When I was a young girl visiting my small hometown in Kansas in the 1970s and early 80s, I would lie awake at night upstairs in a large farmhouse, listening to the voices of my uncles and aunts screaming on the stairs. Restless, laughing, teasing and happy. Most of the time I didn’t understand what they were saying; everything was confused. But it was just happy chatter from a group that enjoyed good food and booze. I imagine it was like trying to sleep above an old speakeasy.

Two young brothers had never seen the battlefield. Neither does the eldest. But my other six uncles regaled them with war stories, the most amusing ones. One was kicked out of a tank near enemy territory because he was trying to learn to play the violin. Another said that in Italy, women climbed onto his tank to thank with kisses the soldiers who had helped free them. One said he once “borrowed” a general’s jeep.

When I was a kid, I thought World War II must have been a real hoot.

I now know more about the trauma they suffered.

They supported each other. Not all American veterans are lucky enough to have a large, close-knit family like that of the Hutch boys (the poor Kennedys, as a cousin calls them) to manage their service. This Veterans Day, let’s all come together to fill the void as much as possible.

The American Legion Hall still plays a central role and gathering place within our family in this small town of only a few hundred people. On a wall surrounding the room are many framed photos of townspeople who served, including my cousins ​​Wayne and Monk, who served in Vietnam, and these wonderful uncles – Ward, Max, Bill, Johnny, Elmer and Mick . Three brothers and three brothers-in-law, but all brothers in arms.

My father’s photo is up there too, even though he served in the 1950s at Fort Ord, California, near the peaceful golf courses and California cypress trees of Monterey County. He signed up because he wanted to honor his brothers. But the army did not send him into combat. I’m sure my grandfather and grandmother were relieved to no longer have to go through this worry with other of their children.

I have no idea how personal the uncles’ stories were when our young ears weren’t close. An aunt told me that they shared very little of what they had witnessed and experienced, even with their own wives and children. I am sure that we cousins, numbering more than 30, would be amazed by what we don’t know.

We know that some of my uncles passed through Omaha Beach in Normandy, France. A soldier from a nearby Kansas town asked an uncle to write to his parents as he was dying. Another uncle was desperately searching for his brother, fearing he was one of the corpses on the ground. Another uncle, who served as a radioman on a bomber in the Pacific theater, refused to fly home once he returned home, taking cross-country road trips to attend meetings and visit family .

What I know, and what I was taught, is that Veterans Day was created to honor our veterans of all wars. The best way to honor them is to care for them, serve them, and provide for their needs.

My uncles are all gone now. But there are many veterans here with us now, from many battlefields, who are suffering the consequences and who don’t have the support they need or haven’t been connected to that help. Many organizations attempt to help these veterans with mental health, housing, and other needs.

The suicide rate among our Colorado veterans is higher than the national rate. According to the Veteran Suicide Fact Sheet provided by the VA, the 2021 rate in Colorado was 56.1 per 100,000 veterans; it was 33.9 nationally.

According to a ministry of Report on housing and urban developmenton a single night in January 2023, 35,574 veterans found themselves homeless across the country they fought for. “Veterans who receive housing vouchers may have difficulty using them in high-cost areas with housing shortages,” according to the study. That certainly describes Colorado and the metro area.

How can you help?

You can donate your time, donate money, or donate goods. Currently, the Denver VA is trying to meet the needs of homeless veterans, including clothing and household supplies. You can donate to www.cdceportal.va.gov/donate_online. After selecting the state and institution you would like to donate to, you will be presented with a form that allows you to specify where your donation will go.

Eva Gergely, chief of volunteer services at the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, said donations to the post’s general fund for homeless veterans provide them with housing and the supplies they need to build a home, including food, furniture and clothing.

“We work with many community partners to serve our homeless population,” Gergely said.

You can also donate items.

“Our biggest needs are gift cards to purchase clothing and household items, (prepaid) phones with minutes, and winter items, like gloves, hats, and winter coats.”

To volunteer, Gergely said there are many great opportunities at the VA hospital. Drivers are also needed to help veterans get to their appointments.

To arrange a drop-off or learn more about volunteer opportunities, email Gergely at [email protected].

THE American Legion website lists many volunteer opportunities, including at VA medical centers, outpatient clinics and veterans’ homes, in addition to helping veterans’ families.

You can donate to organizations like the Wounded Warriors Project at support.woundedwarriorproject.org. You can view a list of charities that support veterans and military families at charitynavigator.org.

This Veterans Day, let’s let them know what their sacrifice means to us.

TJ Hutchinson is a member of the Denver Post editorial board.

Resources for Veterans through the VA

The VA offers help resources at www.mentalhealth.va.gov, including:

National Call Center for Homeless Veterans

The VA National Call Center for Homeless Veterans assists veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, their family members and friends.

* Dial +1-877-424-3838 and press 1, 24/7.

Leaving VET

Call the Quit Line to speak with a smoking cessation counselor, which can double a veteran’s chances of quitting.

Call 1-855-QUIT-VET (1-855-784-8838), 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.

Veterans Crisis Line

Veterans and service members in crisis, along with their families and friends, can call to connect with trained and caring VA responders via a toll-free and confidential hotline, online chat or text message.

* Dial 988 and press 1, 24/7.

Send an SMS to 838255.

War Veterinary Call Center

The Vet Center Call Center is a place where veterans can talk about their military experience or other concerns as they transition from military to civilian life.

*Call 1-877-927-8387, 24/7.

Call Center for Women Veterans

VA services and resources for women veterans, their families and caregivers, also accessible through anonymous online chats with a WVCC representative.

*Call 1-855-VA-Women (1-855-829-6636) 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday; 6 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Saturday.

Real warriors

The Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury provide information and resources on psychological health, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and traumatic brain injury.

*Call 1-866-966-1020, available 24/7.

Support for caregivers

The VA Caregiver Support Program provides training, educational resources, and a variety of tools to help those caring for a veteran succeed.

Call 1-855-260-3274, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday for tips on being a caregiver.

*Chat options are available online

Source: US Department of Veterans Affairs