loved one in times of armed conflict. I have made it a practice to invite these family members or close friends to stand and be recognized for their sacrifice and loss. To those who stand, I will say “I am sorry for your loss and I thank you for your family’s sacrifice to help protect our freedoms.” I also always invite all Vietnam Veterans to stand, and ask everyone in the room to voice in unison, “welcome home.” There is usually a standing ovation that follows. I encourage the Veterans to look around and absorb the genuine appreciation that’s always palpable. It is then that healing begins. After this event concluded, we discovered that over 350 Veterans had been recognized, from Word War II through our present conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. While this is not yet an annual event, we would gladly participate if it were. As part of our commitment to honoring Veterans, Mercy Care participates in dozens of community pinnings each year and finds them to be a poignant way to express our gratitude and foster healing. J. Michael Neal has served as director of counseling for Mercy Care since 2010.
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NewsLine - November 2012