There are hidden wounds soldiers
have always experienced upon returning home from every war- this documentary will shed Light and Healing
on these many issues through the Voices of Veterans and their
Families.
Many soldiers return home with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder- PTSD, formerly known
as "shell shock and battle fatigue" and with the current wars in Iraq & Afghanistan- it is compounded with Traumatic
Brain Injury, TBI. These conditions can lead to unpredictable behavior, hyper-vigilance, insomnia, nightmares, war flashbacks,
drug & alcohol abuse~ which can result in hopelessness, joblessness, spousal abuse, divorce, homelessness, and
suicide. These are the hidden wounds that many of our veterans face when they return emotionally home less: a shell
of the person they once were.
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Produced & Directed by
Nina M. Gilberti
"Not to him who is offensive to us are we most unfair,
but to him who doth not concern us at all."
~ Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche
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This documentary seeks to give veterans and their families
a Voice ~ an opportunity to share their stories, express their feelings and speak directly to America.
Everyone who returns home from war and military
service are changed forever, some end up coping better than others. Many return with undiagnosed issues only to surface
later, as they continue to battle an enemy of a different kind.
Suicide rates among today's veterans is staggering.
And the path towards homelessness is never straightforward or immediate.
The film will not only feature the homeless veteran, who is clearly visible
on the streets and ignored, but will also speak to the mental & emotional 'homelessness' that is often
invisible and locked away inside many returning soldiers resulting in the loss of the person they once were.
A statistic on the VA website read: "one-third
of those living on the streets served in the Vietnam war." Iraq, Afghanistan, and Gulf War vets who are homeless,
may not be visible ~ many live in their cars or couch surf, living from one friend's apartment to the next.
Americans tout, 'Support Our Troops', but when
it really counts there isn't much being done after the return home to help the veteran ~ except by the non-profit, veteran
organizations, who must also fight a battle every year to raise the necessary funds in order to survive.
What happened to our consciousness as a nation when we ignore
those living on the streets, as well as those whose lives have been altered physically, mentally and emotionally so we
might live free?
We need to wake up and step
up to do something positive, to share in the responsibility as Americans, and to help create a real difference in the lives
of those who gave us so much. They put their lives on the line so we can enjoy the freedoms we all take for granted.
It's time to give back.
It is my hope, through the making of this film, to inspire a nation to care, to
generate real compassion, and perhaps create a movement towards profound Healing and understanding.
This project is currently filming through the end of February 2012.
We invite veterans who served in
any era, and family members who wish to share their story for this film to please email us: nina@jamontoastproductions.com
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