Washblog || I Attended NW Winter Soldier Today

I Attended NW Winter Soldier Today

By ktkeller
Sat May 31, 2008 at 10:03:47 PM PST
Section: Diary Topic: Peace

The panels were incredible, I kind of lost it while listening. Besides the vets, we heard from a spouse, Suzanne Swift's mother, and the new head of Physicians for Social Responsibility who is a VA doc. A recent Rand study finds that up to one third of returning enlisted and vets have one or more of: PTSD, severe depression and/or brain trauma. That adds up to nearly one-half million. He also noted that many many could not be in a room full of people, much less tell their story in public.

As I was at the PDA table handing out 'Healthcare Not Warfare' flyers and 'End the Occupation' stickers for the march, a young woman approached to check it out. She said she returned from Iraq to be stationed in Alaska, but now is home with Mom and being treated for PTSD. She was interested in all of the literature and took a voter registration form with thanks.

She, like all the young people who are trained by the military, stood up straight, looked me in the eye, shook my hand firmly, in short seemed more adult and 'together' than many of us older folk.

When I asked how settling back in is going and if she is getting what she needs, she praised her therapists at the VA, is surrounded by a good group of women, but the administrative stuff is really overwhelming. She mentioned that this is the first time she's been out of the house except for treatment and was really glad to be there.

I have to stop now. I have no more words.

The Seattle P-I has a story on the front web page:
seattlepi.nwsource.com...
I'd ignore the Comments section for the P-I story unless you want to counter the trolls

< WA-05 Republican Re-branding Has Arrived in the Mail -Brought to You by Us From Cathy | Good use for tax refund >

I Attended NW Winter Soldier Today | 5 comments (5 topical)

I was there too.

I want to post my photos, and whatever I remember from the testimony. It was very hard to hear...but I'm glad I did.

by dinazina on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 07:12:10 PM PST

* 1 none 0 *

Please Post by ktkeller, 06/01/2008 10:10:51 PM PST (none / 0)

Will do by dinazina, 06/02/2008 10:17:27 PM PST (none / 0)

Wondering

why I did not see McDermott? Were any of his people there? I did not see him when Winter Soldiers testified for the Congressional Progressive Caucus either.

What about any of Cantwell, Murray or Burner folks? Figure those of you in the 'know' would have recognized them if they showed up.

by ktkeller on Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 11:40:42 PM PST

* 4 none 0 *

wondering

I did not see a single aide other than Patrick Hogan, Jay Inslee's aide.

the imp

by the imp on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:36:49 PM PST

* 5 none 0 *

I Attended NW Winter Soldier Today | 5 comments (5 topical)

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