June 27 is National PTSD Awareness Day, and June is PTSD Awareness Month. Post traumatic stress, or post traumatic stress disorder, is something many veterans need help navigating, after combat or other trauma experiences while in military service — no matter how long ago it occurred.

Former Congressman David Bonior, wants to extend a helping hand to Ukrainian vets who are newly going down the difficult road of dealing with their war experiences.

Bonior founded the Vietnam Veterans in Congress caucus and co-authored “Vietnam Veteran: a History of Neglect.” He coined VVA’s motto: “Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another.” He was a participant in discussions for the founding of Vietnam Veterans of America (chartered in 1986) with Bob Muller and John Terzano.

Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 154 and Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 9 have each allocated donations to establish or maintain programs and facilities in Ukraine for their Ukrainian fellow vets. Both chapters pledged $2,500.

Bonior recently visited the Veterans Support Center in Clinton Township and its veterans pantry run by VVA Chapter 154 and ask for support for Ukrainian vets.

“I am raising money for five counseling programs in Ukraine for combatants and their families. As a start I am hoping to send $5,000, to each of the six programs.

“It is primarily for PTSD therapy. Many of these guys have been under fire on the front for three years,” Bonior said.

“It’s very important that all veterans stick together,” Paul Palazzolo, president of VVA Chapter 9, said. “We fight for our countries and we need help when the war is over with to reestablish ourselves back into the civilian life. All veterans have that same problem no matter what country they live in and no matter what country they fight for. So Chapter 9 is trying to lead the way for the Ukrainians.”

Gary Purcell is president of VVA Chapter 154.

“When we Vietnam vets first came home, there was no one home for us. They were still calling PTSD ‘shell shock’ and there was no help for our vets from any of the services,” he said, adding when the chapter prepared to vote to donate $2,500, there was complete agreement.

“It’s the right thing to do when you can step up to make any vet’s life better,” Purcell said. “You have to take the time to care for our brothers and sisters in arms. The Ukrainians took up arms against a tyrant and asked for nothing but support, like munitions. Theirs is a brutal war.

“We know what it is to go without that kind of help. There are some of our guys who are not alive today because they did not get help for their PTSD. Some still relive it day after day and they got help from the VA or outside the VA to find out how to deal with it. Anything we can do to make their lives better so they can get through this is what we should do. It’s our duty as Vietnam veterans to make sure everybody gets what they need.”

Bonior and his wife, Judy, have made personal contributions to the cause and are asking veterans organizations and interested individuals to take part.

“Judy and I started it off with a $10,000 contribution and we were hoping to reach $30,000. But we soon reached $60,000. So we will continue to solicit. We have at least $10,000 for each group and may go higher. I hope to have it all packaged by mid-July and then send it off,” Bonior said.

Each receiving organization will a meet with Ukrainian veteran combatants when Bonior visits them in Ukraine in September.

“These guys in Ukraine have come forward to stop the Russians, and the casualties have been heavy. I want these Ukrainian vets to see the fabulous chapters at 154 and 9,” Bonior said.

Bonior, originally from Detroit, who has Ukrainian and Polish heritage, would like to see an in-person meeting between the Vietnam and Ukrainian vets.

“Focusing support for mental health in Ukraine, especially the PTSD aspect of it, is something we may be able to do. The need is great,” he said.

“My Polish father often would encourage me by saying in Polish ‘Nigdy sie nie poddawa’ which translates to ‘never give up.’ I know the Ukrainians have similar feelings about the struggle which has been engrained in them for centuries. Ukrainian resilience and courage are hallmarks of their character which is recognized universally, and in the end will produce the victory over evil. Slava Ukraine!,” he said.

There are veterans’ hubs and centers, and foundations in Ukraine such as one at the Ukrainian Catholic University.

A Feb. 13 article in Stars and Stripes by Matthew M. Burke reported a large Ukrainian veterans service organization, the Veterans Hub, that provides free mental health services and a suicide prevention support line — among other services — struggles to stay open due to a freeze and spending review of aid from several U.S. State Department programs. Many of the group’s 100 employees are former soldiers and family members of the hundreds of thousands who have been wounded or killed in the war. The support line receives more than 1,300 calls monthly, the article stated.

Anyone can help the cause — and the effort has expanded to helping kidnapped and traumatized children also — by joining the U.S. and Ukrainian Veterans Partnership.

“Those of us who are U.S. veterans of the Vietnam War remember well working to help our fellow veterans who suffered PTSD after fighting in Vietnam,” Bonior, who worked in food service in the U.S. Air Force, said. “As a member of the U.S. Congress back in the 1970s and 1980s we passed legislation that became law and provided counseling therapy for our veterans. We know that good therapy can make a significant difference in the life of combatants and of children who have been in or near war.”

Checks may be sent to: Ukraine Charitable Platform, 2247 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago IL 60622. The memo line of the checks should indicate “Bonior appeal for PTSD aid.”

Websites for the charities that will receive the donations are: caritas.eu/caritas-ukraine; saveukraineua.org; warm.if.ua/en; ucu.edu.ua/en/news/uku-stvoryuye-ofis-u-spravah-veteraniv-ta-yihnih-rodyn; https://linktr.ee/Mishasangels; and veterans.od.ua/en

The Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Center for PTSD supports veterans and others who may be affected by PTSD and trauma-related symptoms. The starting page is at: ptsd.va.gov/index.asp

Offered are talk therapies or psychotherapies, medication, nutrition and supplements, massage or hot and cold therapy, mindfulness and spirituality, yoga, meditation, tai chi, qigong, breathing techniques, acupuncture, and magnetic stimulation.

A PTSD mobile app is at: ptsd.va.gov/appvid/mobile/ptsdcoach_app.asp

Veterans who have PTSD might research having a specially trained service dog. Some K-9 training organizations based in Michigan are at: k9sforwarriors.org; and bluestarservicedogs.org; and vsdo.us/contact

The Macomb County Community Mental Health’s Wellness Recovery Action Plan, or WRAP, has support groups 5-7 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month at MCCMH North, 43740 N. Groesbeck Highway, Clinton Township, or Zoom ID: 897 2864 8651 Passcode: 414374. Reservations are appreciated. Contact the Veteran Peer Support Specialist at 586-246-7679 or mccmh.net@wearemccmh.

The Macomb County Veterans Navigator from Macomb County Community Mental Health is Diana Laskey at diana.laskey@mccmh.net or 586-200-7888.

“There is the Macomb County Vet Center, located on Garfield, just south of 19 Mile,” Laskey, a U.S. Air Force veteran, said.

“They are funded through the VA but located intentionally in the community,” she said. “They offer free mental health counseling, groups, and other supportive services to veterans and actively serving members who have experienced combat, who have a diagnosis of PTSD, have experienced military sexual trauma, or for family members who lost loved ones in the line of duty. They also help veterans with readjustment back into civilian society. It’s a great program and veterans don’t have to be enrolled in the VA to utilize their services.”

See va.gov/macomb-county-vet-center/ or call 586-412-0107.

Other resources for veterans and their families are: Vets Returning Home: 586-285-5606; Michigan Veteran Affairs Agency: 800-MICH-VET (800-642-4838); National Call Center for Homeless Veterans Veterans Crisis and Suicide Prevention Hotline: 988, option 1.

Send news of service clubs and veterans organizations to Linda May at lindamay@ameritech.net or call landline 586-791-8116.