Don Bacon: “I thank Lieutenant General Bergman, the most senior officer ever elected to Congress. I am proud to serve with him. I…”

“I thank Lieutenant General Bergman, the most senior officer ever elected to Congress. I am proud to serve with him. I rise today to advocate in support of those fighting to transform trauma into triumph. June is PTSD Awareness Month. I want to stop right there. I don't like to say PTSD because it is not a disorder. It is actually normal when someone encounters a traumatic situation in their life to have that kind of response. It is time to recognize a serious condition, though, that affects many veterans and civilian members of our community. As part of this awareness, Post-Traumatic Growth Day, as General Bergman said, was June 13, a day to recognize the transformative power of resilience, strength, and courage, and an opportunity to embrace the challenges and opportunities that come with growth and transformation. Research tells us that 70 percent of American adults have experienced at least one traumatic event in their life and that two-thirds of children experience trauma before the age of 16. Of the 6 million veterans served by the Department of Veterans Affairs in fiscal year 2021, about 10 out of every 100 men and 19 out of every 100 women were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress. Many battle their demons alone, especially veterans, focused almost exclusively on negative impacts of trauma and struggle, trying to protect loved ones from their suffering.…”