Homecoming: The Casualties of War

The War at Home Upon her shoulder she can feel his touch, the way he did; now seems so long ago, while tears roll down her sad and weary face, she watches new young soldiers as they go. The waving flags they make her reminisce, when she was in the noisy joyous crowd, remembering the time when she joined in, to farewell her brave man and feeling proud. She said goodbye in nineteen forty one, to her loved soul mate and new husband Bill. As childhood sweethearts, how their love would grow. They married, in their church up on the hill. While once again she views the soldiers march, now thoughts go back to nineteen sixty four, when, like her long departed Bill, their son was sent to fight Vietnam’s dirty war. Her tears still flow, though now it’s twenty ten, today these men are off to fight the fight, she’s sad, for some will die on foreign soil, and leave young widows crying in the night. She looks out through the window once again, the soldiers and the crowd are almost gone, and thinks about the war that’s fought at home; ‘pick up the broken pieces and move on’. Throughout the generations and today, we honour those who fight, and those who fought, and how their sacrifices paved the way, so mateship and our freedoms can be taught. There is another silent sacrifice, and one that through the years has caused much strife, for rarely is it read in any book, the pain that’s felt by lovers or a wife. Upon her shoulder she can feel his touch, though this time she is feeling so alone, for from this window she must now return to her own room, in this old nursing home. David J Delaney 19/08/2010 ©

Hi there all!, I stumbled upon this screening and watched it from start to finish. Shell shock, PTSD or...more appropriately "Concussion" is what it should be associated with. People who play hockey, football and any other contact sport who get their "Brains" knocked about are NOW being shown to have been "Concussed". Isn't getting your emotional psyche (your cognitive brain) knocked about, shocked, living in fear and beaten to a pulp the same as "concussion" ? Concussed brains have been "shaken" and "bashed" about inside the skull; PTSD, Shell Shock, call it what you will, is it not also having one's cognitive brain (psyche) bashed, smashed and trashed? I suffer from PTSD due to spousal abuse. A partener whom I left some years ago. Needless to say, upon viewing this film, I connected with the guys on a number of levels. I still "Veg out", "blow up" at unknown stimuli, certain sounds, smells and sights set me off. I was not beaten, just living in constant threat of....you fill in the blanks. Watching Homecoming and the reactions of the guys - i also served with the forces for some short time years ago; prior to becoming involved with an abusive partner. I can say I connected with them and what they must have had to deal with as a serving member in the ranks, dealing with PTSD resulting from service. I was particularly moved by the guys in Halifax and, most particularly with Walter Coombs, Halifax - living in a condemned trailer, trying to help others with similar issues while giving them somewhere to sleep. If you can I would like to get in contact with Walter and become a cyber pen friend. I saw in him much of how I was. I needed a friend and I would like to offer to Walter my friendship. One "Trauma" sufferer to another. Cheers! Keah in Ottawa

While in the UK, perhaps Mr. Harper will finally address the U.N. Apartheid / Genocide complaint filed by Ka-nyen-geh-ha-kah (Mohawk) Workers who seek redress for years of oppression including apartheid / genocide & restoration of a homeland. A May 20, 2013 “Victoria Day” meeting in New York between the Mohawk Workers of the Ouse / Grand River representing the Ka-nyen-geh-ha-kah (Mohawks) of Grand River and UN Special Rapporteur James Anaya in respect of an apartheid / genocide case against Canada, Walton International, and other entities remains a virtual secret in Canada. Perhaps these alleged crimes against the Queen's allies, the Mohawks will be finally raised and some clarity provided.