It’s been a fascinating glimpse into people’s lives as they post their pics of themselves and their family members as vets. My generation are the children of WWII vets. In all their pictures, I recognize memories. And oh the soldiers were so young, so young. They all are.

But those soldiers came home to a life and possibilities. We felt responsible to and for them. No, we didn’t talk about PTSD… and it was ghastly.

But now our soldiers are disgorged into emptiness. There are no jobs. If they can get medical care it’s hit-or-miss. There aren’t anywhere near enough support services for soldiers who have seen more than a heart and soul can safely bare. We ask so much. We give so little.

Disproportionately homeless, un- or under-employed, divorced, incarcerated… discarded.

Even those of us who struggle against war recognize it — and yet we don’t organize. We think, one thing at a time, but it’s not, it’s all of those things together.

We cannot continue to ask these young men and women to do difficult and often horrible jobs and then not tenderly care for them when they get home, not give them the tools and the opportunity for reentry.

We must care for those who fight even as we work to put an end to war.

Peace be with us all. May we be part of what helps Peace to be with us all.