In Lehigh Acres, our VFW Post 4174 has been ministering to our area’s many veterans for a number of years. We are on a mission to assist our veterans, not only in transitioning back to civilian life, but in helping them overcome the trauma they have suffered being in a war zone, away from home and all that has always been familiar to them.

In many ways, veterans and first Responders are very much alike. Both groups have received extensive training for many different situations, but all the training in the world can’t compensate for the realities of what they will be facing as they move through their assigned tasks. Much of the abhorrence isn’t even plausible for ordinary citizens to imagine, let alone understand.

Seeing the horrors of war’s destruction on human lives, or the accidents, fires, shootings and other disasters can and will pay a toll on anyone. In many instances, it is difficult for an individual to overcome the terrors of what has been witnessed. Having P.T.D.S. (Post Traumatic Distress Syndrome) can lead to many problems in the life of either a veteran or a first responder. Realizing the distress can only disappear by professional help, many people are ashamed to take advantage of the help being offered.

Because of the embarrassment of admitting there is such a problem, many veterans are committing suicide. Even one taking his/her own life is one too many. Many first responders end up destroying their family life by serious divorce issues. They also fall in this category of needing assistance from the community. None of this can’t or shouldn’t be tolerated by those of us who have not had to witness these disastrous events.

Wanting to do something serious to help abort these unnecessary deaths, there is a new Lehigh Acres Combat Trauma Support Group that is opening its doors. The location of this center is in the Lehigh Acres Flea Market at 270 Beth Stacy Boulevard.

We will be giving more information about the hours of operation and the grand opening ceremony which was held Nov. 30. Since November is the month which was set aside to honor our veterans, it was fitting that the center was finished during that month. Keep reading the Citizen for more information on this very worthy undertaking. You’ll be glad you did.