Supporting Our Troops and Their Families

Posted: Nov 15, 2012 at 8:52 AM [Nov 15, 2012]

With thousands of men and women coming home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and settling back in to what we consider to be “normal” life once more here in the U.S., we all know that this adjustment is at best a difficult one. Not only are these individuals separated from the tightly knit bonds of friendship and brotherhood that they had formed as they fought for their lives daily alongside their soldier friends, but when they return home, life as they knew it previously had changed.  And they had changed.

Their families had adjusted to the absence of their family member in everyday life.  The ever-present “purpose” the soldiers faced each day in their specific duties in the war was no longer there, and they are now faced with a very different set of responsibilities and perhaps not feeling they fit in nor are they appreciated for the risks they had taken each day to protect our freedoms.  Because of all these ramifications and many others unnamed, we need to do what we can to support these individuals and their families.

As a first step in understanding the issues involved, THE VETERANS/SOLDIERS GROUP of Dexter United Methodist Church is sponsoring a special event. Chaplain Larry Vollink, M.Div, of the Veterans Administration Hospital in Ann Arbor and Past National Chaplain of The American Legion will be speaking at Dexter UMC on Wednesday, November 28, 7:00 p.m.  on

“Spiritual Battles Facing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Military Veterans”

This session is free and open to the public.  Churches and local groups and individuals in the neighboring communities are encouraged to attend.  We hope you will consider the importance of knowing more about this topic as we seek to show support for our troops and their families.

Discussion and questions will follow Chaplain Vollink’s presentation. The event will be held in the church Atrium and refreshments will be available. The church is located at 7643 Huron River Drive, Dexter, MI. Questions can be directed to Jean Klark (1-734-426-8598) jklark@umich.edu or Kate Sullivan (1-734-735-6324) sullivzk@gmail.com.