My Impact On Veterans

Words: 484

Pages: 2

Open Document

“I have made an impact on veterans by:...”. I read this sentence over and over again, experiences and memories flashing through my head. Yet, I couldn’t think of anything to write down. I had the examples, I had the ideas, but the word impact, bold and jumping off of the paper, left me speechless. Impact. For the last four years I have spent my summers volunteering at the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center and as I stared at the question, I thought about all of the tasks I have completed and realized that I haven’t made an impact at all.
These are people that risked their lives fighting wars for millions of people that they have never met and will never meet. They arrive home to a few people saying “Thank you for your service” and are thrust back into normal life. These people are heroes to America, whether they have seen combat or not, and we as a society do not do close to enough to recognize their sacrifices. Every night as I go to sleep the last thing I see is the American flag from my grandfather’s funeral. Last year, every day I …show more content…
Veterans have made it possible for me to feel safe every morning when I wake up and go to sleep and I have to write about how I made an impact on them? Delivering mail and labs, pushing patients in wheelchairs, serving veterans free pizza, handing out cards and coffee on Christmas- these are nice gestures, but one day I dream that I can look back at my life and say to myself that I have made an impact. I want to wake up one morning, get out of bed, look in the mirror and see someone who has paid back the many unnamed faces, the people who have smiled at me in the hallway, the people who have died fighting for my safety, the people who are struggling to get back to a normal life. My heroes. Every day I will wake up and work my hardest, whether at school or my job, not for my own success, but so that I will have the opportunity to at the very least try to pay back the 20 million veterans of the United

Reflection On Today's Veterans

feeling that I have had since my return home and to civilian life is that of a stranger in a foreign land. My home had changed so much. The people, even those I have known my whole life are strangers to me. When I was young, I always thought this was something that seemed somewhat unique to my mentors of the Vietnam Era, who trained me and to whom I listened. The realities of today have provided me with numerous reminders of how the latest generation of combat veterans are also becoming more and more…

Words 341 - Pages 2

Wounded War Veterans Essay

war veterans who suffer from PTSD. PTSD stands for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. This disorder sometimes develops when a soldier comes back from war and a gains traumas from violent experiences that he or she had encountered on the battlefield. Our soldiers fight for our freedom, and in order to do this, they go above and beyond to protect us. Due to PTSD, psychologists have been trying to uncover a cure for this. Gratefully, psychologists have found one and it is that wounded war veterans are…

Words 450 - Pages 2

What A Veteran Mean To Me Analysis

A veteran holds a special place in society and symbolizes courage, sacrifice, and unwavering dedication to the country. For me, a veteran represents a brave and selfless individual who has made tremendous sacrifices to ensure the safety and security of their nation. Veterans deserve the upmost respect from all of us for the greatness and tragedy they have endured. First and foremost, a veteran signifies bravery and selflessness. These individuals have willingly put their lives on the line to protect…

Words 501 - Pages 3

Vietnam War Research Paper

significant impact to Veterans and their families. The Vietnam war became a memory never to forget because of the Conscript soldiers that didn’t want to go and fight and had no choice, the volunteered Veterans that came home expecting appreciation and respect from Australia but turned out that we were against them and the families of the Vietnam Veterans and how they had no help or support while the veterans were at war. These three categories faced Physical and Psychological impacts especially on…

Words 987 - Pages 4

Research Plan Essay

interest? My general topic or area of interest is on the United States’ war in Afghanistan. What is it about your general topic of interest that interests you? In regards to my general topic, the aspects of it that most interest me are: Does Afghanistan benefit from the continued American presence there? The American war in Afghanistan has been raging since 2001. What effects does it have on the American soldiers that have served and are continuing to serve there? What impact does the…

Words 835 - Pages 4

The Long Goodbye Analysis

“Combat Trauma, Memory, and the World War II Veteran” defines PTSD along with the historical synonyms of the psychological disorder. It also outlines the common symptoms, which include “intrusive recollection” and “avoidance/numbing” (Langer, Combat Trauma, Memory, and the World War II Veteran, p. 51). The article also goes into detail about when there are visible symptoms of PTSD in veterans. Along with how combat-related trauma can negatively impact personal well-being making the individual feel…

Words 496 - Pages 2

The Semper-Fi Fund Character Analysis

As a Young Marine, I live to remember those who fought for my liberty. I wear the uniforms of those who gave up their freedoms and their lives so that we could have the luxury of living without fear. We serve as a constant reminder of their sacrifices, and we exist to show the world that the efforts of the fallen have not been in vain. Repeatedly, I have had the opportunity to show our veterans and our servicemen that their efforts mattered, and in each instance, I have seen how the smallest…

Words 611 - Pages 3

Essay On Recreational Marijuana Legalization

their state. The legalization will directly affect the state’s economy, safety of citizens, and stability of a family’s foundation. My thesis is mainly going to focus on the negative impact that legalizing of marijuana has had on the state of Colorado and could have similar impacts on other states. Before legalizing recreational marijuana there are potential impacts that should be taken into account. States should consider how this law could potentially increase crimes and has increased the number…

Words 750 - Pages 3

Viet Thanh Nguyen Summary

stories? Specifically, we can see it in Veteran Wonders: How Will PTSD Affect My Kids? by Brooke King, Spin by Tim O’Brien, and Facing It by Yusef Komunyakaa. These three compositions provide various examples of the effects that war has on veterans after they leave the service. First, through the work of Brooke King, we can experience the effects and trauma that war leaves on veterans. Work, Veteran Wonders: How Will PTSD Affect My Kids? by Brooke…

Words 602 - Pages 3

Essay on Psychological Impact of the Vietnam War

Psychological Impact of the Vietnam War “It begins with an event in which the individual is threatened with his or her own death or the destruction of a body part, to such humiliation that their personal identity may be lost” (Howell-Koehler, Nancy). There are many psychological illnesses that be created when a person’s life is threatened. The most widely known is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder with guilt, flashbacks, hallucinations, and suicide falling under its most common side effects. With 30%…

Words 1281 - Pages 6