VFW VA Post Directory

VFW Post 1503 Opens Its Doors to Help Ease PTSD

Posted at 01:31 PM on Friday, July 17, 2009 by VFW Posts: Virginia

Recently, participants of the PTSD Program at Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center in Richmond, Va., dropped in on VFW Post 1503 in Dale City on their way home from visiting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. They met many Post members and had a great time sharing lunch and swapping stories about their days in the service. John Benesek, unit director and clinical psychologist said, "Trips like Tuesday’s are therapeutic simply because they are with other veterans." According to Benesek, most of these veterans will not go to a Post with family and often feel anxious in large crowds. However, it seems that having other veterans around makes it a more relaxed and pleasurable experience.

This isn’t the first time Post 1503 has welcomed the PTSD unit. Last year, the unit took a trip to Arlington National Cemetery and stopped by the Post for a bite to eat. Last month, the Post got word that the PTSD unit was coming through town again, and of course, was pleased to welcome the group with open arms.

….Post 1503 makes frequent trips to the neighboring McGuire’s PTSD and spinal cord units. In fact, Mike Lowe, Post commander, estimates that they visited more than�@20 times in the past year. Post members and officers come loaded with supplies like mouthwash and shampoo for the patients. They even provide entertainment.

Lowe said, "Our job is to get them laughing, get them talking