As 2022 comes to a close and the holidays approach, it’s important to keep in mind that not every house will be full for the holidays. Some families have a noticeable gap where grandparents or great-grandparents would normally be sitting, gaps that are felt just as much today as they were nearly 80 years ago when they were first formed.

Today, December 7^th, 2022, marks 81 years since the attacks on Pearl Harbor that claimed the lives of 2,403 Americans. To call Pearl Harbor a tragedy is certainly not inaccurate, but it’s not the inherent tragedy of the situation that we should be remembering. Instead, we should view the event through a different lens; one which celebrates the strength, fortitude, and courageousness the soldiers displayed that day. As much as the attacks forever altered the course of our nation, they were also a shining example of the best traits America and her soldiers have to offer. Against nearly insurmountable odds and with their backs to the wall, they kept fighting.

For many soldiers that day, however, this fight was only the beginning.

Though very few mental health statistics exist from this time period, it’s no secret that many veterans struggled with combat related PTSD long after returning home. Despite this, it still took until 2007 for the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act to institute safeguards specifically for veterans thinking of taking their own life.

That’s why, at Faces of Combat, our focus is on providing additional help and resources to veterans after they’ve returned home. Throughout 2023 and beyond, we will continue to share and produce content aimed at helping our veterans overcome the lasting effects of warfare. We understand that, for many, the battle doesn’t end when the last bullet is fired, and the soldiers return home.

The true fight comes afterwards.

Thank you to all of our veterans, both those that have fought and those that continue to do so.

Are you a veteran in need of assistance? Click this link for a list of resources made specifically for you. If you’re having suicidal thoughts, please call either The National Veterans’ Foundation at 1-888-777-4443 or the VA Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (800-273-8255). Both hotlines are free and confidential.

If you’re not a veteran but would still like to help out, you can get involved through our donation page here.