The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/830613
B-8 Local Wednesday, May 31, 2017 The Press-Dispatch HALF PRICE ONE YEAR WARRANTY ON FRAMES AND LENSES! Purchase a complete set of glasses, and get the second pair Corner of 6th and Main, Petersburg 812-354-3331 We accept most insurances! DR. RAMSEY'S VISION CENTER Evening and Saturday Appointments available. and Children's Frames 2017 FARMERS MARKET June 3 from 9am-Noon NEW LOCATION: Petersburg, on 8th street next to Main street. ere will be some lettuce, green beans and other cool seasonal veggies for you to pick up and take home. is will be a so opening so please come back as more veggies come in to season, the market will continue to grow! is year, the market will have face painting for the kids, great selection of fresh vegetables, eggs, meat, baked goods, and possibly some music. Check out the Pike County Farmers Market Association Facebook page to see what will be happening each week. Pregnant... or think you are? Call:1-877-257-1084 or Locally Call: 1-812-354-2814 • Free pregnancy testing • Free counseling and info. on pregnancy options. • Confi dential counseling for women & men who are suff ering from post-abortion syndrome. • Residential Care • Health and assistance referrals. • Training and education. • Assistance in getting baby and maternity clothes washpcc@sbcglobal.net www.washingtonpregnancycenter.com The Petersburg Coleman-Stewart Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3587 members gave the 21-gun salute following the Memorial Day presentation at Wal- nut Hills Cemetery this past Monday. From left to right are: Reno Richardson (U.S. flag), Don Southwood (VFW colors) and rifles, Tim Harden, Tom Hensler, Jim White, Woody Shoultz, Mike Howard, Steve Pride, D.R. Minnis and bugler Jack Fulcher. Sgt. Roger Brittain (not pictured) commanded the firing squad. Andy Heuring photo By Andy Heuring Local Pastor and soldier Mark Schlecty told veterans and those attending the Me- morial Day ceremony at Wal- nut Hills Cemetery in Pe- tersburg that "secrets kill." He wasn't talking about National Security secrets, weapons or technology se- crets. Instead Schlecty was talking about the dark ter- rible experiences they have endured and kept to them- selves for years or even de- cades. He said 22 veterans a day commit suicide in the United States. Schlecty, a soldier, grew up the son of a Korean War vet and the grandson of a grandmother that ran the Soldiers and Sailors House, which he explained was a psychiatric hospital for vet- erans who were transition- ing from VA care to being on their own. He says he isn't an expert on mental health, but as a pastor and veteran who has traveled the world to talk to military chaplains in A frica, he knows some- thing about mental health. Schlecty talked about a friend of his named Grover. He said Grover was a veter- an who took part in the in- vasion of France as Ameri- can troops liberated France from the grip of Hitler and his Nazi troops. Schlecty met Grover while pastoring in Michigan. Even though they became great friends, he said, "Grover never told me what was eating at him, but I knew that even though he knew his sins were forgiv- en, there were things that he did that he could not for- give himself for. Grover died with unresolved guilt and se- crets," said Schlecty. Schlecty said he suffered from "night terrors" until May of 2016. He explained they were dreams so vivid and real "they rob us of our peace." He continued, "My is- sues were not combat relat- ed. They were the result of other extreme trauma in my life." Schlecty said he final- ly realized he had to come to terms with these issues when one night as he was asleep, his wife came to bed, he awoke and thought she was attacking him, and he hit her before he real- ized what he was doing. "I had never really talked with anyone about my terrors be- fore this." But this event caused him to seek help. "I went to a friend and told him about my terrors. I have been mi- raculously healed twice. The first time was a trau- matic brain injury, the oth- er time was emotional heal- ing. It has been around a year since I prayed with my friend and have not experi- enced a night terror since." Schlecty said too many veterans use the phrase: "You can't understand un- less you have been there," as an excuse for not wanting to talk or deal their issues. "There is some truth to that, but it is also not true," said Schlecty. "A person may not understand, but they can certainly empathize. I have worked with children who have been abused, firefight- ers, law enforcement, for- mer gang members. What I have found out is many of these people have the same symptoms of those of us who have been in the pit of hell and came home." "They have seen things we have seen. They have walked away while others never made it out." "I say all this to get to my main point. We lose 22 of our brothers and sisters each day to suicide. I am called in way too often to help peo- ple through after one of our troops have taken their own life because they thought no one could understand, no one cared, or life couldn't get any better." "I'm living proof that there is freedom from our demons. I'm not saying I have it all figured out, and everyone who knows me knows I'm crazier than a pet raccoon. But there is hope." Schlecty said while he was in South Sudan teach- ing chaplains the Book of James, he talked with a commander there and asked him about suicide. He was told they don't have any suicides. The commander gave two reasons why they don't have suicides. He said the first was "his chaplains have a growing relation- ship with Jesus." Schlec- ty said the second answer stuck with him. He said, "We never leave the battle. You teach your people to kill and then after their tour is up, you send them home and tell them everything they learned and went through is now unacceptable." "That, my friends, is why our women and men come home and can't adjust. We teach them how to survive in combat, but not how to convert that nervous ener- gy and adrenaline into some- thing useful to society. Schlecty acknowledged the US military is getting better at helping vets adjust to coming home. But added, "We have to keep the pres- sure on our leaders to do a better job of taking care of our men and women when they come home." He again implored veter- ans to not keep their secrets. "Vets, secrets kill. I know you can't tell everything. I am chaplain at Crane, and I can't tell everything I know either, but even if a person hasn't been there, they can still be a support and part of your healing." Schlecty urges veterans to shed their secrets at Memorial Day service Featured speaker Mark Schlecty, of the Petersburg Free Methodist Church, shakes hands with Bill Slaven and his wife, Jeree, prior to the service starting. VFW Commander Ray Stillwell emceed the extended Memorial Day cere- mony at Walnut Hills Cemetery, along with the traditional flag presentation, firing squad and TAPs being played. Sherry Howard placed a wreath honor- ing war mothers and lead the Lords Prayer. Rev. Mark Schlecty was the fea- tured speaker. Marge Tharp, Joy Smith and Sherry O'Neal re- cite the "Pledge of Allegiance" during the Walnut Hills ceremony.