Many nameless veterans who fall between the cracks find themselves homeless due to poverty, lack of family support, mental illness such as post-traumatic stress syndrome PTSD, and addiction.  In an age-old story, a young man answers the call of his country.  His temperament is naturally protective so he does his duty and becomes a soldier.  He may not have much money or many prospects for a better life.  The military can provide him with education, training, discipline, excitement, and camaraderie. 

Mike Dalske, who served in the U.S. Army for 11 years and is a member of Red  Hill VFW Post 5954, plans on riding his motorcycle to Oregon to raise money to  help house veterans.

            He may be sent all over the world in defense of his country.  He sees things and does things he never expected to see or do.  When he leaves the military, he might realize the training he received does not transfer into civilian life.  The friends he made in the military may be halfway around the world.  If he fought in a war, he may be severely traumatized physically as well as mentally.  He may be tortured by the images he has seen.  His humanity may cause him to have severe guilt about something he has done.  When he comes home his family and friends have no idea whatsoever what he has endured.

            So, he begins to feel isolated despite assistance from veteran's services. When he tries to find employment nothing but low-paying jobs are available to him because frequently the community where he has his roots is impoverished.  He quickly realizes that what he learned in the military are not skills useful in civilian life.  Even though there are ways for the young soldier to obtain higher education once he leaves the military, he may live in a part of the country where higher education is unavailable.  Additionally, he may not be of a studious mindset.

            The young soldier, now a veteran, begins to drift.  His family and friends do not understand him.  He cannot find a job that provides a living wage.  He begins to drink or take drugs to smother the painful images of war he sees in his head.  The drugs and alcohol use only exacerbate the problems he is experiencing.  If his family and friends cannot help him because they do not understand the trauma that war causes in a person and his employment is not much or nonexistent, he is in danger of homelessness.

            The young veteran begins a spiral into homelessness because of his multiple problems.  The first noted cases of homeless veterans actually began after the Civil War, also called the War Between the States.  Prior to the Civil War, future President Ulysses Grant, who was educated at West Point, could not make a success at anything he tried because his skills were trained for war, not peace.  General Grant was a superb commander of men in war but could not support his family well during peacetime.

            A young man named Raymond Schierer who was blessed with a loving and devoted wife Verna faced the trauma of World War II in Germany.  Raymond could not endure the death and suffering he had experienced in the United States tanks while in an active war zone.  Despite the great and enduring love of his wife, Raymond killed himself due to PTSD.

            Reverend Connell McGuire, a Roman Catholic priest, was a Navy chaplain during the Vietnam War.  He served in the US Navy from 1952 until 1978.  Father McGuire literally would go into the killing fields of Vietnam to administer Last Rites to the young soldiers who were dying.

            Joan Duffy, a young Air Force nurse was sent to Vietnam as an emergency room nurse to tend to the wounded and dying soldiers.  She died from cancer as a result of exposure to Agent Orange which was used as a defoliant during the Vietnam War.  Joan spent the last years of her life publicizing the danger of Agent Orange to Vietnam veterans.

            Each of these citizen soldiers paid the price for their service to the United States of America.  They are just a few examples of the millions of people who, when their country called, they answered.  They stood up and faced the risks of the call.  They did not cut and run. 

            The other day a veteran walked out of the Red Hill VFW Post, stood in front of the flag of the United States of America and saluted the flag.  The veteran held the salute for many minutes.  Then he ended the salute and walked away.  He was unaware he had a witness to his private act of devotion to his country.  The witness was transfixed by what the veteran was doing.  He is a shining example of what is good about the United States military and the people who serve in it.  Many years after his service, he still remembers.

            The United States government has used citizen soldiers to fight its wars since at least the Revolutionary War.  The Veterans Administration and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) have many programs to assist veterans.

            Thomas Sally, Senior Vice Commander of the Montgomery County VFW District 16, which encompasses all of Montgomery County, is a 21-year Air Force Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  Commander Sally noted there is a great need for services for homeless veterans.  He explained if a veteran is living on the street, the VFW will find him housing, usually in a hotel or his back rent will be paid to keep him in his dwelling.  Additionally, the VFW will provide food and assistance with utilities.  Commander Sally acknowledged, however, finding housing for homeless veterans is extremely difficult.

            In the Upper Perkiomen Valley, led by VFW Post 5954 in Red Hill, there is an effort to raise money to purchase a property that can provide living units for six homeless veterans until they can live on their own without support. 

Mike Dalske, an 11-year Army Veteran of Desert Storm and a member of the Red Hill VFW Post intends to ride a motorcycle from the Upper Perkiomen area across the United States to Oregon to raise funds for the purchase of a property to house veterans and to raise awareness of veterans' needs.  Dalske has an initial goal of $25,000.  However, this is just the beginning.  There is a need to raise significant funds to purchase a property.

            Mike's ride to Oregon and back is expected to take 30 days.  It will begin on August 18th.  He will post photographs on his Instagram account, with photos sent to other VFW posts along his route, and on the Facebook page of the Red Hill VFW.  Corporate sponsors, local businesses, and private individuals are encouraged to donate.

 Dalske will advertise any business that donates to homeless veterans on his Instagram account.  Additionally, there will be a VFW presence at the East Greenville First Friday as well as at Community Day on September 7th.

            Donations can be mailed to the Red Hill VFW Post 5954 at 401 Main St., Red Hill, PA, 18076, marked Attention Homeless Vets.  Donations can also be made at www.gofundme.com/f/support-mikedrides-in-housing-veterans.

            No soldier who endured war and its aftermath needs to sleep in the street in the bitter cold or searing heat.  The United States can do better for our veterans who sacrificed so much.  Please give generously. Give until it hurts.  They sacrificed for the United States.  Now we must stand for them who protected us.