Episode 10:
Friends in Low Places VFW,
DAV, American Legion, Marine Corps League, and other fraternal organizations
are there for Veterans. This breakdown of the organizations talks to members about
the benefits of these program's camaraderie. The Common Veterans represent
FreedomSystem.org’s martial arts and mountain bike association.
I.
Introduction
i.
Friends in Low Places
1.
Introduce the standby Veteran Fraternal Organizations and their
missions and why.
ii.
Brief Overview of the benefits of the group
1.
Positives
2.
Negatives
II.
More Than Just Bars
a.
Bartenders are there, but that isn’t the only reason for them to
be there.
i.
Drinking socially good? Or Bad?
1.
Opens up.
2.
Opens up too much.
ii.
It’s a social club…
1.
Camaraderie is built here among Veterans from all different age
groups.
2.
Not a lot of physicality
3.
Has to be open to the public or will not survive monetarily.
b.
Some organizations are not attached to bars.
i.
FreedomSystem.org is not a bar, but do meet at fraternal
organizations that have them
1.
FSO focuses on fitness and shared experiences from military
service.
2.
FSO supports fraternal organizations through shared goals
ii.
Team RWB is a fitness organization
1.
Originally a totally Veteran organization, it now allows
non-veterans to run their goals
a.
Puts non-vets in leadership roles
iii.
Fraternal organizations often have specific goals and only allow
specific people to join them
1.
Marine Corps League
2.
VFW
3.
DAV
III.
Stories, The Fish is Always Bigger
a.
Members tell stories of their exploits.
i.
Common Veterans share their military stories.
1.
Stories become what everyone needs.
2.
Shared experiences from different combat times help create more
fraternization and become friends.
ii.
Different organizations, different stories?
1.
Multi-members have different experiences in different
organizations and go to different areas for different types of camaraderie.
a.
VFW then to DAV, etcetera
b.
Moose and Eagles
c.
American Legions and Auxiliaries
IV.
Join or nah?
a.
Joining a fraternal organization can have its merits…
i.
Positives
ii.
Negatives
iii.
Neutrals
V.
Conclusion
a.
Recap fraternal organizations' essential role in
supporting veterans and fostering camaraderie.
b.
Encouragement for listeners to explore and
support these organizations or similar initiatives in their communities.
c.
Closing thoughts emphasize the importance of
camaraderie in veterans' journey and the impact it has on their lives.
VI.
Next Episode – Next Season
a. Our next episode is or next season, but
there may be a few more episodes this season that pop out of nowhere! Stay
tuned.
The belief that dying in battle brings soldiers to the table of Odin. The Common Veterans take on the sensitive topic of suicide and PTSD.
** WARNING ** This episode discusses a very sensitive subject with Common Veterans. This episode discusses suicide, religion, the different beliefs of certain religions, and triggers that could be hard to handle.
I. Introductions
a. Which of us has experienced someone that has suicided or attempted suicide
i. Fred
ii. Jeff
iii. Tony
iv. Kenny
II. Let's talk about life.
a. Being a Veteran means that one has signed a blank check to the government for them to cash, up to life itself
i. Being killed in combat is not suicide
ii. Suicide is illegal in the military
1. Suicide is illegal in most of the United States and goes against the Constitution of the United States – “Pursuit of happiness…”
b. Cannot separate body and soul
i. Separating the soul from the body is death
1. Souls go where the body has been commended to
a. Heaven
b. Hell
c. Purgatory (?)
c. Religions do not condone suicide
i. Christianity
1. Martyrism – certain death, but saving lives
ii. Muslim
1. Suicide bombing to certain sects gets them Virgins
iii. Judaism
1. Assisted suicide from a doctor to maintain
iv. Shinto
1. Only as an act of selflessness
III. Valhalla
a. Valhalla, Old Norse Valhöll, in Norse mythology, is the hall of slain warriors who live there blissfully under the leadership of the god Odin (Encyclopedia Brittanica)
i. Modern Day Interpretations are that this is the “Warrior’s Heaven”
1. Dying in combat sends you to Valhalla
a. This was the old Norse thought
b. Valhalla today is not always “combat related”
IV. Modern Day Valhalla
a. The interpretation often for modern-day Valhalla is that Valhalla is for anyone who sees combat and dies regardless of their death.
i. This often includes suicide with the response of “Til Valhalla!”
1. This frequently glorifies suicide and states that you’ll be in a Heaven type environment once your soul is separated from your body
2. As we discussed earlier there is no religion that condones suicide
b. Many people discuss that for it to be suicide you have to be in the right headspace and timing
i. Anyone that creates suicide are not in the right headspace
1. Mental health illness is very real and usually puts people in the wrong frame of mind
2. Being depressed does not make you suicidal
V. Suicide is Selfish
a. Suicide is a selfish act and it doesn’t only take away from the suicided, but the family and love ones of the suicided
i. Makes things difficult for people who loved the suicided
1. Trauma for whomever finds and/or cleans up the mess made
2. Loved ones wonder why
a. Even with a suicide note on why there is often something left out and the reason is never really ever uncovered
b. No suicide note = never having closure
i. Speculation only
ii. Renders any act of selflessness useless
1. Committing suicide is selfish and any aid that was given to others makes it useless
VI. Closing up
a. Review what has been discussed
i. Life
ii. Separation of Body and Soul
iii. Religions
iv. VALHALLA
v. Selfishness
b. Where to get help
i. National Suicide Hotline
1. 988
2. 1-800-273-TALK(8255)
ii. Veteran Suicide Hotline
1. 988 Option 1
iii. VetCenter
iv. FreedomSystem.org
v. 22 Until None
vi. Other Veteran Organizations
VII. Next Episode: Episode 10 Friends in Low Places
a. VFW, DAV, American Legion, Marine Corps League, and other fraternal organizations are out there for Veterans. This breakdown of the organizations talks to members and the benefit of the camaraderie that these programs provide. The Common Veterans represent FreedomSystem.org’s martial arts and mountain bike association.
