July 4th Fireworks Can Be Jarring To War Veterans
NEW CITY, NY (WCBS 880) -- Patriotism aside, 4th of July fireworks can be jarring to veterans.
Rockland County Veterans Services coordinator Jerry Donnellan says 40 years after Vietnam, he still reacts to explosions. He says wants veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan to know he can get them help.
"Just a simple pack of firecrackers sounds like an automatic weapon to somebody whose been there," said Donnellan. "There are a lot of difficulties with post traumatic stress and things like that."
WCBS 880's Sean Adams reports: Donnellan Says On July 4th, Remember The Cost Of Freedom
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Donnellan understands that the 4th of July is a celebration marked by the rocket's red glare, but he also urges quiet reflection.
"Not that we have to hang around and be maudlin about the whole thing, but somewhere in that 24 hours, stop and think about the cost," he said.
A Long Island acupuncturist is also trying to help veterans. In Huntington at Acupuncture and Company, Deborah Hanley has been helping veterans who have post traumatic stress disorder.
WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reports: Acupuncturist Helps Veterans With PTSD
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"One of the point that we use is the sympathetic point and when you are in a trauma, that fight or flight sympathetic point stay engaged, so the acupuncture point helps to reset your system back to neutral," said Hanley.
Hanley helps veterans for free, including one man who had flashbacks from Vietnam.
