Reflecting on 9/11/2001
September 12, 2023
Author: Jill Baker
Dear Friends and Supporters,
As we experience the 20th anniversary of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, our hearts are heavy with the memory of that fateful day. On this somber occasion, we ask that you take a moment to reflect on the sacrifices made by our brave service members and their families. Over the past two decades, military families have faced numerous hardships, and it is our duty to support them in their journey. In this newsletter, we discuss the challenges military families have encountered since 9/11 and how our nonprofit organization is working tirelessly to provide assistance and resources that are culturally responsive to those who have Served our country.
The Impact of 9/11 on Military Families
The events of 9/11 forever altered the lives of military families. Many service members were deployed to combat zones, leaving their loved ones behind to grapple with uncertainty and fear. Some of these challenges included emotional and mental health issues, frequent deployments, and loss and grief. Military spouses and children often experienced heightened levels of anxiety and stress as they awaited news from their deployed loved ones. Repeated deployments of service members also strained family bonds and placed added responsibilities on those left behind. Tragically, some families lost loved ones in the line of duty, leading to profound grief and loss.
The Ongoing Hardships
While the nation's focus has shifted over the years, military families continue to face hardships such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), reintegration challenges, and financial struggles. Many Veterans return home from deployments with the invisible scars of PTSD, affecting their families' daily lives. This can affect the transition back into civilian life and often poses difficulties for Veterans, impacting their families' dynamics. Some military families face financial hardships due to lower wages for service members and the high cost of healthcare.
How We Help
Community Action for Veterans is dedicated to improving the quality of life for military families, making our communities even stronger. We have made it our business to ensure access to culturally responsive care is easily accessible. We do this by facilitating community conversations focused on the needs of military-connected individuals, organizing special events designed to provide a safe space for a warm hand off to a community resource, and by making informed decisions based on what we learn from both military-connected individuals and the communities in which they live. In short, we follow the need by listening.
How You Can Help
As we remember the events of 9/11 and the hardships military families have faced since that day, let us also remember the resilience, strength, and sacrifices of our service members and their loved ones. Together, we can make a difference by providing the support and resources they need to thrive in the face of adversity.
Join us in our mission to develop communities of care for veteran and military families. Your contributions, whether through volunteering, donations, or simply spreading the word, can make a profound impact on the lives of veteran and military families.
Sincerely,
Jill Baker
Executive Director
Good Tidings to You
CAVlog December 2022
Holiday Greetings to You, Friends.
This is the first holiday season for Community Action for Veterans (CAV) as an official 501C3 nonprofit organization. Just as children grow into adulthood, CAV has fallen down, stubbed its toe, gotten back up to sprint across the finish line, triumphed over painful growth spurts, and exhilarated in its well-fought achievements.
This is a time to celebrate our good tidings while also acknowledging the vast amount of work yet to be done. Work that is touched by many caring hands to honor those who have sacrificed, so that we might have the freedom to celebrate the meaning of Christmas, while warming our hands by the hearth with those we love lounging nearby.
It is also a time to spread these good tidings outward, and share our blessings with those less fortunate than us. There are many military-connected individuals who struggle during the holiday season, as the emotional toll of service can be a heavy weight to bear. Such circumstance is not always seen from the outside, looking in. The cheerful smile of a Veteran can be deceiving- their false words of assurance all that we need to feel better before moving on.
The holiday season can be hard on military-connected individuals for many reasons. One of them is called moral injury, which results from violating deeply-held moral beliefs, often resulting from military experiences- especially combat. Reconciling such feelings during a season of good will and cheer, can be a terrible reminder of the past. These painful and sometimes shameful feelings likely seep through the walls of the family home to invade the health and wellness of loved ones.
That being said, here are three things you can do this holiday season to spread good tidings of cheer for the military-connected people in your life:
A LITTLE KINDNESS GOES A LONG WAY. Reach out. Invite them over for dinner or out for coffee. Then listen. Ask questions. Put your phone down and engage. Follow-up with concerns.
DON’T ASSUME THEY CAN FUNCTION THE WAY THEY USED TO. Military service changes people both emotionally and physically. The idea of “meeting them half way” isn’t what they need. Rather, meet them where they are at, and respect their decisions about what they can and cannot participate in. This a gift, in and of itself.
DISCOVER NEW TRADITIONS. Get creative with family gatherings and old traditions. Make new traditions inclusive of your loved one, and they will quickly become old traditions.
May you find peace this holiday season.
Jill Baker, MSA, MSW, CSW
Executive Director
Are you a service member or veteran in crisis or concerned about one? Dial 988 and Press 1 to reach qualified, caring, crisis responders 24/7.
