Dear Editor
Wounded Warriors Weekend is one of the most meaningful programs I have been involved in during my time as lieutenant governor.
I will never forget the day when Canadian, American, Australian, and British veterans who had served in Afghanistan arrived in Regina for WWW. Organizers had arranged for a welcoming crowd at the Regina Airport, and as the veterans came down the escalator in the arrivals area the crowd loudly cheered and applauded. It was like a modern-day ticker tape parade. Many of the young veterans had tears streaming down their faces. This was the first time they had been thanked publicly.
Too often, our military men and women experience traumatic events in the line of duty and when they return home they try, in vain, to re-establish their former lives, even though they may be suffering from undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder. We know, for sure, that PTSD can be so painful that, untreated, it can drive people to suicide.
WWW saves lives. It brings together people who have had similar experiences, and it is, for many, the beginning of the journey to healing. I am sincerely grateful to everyone who has donated their time and resources to make WWW possible. Thank you, one and all, for making such an enormous difference in the lives of our young veterans, who are so deserving of our help.
I strongly encourage everyone to consider supporting this meaningful, life-changing program.
Vaughn Solomon Schofield
Lieutenant Governor
