Iraq veteran, Hero for veterans

In keeping with the message of healing, I cannot think of a better way to put it than the way this Iraq veteran did. He’s a hero in my book along with many other veterans trying to make things better for others.

The end of September, I was speaking at the Point Man Ministries conference in Buffalo. After I gave my “two cent” speech, I got my video camera to record the band. For some reason, after they were done, the camera was still rolling. I wasn’t interested so much in getting the band on film as I was capturing their sound. It was really wonderful. My camera was in my hands instead of on the tripod as I stood at the back of them room with hands shaking, tired of holding it up, an Iraq veteran stood up, took the microphone in his hands and everyone there could tell, what he was about to say, was not going to be any easier for them to hear than it was for this veteran to tell.

He told a heartbreaking story of how he came home with PTSD and how it almost ended his life with the barrel of his gun in his mouth. I was stunned hearing a story like that told in such a large group after hearing stories just like it in private.

Well he told his story and in it, there was so much power as he shared it all, good and bad. He stood there as an example of healing, hope and forgiveness.

What this Iraq veteran did after he served has been saving lives right back home in Washington state.

I went over to him during a break. I introduced myself and asked him if he knew I made videos. He said he was well aware of my work. I told him I had him on tape. I left the choice of what to do with it up to him. I could destroy it, hand the tape over to him or, I could put it up on YouTube. He didn’t even take time to think. He told me that he wanted it on YouTube because he was sure it would save some lives. OUTSTANDING thing to do. So much pain, such a hard story to tell, yet he was not ashamed or afraid of what people would think. He was more afraid that men and women are dying after they come home from combat.

Now there are some who will judge him but they will never understand how much compassion has to live in a soul to be able to really be willing to set themselves aside for the sake of someone else.

I’ve made a lot of videos but even with the shaking hands, I could have never come up with a more powerful video that may do some good because this veteran, this Iraq veteran loved his brothers and sisters.

Iraq Vet, Point Man Ministries

Iraq Vet, Point Man Ministries

Today I was with the Nam Knights on a charity ride out of Orlando. One of the patches most of them wear is “I am my brother’s keeper” and they really mean it. I am always honored to travel with them as a “Lady of the Knight” (even though it’s pretty odd to have my road name patch “Chaplain” just above the Lady of the Knight one) because of how much they do care about other veterans. Many of them have sons serving now, just as they did so long ago in Vietnam.

The thing that makes me adore veterans more than anything else is the fact they risked their lives for each other in combat and then turned around to be ready to do it all over again for the sake of one of their own.

Every male and female veteran I have met during the years amazes me with how much they are always willing to give and how little they ask for in return.

So, a little early but Happy Veterans Day.