The young man walking along the garbage-strewn street one cold and windy day came upon a homeless man sitting in a wheelchair near the entrance to a crowded cafe ... a tattered American flag crudely attached to his chair and a plastic bucket with the words "homeless veteran - help please!" wedged between his crippled knees compelled the passerby to drop a few dollars in ... "God bless you young man" said the grateful veteran with forced smile, ragged clothes, unkempt beard and hair, and tired, empty eyes ... the curious lad then unsure of what to say exclaimed, "Sir, I bet you've experienced some horrible things in your day" ... deep furrows tightened on the old soldier's leathery brow as he hesitantly replied, "Yes I certainly have ... but nobody wants to hear that stuff ... nobody really cares" ... feeling obligated to listen, the young man urged him go ahead ... so the old man cleared his throat and began ...
"Well I've seen men, women and children die in the cruelest of ways ...shot, stabbed, butchered, lynched and burned alive ... or blown apart, tortured and raped, innocent little babies too ... I've heard their screams in the night as they've suffered and died ... I've seen scores lank and frail from hunger and thirst, having no shelter or place to go, naked and shivering from cold and from fright ... I've seen dead bodies left lying beneath bridges and beside of the road ... helpless children abused by the heartless ... the elderly, the sick and the powerless sitting abandoned, hopeless and alone ...and I too have experienced pain, hunger and cold, spending countless nights outside, lonely, sad and afraid ... I've seen hatred, indifference and wickedness swelling in the hearts of men ... yes, I reckon I have seen some shameful and inhuman things" ... then asked the young man, now speechless and dismayed, "that's terrible Sir, on what faraway battlefield did you see all those horrible things?" ... the old veteran just slowly shook his head then said, "oh no son, you don't understand ... it all happened right here in our own homeland!" ...
One day a year on Veteran's Day, we honor those distinguished souls who have bravely and selflessly served our country ... let us not forget about them during the other 364 days ... according to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, an estimated 130,000 to 200,000 veterans are homeless on any given night in this great country, with twice that many experiencing homelessness over the course of a year, comprising 25% of all homeless people in America ... many factors affect all homelessness such as shortages of affordable housing, livable income and access to health care ... veterans are impacted to a further degree from lingering effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and substance abuse, compounded by a lack of family and social support networks ... the Department of Veterans Affairs has made some progress in helping our veterans, but it is far from being enough ... there are steps we can all take to make sure veterans are adequately taken care of -- determine the needs in your community -- involve others -- participate in local homeless coalitions -- send a financial donation -- and contact your elected officials.
By all means, if you encounter a homeless veteran who needs a helping hand, please give it ... do whatever is necessary within your means to assist these precious people ... express your appreciation for their sacrifice and dedicated service, let them know that you are genuinely concerned about their welfare, and that you respect and support them ... if there were but one needy or homeless veteran left on our streets without adequate shelter, food, clothing or medical care... that one is one too many! ... it's a shame and a disgrace for any loyal veteran to endure such demeaning treatment from the nation they helped to protect and preserve ... we hear this plea nearly every day ... "God bless America" ... well God has blessed America ... I wonder what goes through the mind of God when he sees a homeless veteran, young or old sitting near a busy thoroughfare ... flag proudly waving in the chilly air ... ragged clothes ... unkempt beard and hair ... forced smile and tired, empty stare ... with no place to go ... asking passersby for help ... hungry, tired and confused ... in the midst of a land as blessed as America? ...
"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God" --Matthew 5:9
--sja
"Well I've seen men, women and children die in the cruelest of ways ...shot, stabbed, butchered, lynched and burned alive ... or blown apart, tortured and raped, innocent little babies too ... I've heard their screams in the night as they've suffered and died ... I've seen scores lank and frail from hunger and thirst, having no shelter or place to go, naked and shivering from cold and from fright ... I've seen dead bodies left lying beneath bridges and beside of the road ... helpless children abused by the heartless ... the elderly, the sick and the powerless sitting abandoned, hopeless and alone ...and I too have experienced pain, hunger and cold, spending countless nights outside, lonely, sad and afraid ... I've seen hatred, indifference and wickedness swelling in the hearts of men ... yes, I reckon I have seen some shameful and inhuman things" ... then asked the young man, now speechless and dismayed, "that's terrible Sir, on what faraway battlefield did you see all those horrible things?" ... the old veteran just slowly shook his head then said, "oh no son, you don't understand ... it all happened right here in our own homeland!" ...
One day a year on Veteran's Day, we honor those distinguished souls who have bravely and selflessly served our country ... let us not forget about them during the other 364 days ... according to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, an estimated 130,000 to 200,000 veterans are homeless on any given night in this great country, with twice that many experiencing homelessness over the course of a year, comprising 25% of all homeless people in America ... many factors affect all homelessness such as shortages of affordable housing, livable income and access to health care ... veterans are impacted to a further degree from lingering effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and substance abuse, compounded by a lack of family and social support networks ... the Department of Veterans Affairs has made some progress in helping our veterans, but it is far from being enough ... there are steps we can all take to make sure veterans are adequately taken care of -- determine the needs in your community -- involve others -- participate in local homeless coalitions -- send a financial donation -- and contact your elected officials.By all means, if you encounter a homeless veteran who needs a helping hand, please give it ... do whatever is necessary within your means to assist these precious people ... express your appreciation for their sacrifice and dedicated service, let them know that you are genuinely concerned about their welfare, and that you respect and support them ... if there were but one needy or homeless veteran left on our streets without adequate shelter, food, clothing or medical care... that one is one too many! ... it's a shame and a disgrace for any loyal veteran to endure such demeaning treatment from the nation they helped to protect and preserve ... we hear this plea nearly every day ... "God bless America" ... well God has blessed America ... I wonder what goes through the mind of God when he sees a homeless veteran, young or old sitting near a busy thoroughfare ... flag proudly waving in the chilly air ... ragged clothes ... unkempt beard and hair ... forced smile and tired, empty stare ... with no place to go ... asking passersby for help ... hungry, tired and confused ... in the midst of a land as blessed as America? ...
"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God" --Matthew 5:9
--sja
7 comments:
That sir, is a strong and most powerful piece!
It triggers many thoughts ... especially two
There but for the Grace of God ...
And strangely, of the old west's lawmen ... called in by local community leaders to restore order, rid the town of its bad elements, and make it safe!
Heroes they were ... flawed for sure ... but they put their lives on the line, restored order, rid the town of its bad elements, and made it safe! That, or died trying ...
And after they had so done ... some won the girl, but more often than not, they themselves were considered unacceptable ... asked to leave, and once gone, forgotten ... at least until the town needed someone to restore order, rid the town of its bad elements, and make it safe!
Yes, like I sad, ju two of many ... a powerful piece!
Thank you Bob ... also, this current post along the previous were both simultaneously placed in NPP ...
Good! It wasn't my intent to help you win no contest but, it's good work, as always! Too good not to comment and share the thoughts it triggered!
That's quite alright ... just remember to fill my jar with hard molasses candy ... or your Mama's old-fashioned chocolate fudge! ...
You tell 'em Boss!
Wonderful storytelling and use of words! Phrases like: "drizzled a stream of the delicious concoction," etc., make for very enjoyable reading. Well-done.
Nothingprofound, thanks again for reading, and for the gracious compliment ... I'm just glad to know that folks enjoy the stories ...
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