Warning Order

   Warning Order.  In the military, that is a preliminary decree that your unit is about to do something.  It could be a movement to another station.  It could be your unit is about to participate in an offensive campaign that involves dozens or even hundreds of other units.  Small or big, a warning order is issued to notify the unit to prepare for something.  In this case, its my small effort to help out other Veterans. 
     This post has been a long time in coming.  It has taken me time to actually get the ball rolling.  I'm going to try and help out a Veterans' homeless shelter in my area.  It has taken me weeks to track down who to get in contact about the homeless shelter which is specifically for Veterans who are homeless.  I'm now able to say I am have a contact number.  The shelter is not run by the VA or any government agency.  It's run by a local religious charity.  Up until now I didn't know that charities had about as much red tape as governmental entities.  Now, I do.
     This all started from the post on Veterans Day from @OldMarine1that I referenced in my last post.  The more I thought about it, the more I knew I could do something to help my Brothers and Sisters-In-Arms.  Maybe it's going to be something as simple as providing them with shampoo, toothpaste, etc when they arrive at the shelter.  I know next year I am already planning on a clothing drive for the shelter (one has already been done this year.).  Whatever it is, this is something that any of us can do.  Even if its volunteering at a Veterans homeless shelter, we can all donate some time or money or effort to our Veterans.

     Stats don't lie.  According to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, on any given night there are almost 50,000 homeless Veterans all across our country.  They include Veterans of World War II through our current war in Afghanistan.  According to NCHV's statistics, a large number of Veterans that are homeless or at-risk also suffer from PTSD.  That's no surprise as PTSD is the invisible wound that almost all of our Veterans, homeless or not, have. 
     The NCHV also states community based nonprofit organizations are leading the way when it comes to caring for the Veteran homeless.  I can't say I'm surprised, as the VA is still mishandling their homeless efforts. 
     The bottom line is simple.  We all have to do something to help our Veterans.  Since my first blog post I've said Veterans have to take care of Veterans.  You don't leave someone on the battlefield and you don't leave someone on a street corner.  The VA still has to make improvements.  More has to be done in the area of treating PTSD.  It is up to Veterans and those who care about Veterans to do it.  Plain and simple.  The word has to get out about Veterans issues.  PTSD, Veteran homelessness, and the continuing VA scandal (all areas of the VA need to be fixed-the VA hospitals are just one of the heads of the bureaucratic hydra that is failing our Vets). 
     I hope to give you another progress update soon.  As always, if you are a Veteran in a bad place, or if you know a Veteran in crisis, call 1-800-273-8255 or click this link for the Veteran Crisis Line.
That is all.