injury or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in a unique way that is not often addressed. It’s through spirituality and peer support that HTH has proven to be very successful in its mission!
Read more about this organization below and after, if you have any questions or interest in becoming involved either personally or through corporate giving, please contact Michael Haltman at mhaltman@hallmarkabstractllc.com.
Heroes To Heroes Foundation Sends Its Seventh Group Of Veterans To Israel! (Originally printed October 19, 2015)
Heroes To Heroes Foundation (HTH), Serving Our Military Veterans Suffering With PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) And/Or Moral Injury, Sends Its Seventh Group To Israel!
Working with military veterans of all faiths who are suffering with injuries that may not be visible to the naked eye, HTH helps these American heroes gain the strength to open-up emotionally and begin to heal!
HTH accomplishes this through trips to Israel where all three of the worlds major religions began and where through spirituality, hard emotional work and bonds forged with others who are suffering in the same way, the majority who participate find the ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ that they thought they might never see again.
As an American who has never served I have always sought to help in any way that I could those who have given so much so that the rest of us have the opportunity to live the American dream in peace.
That said, when I met HTH founder Judy Schaffer and had the chance to hear the story that has inspired her to found this phenomenal charity, I knew that I had to get involved and sought to become a member of its Board!
And, while HTH may be small in stature when put next to some of the other fantastic charities that serve our veterans, it is growing and approaches healing in a unique way that is extremely effective. They will be sending two groups to Israel this year, and the goal is for four groups in 2016.
Heroes To Heroes Foundation Sends Its Seventh Group To Israel
Yesterday at a hotel adjacent to Newark Airport, Judy Schaffer, the coaches (two veterans who have been helped through prior HTH trips), HTH board members and the group of new veterans met for breakfast prior to leaving for the airport to begin what will hopefully be their life-altering excursion.
Also present was a reporter from WPIX-11 of New York along with a representative from New York Community Bank Keisha Riley (NYCB is getting involved with HTH as a corporate participant).
It was here that my belief in the mission of HTH was solidified as I met the two coaches for the trip, Luke and Harrison, and had the chance to hear their stories.
Harrison was on his fourth trip as a coach and Luke his first, but the stories of where they had both been prior to finding HTH and where they are now were truly awe inspiring.
Prior to their trip to Israel with HTH they had both been in much the same place. This was a place that they described as dark and despondent and, while still not ‘perfect’ today, they have healed and continue to heal due in no small part to the continued help of their peer support group at HTH.
Godspeed to all!
Heroes To Heroes Foundation
Regardless of religious affiliation HTH takes a team of 10 veterans at a time on a journey to Israel that combines spirituality with social and emotional bonds that are forged with Israeli counterparts who may be dealing with many of the same issues.
Each team member is expected to commit to his or her team to support one another and be there for one another to help with transitioning back to civilian life (the next team will be leaving October 18, 2015).
Beyond the success of the program, by itself incredibly impressive, what also drew me to Heroes to Heroes is the fact that it is currently an entirely volunteer organization and that over 90% of the funds raised go directly to serving our veterans.
Google+