Ninety-eight years ago, President Woodrow Wilson declared Nov. 11 to be the first commemoration of Armistice Day, the temporary cessation of war between the Allied nations and Germany. The momentous step that quieted the battlefields of “the war to end all wars” occurred on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
President Wilson proclaimed that the day shall be filled with “… solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory.”
In June 1926, the United States Congress added aspects to this commemorative day by officially recognizing the end of World War I and declaring Nov. 11 as a day to foster friendly relations with all other peoples.
With parades, parlance and pensive prayer, this patriotic tradition has continued. This day, above all others, is set to honor those who chose to spend at least a portion of their lives defending and protecting our amazing nation. “Sometimes it is easy to become complacent and comfortable in our beautiful world,” says Naples resident Brigadier Gen. Edward Dyer. “We forget that we have this world, in part, because our military protects us every day, here, around the globe and now even beyond that.” Gen. Dyer, who has 29 years of active duty experience including combat in Iraq, suggests that a portion of this day should be spent not only celebrating the many freedoms that our service men and women have dedicated their lives to protect, but also considering the cost of this duty to our veterans themselves and their families.
Florida is home to more than 1.5 million veterans, including 5,000 post-9/11 men and women who reside in the five counties of Southwest Florida.
“Veterans who saw active duty often struggle to live with memories that depict the horrendous carnage generally seen only on a battlefield,” Gen. Dyer says. “The eerie sound of automatic weapon-fire in the dark, the sight of friends and fellow soldiers going down, the bodies strewn along the ground and the heroism and self-sacrifice of so many are scenes most veterans will live with forever.”
For most soldiers, feelings of pride and accomplishment are as clear, strong and tangible as the fabric of their uniforms and the values they represent. For many, however, fibrous recurrent memories of the trauma of war and terrorism are woven into and negatively impact their daily lives. Often suffering from post-traumatic stress, many veterans relive or re-experience their memories during horrific nightmares or through their responses to triggers (noises, smells, sights). A flash of light or a loud and unexpected crackle in the night, the odor of overfilled plumbing or even the aroma of chipped beef on toast have the potential to take a soldier back to the moment of their greatest fears.
Fifty years after the Vietnam War, this is still the case for Naples resident and former Army First Lieutenant Jim Redic.
“I turned 21 in the field,” Lt. Redic recalls. “It’s amazing the things that linger and remind you of that time — like insects, leeches and fire ants. You know gunfire has two sounds to it?” he adds. “Besides the sound of the rifle, every soldier knows you hear a loud crack as the bullet breaks the sound barrier. You only hear that sound if the bullet has gone past you.
“I still have nightmares of the war and the morgue. I am so grateful to be living in this country.”
Neapolitan Carlos Ruiz was a paratrooper in Afghanistan when he was 18. Now 25, he recalls having panic attacks, difficulty sleeping and feeling hyper-vigilant and suicidal after he returned from his tour of duty. A movie trailer about war triggered flashbacks, hallucinations and violent behavior. He was initially incarcerated and then placed in the Collier County Veterans Treatment Court Program at David Lawrence Center, where he received specialized mental health counseling, case management and mentorship.