TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — As we honor veterans in the Big Bend area, we're also looking into issues they still face day-to-day.
From the Big Bend Homeless Coalition to Vet Events Tally, people throughout the Capital City are honoring veterans for the holiday, making sure to remember some are still struggling even they get home.
Dozens gathering at Florida's Capitol in honor of veterans who died in the Korean War.
"These names should never be forgotten," said Joe West. "Just like the 58,074 names that are on the wall in Washington DC. Those names need to be repeated because as long as you say those names, their spirit is still with us."
While these names signify the people whose battles were cut short, there are many for whom the war didn't stop after they returned.
"PTSD, a lot of them do have that," said John Folsom, Navy veteran. "They find it hard to adjust to the different types of authority here having everybody tell them what to do versus when they're in the military, they have a chain of command."
For vets battling post-traumatic stress disorder, there's help.
Folsom says from the county service office to Vets Village, the Big Bend area has resources that give a hand to veterans in need financially and mentally.
"These numbers are going lower and lower," Folsom said.
Last year, the North Florida Stand Down helped about 360 homeless and at-risk veterans.
While the pandemic stopped the groups from being held this year, Folsom says they are still making a difference in the community.
"The ones that were still homeless as of about a year ago were the ones that wanted to be homeless," said Folsom. "They didn't want to come out from the woods and under the bridges."
More than 150 people attended the Korean War memorial Wednesday morning.
Folsom says his next goal is to install a seven-foot-tall Prisoner of War bracelet in front of the Korean Memorial.
