Had to upvote all the comments to bury the scammer and the message mentioning the scam...just hate that was the top of the comments on a post like this.

I give a lot to help our active military and our vets with a focus on mental health donations. Honestly feel that a huge part of why so many of our vets come back and have a hard time is mental. Some is PTSD, but some is just the loss of a brotherhood.

This loss is also seen in retired baseball players...I know seems crazy right. Guys that made great money for years and were idolized retired and end up with very high rates of divorce, drug issues, alcohol issues, becoming abusive, and so forth. Someone here in the Chicago area was spearheading an effort to get retiring players counseling to address the issue they would be transitioning to the real world.

Think of how much of this matches up with troops. Schedules are decided by others, you are part of something larger then yourself yet your actions can be enough to help or harm the entire group, you have people you consider your brothers by your side day-in and day-out for years, you have clear chain of command and someone you answer to daily, you have expected behaviors that are accepted and others that will not be tolerated, you are a hero in the eyes of many, and then one day it all ends and you are just expected to become a normal citizen again.

I sadly lost touch with our family friend, but know his efforts back in the 90's had effect in the baseball world. He was teamed up with legend Ernie Banks on the issue and that man had some clout in the baseball world.

Now we need the people to stand up and demand that the government takes care of our troops as they come home. Treat these vets with the same or more respect then they did while they were active. As our Vets speak volumes to the state of our Country IMO. Their health and mental health being largely ignored shows that the priorities of this Country are very messed up.

Anyways thanks for your efforts and hope that you are able to hit your goal.