by Rick Greene

MISSION GRANTS TEAM MEMBER

“To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” 

Ralph Waldo Emerson, poet

“What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.” Albert Pike, American author and poet

The church's Veteran and First Responders Group (VFR) was founded by member Jennifer Garvin when she was an intern at First Community. Anyone that wants to support the VFR community is welcome to attend or participate in any of the meetings or events. This group includes veterans from different branches of service and a few people who are of the Gold Star Community. Other participants include those who have not been in the service but have loved ones who served and want to provide support.

First Responders are individuals who have specialized training in emergency situations. In Ohio, they encompass a wide range of public safety professionals including law enforcement officers, paramedics, emergency medical technicians (EMS), and firefighters. These are the first people on the scene of an accident, disaster, medical emergency, military conflict, or fire- scenes that involve critical situations which are life threatening, stressful, and sometimes frightening. Often, first responders answer one emergency and immediately run to the next. The fast-paced tempo of being on the front lines sometimes prevents them from processing and dealing with traumatic events and experiences. In fact, many internalize their experiences, which leads to problems later in life.

The U.S. is home to around 16.5 million veterans, making up about 6.4% of the nation’s adult population, according to 2021 Census data. This marks a decrease of about half a percentage point from 2019 estimates, continuing a steady decline in the veteran population throughout the 21st century. Ohio is home to more than 700,000 veterans, 32,000 military personnel, and over 15,000 military-connected youth. That is over 6.8% of Ohio’s population. In 2025, the United States will recognize the 250th anniversary of the three largest branches of the military--Army (June), Navy (October), and Marines (November). These organizations were formed prior to the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Every year, this country recognizes the sacrifices of those who served in the Armed Forces in May (Memorial Day) and in November (Veterans Day). Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day and is a federal holiday honoring those who died while serving in the U.S. military. Its origins trace back to the Civil War, with the first national observance occurring on May 30, 1868, to decorate the graves of Union soldiers. Over time, the holiday expanded to include those who died in all U.S. wars and military actions. Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day and was first observed in 1919 to commemorate the agreement that ended the war. In 1954, the holiday was renamed Veterans Day to honor all American veterans of all wars, not just World War I. The VFR is currently discussing a recognition effort for Veterans Day.

Recently during the Memorial Day weekend (May 24-25), the VFR group of First Community Church had a Witness Tree Ceremony at FC South. This was a sacred time to honor those who have died as a result of their military service. Together, they reflected, remembered, and recognized the deep sacrifices made—not only by the service members but also their families and loved ones. This included hanging military-style Identification Tags ("dog tags") on a tree in the Prayer Garden, an opportunity to speak the name of a loved one or write their name on a tag, and a time for prayer, remembrance, and community connection. The writing of the names on the Identification Tag gives a visual representation to the loss.

Each day, veterans and active-duty military personnel lose their lives due to circumstances connected to their service. Twenty-two of them die by suicide daily. Countless others are lost to combat injuries, exposure to Agent Orange, burn pits, post-traumatic stress, and training incidents. Speaking to others promotes healing and lets others acknowledge the pain, which can be therapeutic. Members of VFR participate as individuals or with other organizations in events such as Central Ohio Veterans Stand Down, which assists veterans that may be struggling. 

The VFR group’s vision is to give service, to make sure that the freedoms we have today are honored and not taken lightly or wasted. Camaraderie is developed in both the military and first responders’ community. The sheer fact that someone has “walked the same ground” strikes conversations and friendships, and the group helps to develop these relationships and support systems. As one member of the group says, “Speaking from my own experience it was difficult to transition into the civilian world, and my path was much easier than most since my last duty assignments had me assigned in the civilian community.” He continues to say that his experience left him with an amount of baggage, and it took a few years and many jobs to find his path. He found it helpful sharing his journey with other veterans and sees the VFR group bringing veterans and non-veteran community closer. This group notes that the best way to do this is by giving service to the community, which will dispel prejudices and misunderstandings from all sides. Metamorphically speaking, participants and members are working to make string into rope… making us all stronger.

If you would like more information about the Veteran and First Responders Group, please contact Graham Webb.