22 Soldiers commit suicide
every day.
That needs to stop.
It is our wish to share your story with others, so they know that they
are not alone. I believe that PTSD is far more rampant than is projected.
Many dwell in silence. Living one day to the next.
NO APOLOGIES
For me writing is a release. I think it could help others as well. To
purge your soul, free your heart and mind.
To tell your story.
NO APOLOGIES
We accept stories, poems, songs, art, photos. Anything you would like
to share.
Anonymous submissions are
accepted.
Or if you need help writing, I have authors available to help.
NO APOLOGIES
Contact:
Lemon Press
Publishing
PO Box 459 Emerson,
GA 30137
Introduction- By
Lynn Hubbard
Some memories stay with us forever. I
used to live in New Jersey. There wasn’t much self-sacrifice at our school. In
junior high we had a guest speaker. The entire school was herded into the
auditorium to hear him speak. There was much chatter ad mayhem as we fumbled
for seats next to our friends. Once more or less settled, the Principal
introduced to us a man.
He was different from the typical
stiff tied puppet that was usually announced. This guy was not perfect, he had
scars. This fact in itself caught our attention.
Then he began to speak, and we
listened to his story.
He had been injured in Vietnam. He
was on a patrol boat on a river. The air was thick with smog and the river was even
filthier. He stood on deck keeping watch, An enemy boat approached and fighting
commenced. A phosphorus grenade exploded in his hand and ignited him. . He was
thrown free from the vessel, and into the oil filled river. The river burned
and so did he.
He ducked under the water to escape
the flames, but the water was so polluted they would not extinguish. He started
to sink, yet the fire still burned. He burned all the way down, and all the way
back up as he swam for the surface.
Even then he had a zest for life. It
would have been easy to just give in and be engulfed. But he wasn’t done yet.
Guided by the flames above, he broke
through gasping for air. He was pulled
back onto the boat and the flames were beat out.
I can’t imagine the agonizing pain he
must have went through just to live. But live he did. He recuperated, slowly.
And fate brought him to my school.
By now the room was silent. Each
lost in their own thoughts. And then he started to yell. To yell about how we
are wasting our lives. Lives that we have, due to the sacrifices of our
soldiers.
It was at this point in time that the
staff started to evacuate us from the room. They escorted us out and I could
still hear him shouting out his message.
For us to Live.
That we have a purpose.
And then we were rushed down the
hallways, and back to our safe little rooms.
Then it happened.
The teacher apologized to us.
FOR HIM.
I was pissed then, and I’m still pissed
now.
So this book is
being written for him. And for anyone who needs to be reminded that they have a
purpose.
That they need to live.
Living is so much more than just
surviving.
Surviving is the easy part.
Living is hard, but oh so worth the
effort.
No Apologies.
