OPINION/STREETALK

Close ranks

As Veterans Day draws near, take a few moments to consider the people who’ve enlisted in our nation’s military and vowed to protect its citizens and fight its wars.

If you’re already flipping to the next column, hold on a second. You don’t need to be a supporter of war. You can have qualms over military spending. And you can still appreciate veterans—and maybe even thank one—for the jobs they’ve done for their country and the toll that sometimes takes on them.

In 2017, 116 veterans from Nevada—106 men and 10 women—took their own lives. Nationwide, the suicide rate for veterans far surpasses that of the civilian population. The suicide rate among female veterans is nearly two-and-a-half times that of ordinary citizens. For male veterans, it’s 1.3 times higher. The Department of Veterans Affairs reports that more than 20 vets commit suicide in this country every single day.

Ordinary citizens can help in myriad ways—starting with simple things, like taking care in how we engage veterans in conversation.

The disrespect of questions like “Do you have PTSD?”or “Have you ever killed a person?” or “Have you ever been shot?” might seem obvious to some people—but, unfortunately, it’s not. Questions like these get asked of vets by friends, family members and even strangers. They’re asked at social gatherings. Sometimes they’re asked during job interviews. Often, these are painful questions and ones veterans don’t want to answer in front of an audience. Surely, there’s no need to jump to the macabre questions—at least not first, if it all. Consider how often the first question asked of surgeons is how many people have died on their operating tables—or of vets how many

In 2017, 116 dogs they’ve put down. Most people wouldn’t lead with questions of Nevada veterans that nature, so why do people do it when talking with vets? Is it took their own callousness? Is it the misconception that veterans are stoic heroes with lives. complete control of their emotional responses? More likely it’s a lack of discretion. As Veterans Day draws closer, consider how you might show your support through the many organizations that aid veterans in our community. There’s Veteran’s Resource Centers of America, which focuses on housing assistance and behavioral health treatment. There’s Work for Warriors, and organization that helps vets find careers that meet their skills, knowledge and abilities. There’s the David J. Drakulich Foundation For Freedom of Expression, which offers art and recreation programming to veterans. And that’s just a few. □

Favorite Halloween costume?

ASKED AT SHEA’S TAVERN, 715 S. VIRGINIA ST.

CRYSTAL WAYNE

Warehouse manager So, this year, with my boyfriend, I’m going to be Jeffrey Dahmer—and he’s going to be a refrigerator.

DEB BARKER

Retiree My favorite is my white trash, trailer park old lady—a dress with pink flamingos. I had curlers in my hair. I had, you know, the black glasses, and they were on a chain. And I had slippers and mismatched socks.

JESSI HELMING

Bartender I was a dead mechanic last year. I had a stab wound in my throat, and I carried around the screwdriver that killed me. And it was really warm, which was my favorite part of that costume.

KENNY SONOFMUN

Electrician’s apprentice I was trying to be really punny, and I got a bunch of fishing bobbers. … And I grabbed a sweater, and I just put a bunch of those on, and I put a nametag on that said “David,” and I was supposed to be David Buoy. Nobody got it.

SARAH LYONS

Bartender I was Divine from Pink Flamingos. What was the character’s name? And then I dressed my best friend up as John Waters, and nobody in all of Freeport or Ballard, [Oregon] knew who I was—and I nailed Divine.