A few weeks ago, Senator Sherrod Brown met with my son, Mike, and a few veterans at Ohio University. Mike has formed a Combat Veterans Club on campus to help veterans with issues that they face regarding their education, financial aid etc. Mike initiated this since there was no official recognition of veterans on campus. Now, veterans are recognized and they are part of a recognized campus organization.
Sherrod Brown serves on the Veterans Affairs Committee. He wanted to hear what Mike and other veterans were needing and how he could help them. Mike said they had a good visit and veterans appreciated Senator Brown's attention.
Mike gave Senator Brown a copy of my book, Skin in the Game: Journey of a Mother and Her Marine Son. Today, I recieved a hand written letter from the Senator.
" Ms. Logue, Your book about Mike and war and peace and his courage is inspiring. Thank you. He obviously learned about courage from his mother. Thank you. Sherrod."
I am delighted to recieve this letter. I believe Senator Brown read my book. I am more pleased that he took time to meet with my son and the other veterans at Ohio University who are expected to be normal students even though some of them had to descend into the depths of all that is most ugly about humanity. How do you go from being a combat soldier or Marine seeing the worst of humanities crimes against each other to being a college student only concerned with how cool you are and what parties you are going to? So, you have been to war and they want to ask you "Did you shoot anyone?" Like they think that might be cool or interesting. How do combat veterans shed what they have seen and experienced and become "normal" students? How long until they feel normal? Do they? What is normal anyway? How do they adjust to this "normal" life without any help or support from their peer community? Or the larger community? As though there is nothing different about them or their experinece?
Did I teach Mike courage? Mike knows more about courage than I do.
2 comments:
Peggy, The stories you share live in my heart and my family too. "I Can't Begin to Title This," is sacred work and sacred words whose time is now. Love Peace.
This just confirms what a wonderful book this is, and what a good man Sen. Brown is. We are lucky to have him here in Ohio -- and you!
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