You wake up every morning and enjoy peaceful skies over your head. However, you do not think of those who provide this peace to you and your family. Without them, your life would be different.
Frequently, when injured soldiers are told that they are severely handicapped and will never be able to do many things again, they lose heart and feel depressed. Even though the support among other veterans is great, society is not as supportive. Our honoree Christy Gardner who served overseas and was injured in 2006, has lost her legs but remains socially active and cheerful. Still, the veteran feels that society is not helpful and people with disabilities are often ignored or discriminated against in the modern world. In her interview with Maine Radio, Gardner said, “it’s like a battle to get an appointment and services are delayed or you’ve got to fight for what equipment you need” (Maine, n.d.). To support Gardner and other wounded veterans, volunteers and charitable organizations arrange different events, gathering money and searching for investors and supporters among the attendants.
So, what are the main functions of such charitable events as Boston’s Annual Wounded Vet Bike Run? Let’s summarize them:
- Raise public awareness for wounded veterans and their current place in society;
- Raise money to improve the quality of life of wounded veterans;
- Attract investors and volunteers who can assist injured vets and help them adjust to civil lives;
- Find other veterans who need help but have not heard about the event or are unaware of their eligibility for support and assistance.
Some would argue that there are many government agencies and programs aimed to support veterans. However, such agencies receive low favorability ratings. For example, in 2019, only 9% of veterans said that the Department of Veterans Affairs “was doing an excellent job meeting the needs of military veterans” (Schaeffer, 2021, para. 11). 37% said it was doing a fair job, while 15% said it was doing a poor job (Schaeffer, 2021, para. 11). In comparison, charitable organizations donate all gathered money to veterans and assist them in all spheres of life.
If you are concerned about the upcoming event dedicated to wounded veterans, visit their webpage. If you wish to read the complete interview with Christy Gardner. You can change the world and make the lives of American veterans better.
References
Maine. (n.d.). Transcription of Love Maine Radio #350: Dr. Owen Logue and Christy Gardner.
Schaeffer, K. (2021). The changing face of America’s veteran population. Pew Research Center.