From Soldier To Civilian: I'm A Veteran's Advocate

I realize many of our wounded warriors are reuniting with their families, probably for the first time since being wounded in battle. The injuries these warriors have sustained are probably the worst of the worst - double amputees of arms, legs, burn wounds, et cetera.

I see once fit, athletic, handsome and brave men, who now have to deal with losing limbs and other horrific injuries, which some ten or twenty years ago, they might not have survived.

I become fixated on one family. It looks like a mother, who is seeing her son for the first time since getting a phone call telling her that her son was wounded in battle. Time passes as if nothing else in the world matters at this point.

I see happiness and love in its truest and finest form. Love and tears pour out of this mother's eyes just like rain drops falling from the sky as it hits the soaked earth. The family greets the soldier with open arms as they hug and kiss him, the soldier taking it all in, looking like he was given another life.

There is pure joy at having this soldier back home safely, despite wounds that will affect them for the days to come. I began to get so teary-eyed and overcome with emotions, that I left and had to sit in my car for several minutes before I could regain composure. I realized God had put me in this particular place and time to witness this and experience this. I soon realized my life and future would change dramatically.

I began to read, write, research and take in all the information I could about these soldiers returning from war.