IDF and USA VETERANS...HEROES with HEROES TOGETHER

In a mission to curb suicide among war veterans, and encourage emotional and spiritual renewal, a US non-profit called Heroes to Heroes, flew 10 US war veterans suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to Israel this week to tour the country and meet with Israeli counterparts.  Founded in 2010 by Judy I. Schaffer, the daughter and granddaughter of veterans from World War I and World War II, Schaffer said the foundation was created to aid emotionally disabled veterans from both countries through peer support.  “Every 80 minutes an American veteran commits suicide; we are losing more soldiers at home than we are on the battlefield,” she said in Jerusalem’s Zion Square Wednesday afternoon, while accompanied by three of the programs participants.  “My father spent his free time working with disabled veterans and instilled in me the importance of taking care of those who take care of us.”

Raised in a “pro-Israel” home, Schaffer, who is Jewish, said Israel is an ideal location to bring soldiers of all religious denominations to visit holy and historic sites, and meet with IDF veterans facing similar challenges.  “Our program begins with a 10-day journey that develops social and emotional bonds between our veterans, while exploring their individual spirituality and pushing themselves physically,” she said.  To date, Schaffer said her foundation has sponsored five trips to Israel since 2011, each comprised of 10 US veterans who tour the country and hold private nightly meetings with IDF veterans to share their experiences.

Through a group of five volunteers, including US veteran Cliff Nolan, the organization, which is based in

New Jersey and relies on donations, has treated dozens of men of all ages suffering from PTSD in some 20 states.  One participant, Gregory Cruz, a Marine from Rhode Island who was seriously wounded during an injury in Afghanistan, and sustained PTSD, said meeting with Israeli veterans has helped him deal with lingering symptoms.  While Cruz participated last year as a patient, this year he returned to coach the 10 US veterans afflicted with similar psychological obstacles by leading the nightly discussions during which the veterans share their stories and feelings.

“Each night I try to bring up different topics,” he said. “One night we might discuss anger, one night guilt, one night depression, one night pride of service, and we’ll just roundtable ideas. Last night we talked about how hard it was for us to discuss our injuries and suffering outside a group of soldiers, or people going through it.”  One of the six Israeli participants is Zvika Comay, a former tank commander who said he suffered severe PTSD during the Lebanon War in 1982 after his and another tank were bombed, killing one of his men.  To deal with the trauma and feelings of guilt over the death of his fellow soldier, Comay said he went through intensive therapy for 13 years, during which he was diagnosed with PTSD.

REMEMBER THAT WE ARE A NATION OF JUDEO-CHRISTIAN VALUES...ONE NATION UNDER GOD...and that god in NOT allah...WE ARE DEDICATED TO LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.  WE TEACH OUR CHILDREN TO LOVE AND NOT HATE...TO PLAY AND BUILD AND NOT TO DESTROY...WE BELIEVE IN ALL KINDS OF FREEDOM...PRESS,  RELIGION, OPINION, ETC.  EVERYTHING I EVER WANTED TO LEARN ABOUT islam...

I LEARNT ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001...

AND WHEN WE STEP BACK IS BECAUSE WE ARE RELOADING!!!!!