Matthew Scott

Its funny your bring this up Kendall P, I have been thinking of ways to start a program for veterans. Not trying to blow my own horn or anything but for back story I did a four year enlistment with the Marines starting in 2006. I did a deployment to Iraq and one to Afghanistan. I was with 2nd battalion 8th marines out of Camp Lejeune NC which is an Infantry battalion. We lost Marines on both deployments which is something I think about every day but it didn't stop there. We have lost many more Marines due to suicide that were deployed with my Battalion and have since returned to the states and moved away from the Corps. I often think what can I do to help fix this problem, because it is a problem but there doesn't seem to be a solution as it continues to happen. This is only one battalion of a big U.S. military, I don't care what branch of the military you come from something needs to be done about this growing problem. I struggled for years after leaving the military and had my own internal battles that I had to learn to live with. I think a lot of Veterans are struggling because they have such a void to fill. The void being the deaths of their brothers, not having the camaraderie they once had and also trying to find a job where they feel like they are being useful or making a difference. From my own journey through enlistment to deployment and then returning to the civilian world these are the struggles that I deal with everyday. Its not the same for everyone but I think that it would be very similar. I have made new friends but nothing can replace the relationships that were forged through sweat, blood and tears that I shared with my brothers in the military. Time is what I had when I was looking for a job, trying to go to college or just sitting around the house continually thinking and running through my military experiences. I think if we could reach out to the veterans and show them the way of the blacksmith we could help them fill their void of emptiness and despair. Nothing will every fill the void for us but there are ways to help change the empty feeling. When my forge is running and the metal is hot I can feel my emotions pouring from my body into the hammer and then into the metal. It has been such a positive experience for me, learning to blacksmith both mentally and physically. I want to share this with other veterans and I know that it can make a difference. This was a long post and I shared information that I would not normally share via the web. I feel that this topic has a chance to make a difference, even if it only helps once person or many. -MSR-

Its funny your bring this up Kendall P, I have been thinking of ways to start a program for veterans. Not trying to blow my own horn or anything but for back story I did a four year enlistment with the Marines starting in 2006. I did a deployment to Iraq and one to Afghanistan. I was with 2nd battalion 8th marines out of Camp Lejeune NC which is an Infantry battalion. We lost Marines on both deployments which is something I think about every day but it didn't stop there. We have lost many more Marines due to suicide that were deployed with my Battalion and have since returned to the states and moved away from the Corps. I often think what can I do to help fix this problem, because it is a problem but there doesn't seem to be a solution as it continues to happen. This is only one battalion of a big U.S. military, I don't care what branch of the military you come from something needs to be done about this growing problem. I struggled for years after leaving the military and had my own internal battles that I had to learn to live with. I think a lot of Veterans are struggling because they have such a void to fill. The void being the deaths of their brothers, not having the camaraderie they once had and also trying to find a job where they feel like they are being useful or making a difference. From my own journey through enlistment to deployment and then returning to the civilian world these are the struggles that I deal with everyday. Its not the same for everyone but I think that it would be very similar. I have made new friends but nothing can replace the relationships that were forged through sweat, blood and tears that I shared with my brothers in the military. Time is what I had when I was looking for a job, trying to go to college or just sitting around the house continually thinking and running through my military experiences. I think if we could reach out to the veterans and show them the way of the blacksmith we could help them fill their void of emptiness and despair. Nothing will every fill the void for us but there are ways to help change the empty feeling. When my forge is running and the metal is hot I can feel my emotions pouring from my body into the hammer and then into the metal. It has been such a positive experience for me, learning to blacksmith both mentally and physically. I want to share this with other veterans and I know that it can make a difference. This was a long post and I shared information that I would not normally share via the web. I feel that this topic has a chance to make a difference, even if it only helps once person or many. -MSR-