Had to share as it's good to see constructive and real news coming out of Arizona, especially as there are many Veterans and Still Serving Soldiers of Latino/Hispanic Heritage, some of those serving not yet Citizens, in that State as well as most of the other States in this Country especially from and in the Southwest!
Help for soldiers, families coping with effects of service
Tom Tingle/The Arizona Republic: Chrystal Snyder, an education specialist, conducts a session about wheelchair sports and recreation during last week's statewide symposium hosted by the Arizona Coalition for Military Families.
Jul. 20, 2010 Staff Sgt. Patrick Ziegert was only 75 feet from his buddies when they were killed by an explosion during his tour of duty in Iraq.
Then, he says, he came home to find that his wife had been unfaithful and had depleted their checking account. Six months later, she left Ziegert for his best friend.
Ziegert, 37, developed post-traumatic stress disorder, and without a support network to help him, he spiraled into alcoholism, drinking a 12-pack of beer and half a bottle of whiskey every night.
Ziegert said his initial joy over coming home and reuniting with his wife "became this macabre-ish nightmare."
War experiences like Ziegert's are nearly impossible for civilians to fathom, and their effects on a service member's family can be overwhelming. A spouse's or parent's deployment alone can stress the family in many ways, and professionals who work with military families are seeking ways to better understand and assist both the soldiers and their families. Continued
No comments:
Post a Comment