Many of us still have some very nostalgic memories of our younger days when we were carefree and oft times irresponsible. Life seemed so simple and many of our memories consisted of clean cut TV shows, like the Mickey Mouse Club, American Bandstand, Flash Gordon, and of course, the many Warner Bros. shows that dominated the air waves, like 77 Sunset Strip, Maverick, Hawaiian Eye, Cheyene, Lawman, and who can forget Steve McQueen in Wanted, Dead or Alive or the Rebel with Nick Adams as Johnny Yuma?

We had music that set our feet dancing, even while walking down the street and on many street corners, there would be friends with record players attached to a plug coming from their front windows so the latest songs and dances could resound without stop. Schools had sock hops and often the bands were from our own neighborhood and many of them were hoping to move up into the music world and become part of a popular group.

There were street games of softball, football, soccer, Red Rover and Hopscotch for the ones with two left feet to keep the momentum moving immediately after school let out. Being indoors was considered the crime of the century because all the action of the neighborhood was outdoors with ones friends.

Things changed, almost overnight and our country became involved in a series of police actions which took many of our neighborhood people to far off places to participate in an action which wasn’t called a war, but certainly had all the earmarks of one.

For those Uncle Sam called, many of the memories from those times aren’t pleasant. Nor do they bring back fun times when certain songs are heard. Even after many years, the trauma experienced by many military persons is still a big part of their psyche. As of yet, dealing with these remembrances is still an ongoing process and the VA and all the members of the DAV, VFW, Legion, Auxiliaries and Riders feel honor bound to continue to find ways to improve the Nostalgic Notes of any and all veterans.

It is the hope and pledge of the newly formed Combat Trauma support Group, who are holding its meetings at our VFW Post 4174 at 25 homestead Road in Lehigh Acres, beginning at 6:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month, that we can participate in the improving of the Nostalgic Notes of our veterans. Come join us; you’ll be glad you did!