By Sarah Hall
Editor
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, somewhere between 10 and 18 percent of veterans of the War on Terror suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
“Approximately 22 veterans commit suicide every day,” said Heather Graham, benefit coordinator for Victory for Vets, an annual music festival that raises money to help vets affected with the condition. “We feel very strongly that the community, as a whole, should work together to ensure that those who have served to protect the freedoms we all have are given all the resources they need to move forward after their military service is done.”
Graham and Rick Carlesco, both of Liverpool, started Victory for Vets in 2014 as a way to give back to local veterans. Originally conceived as a simple barbecue, the event evolved into an annual music festival to raise money for Clear Path for Veterans, a Chittenango nonprofit that provides support for returning veterans, including peer-to-peer support, classes, service dogs and more.
Victory for Vets focuses on raising awareness of PTSD, an often-silent disability triggered by a traumatic event. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event. While PTSD can happen to anyone who has experienced trauma, it’s particularly common in veterans; in addition to the many vets from Afghanistan or Iraq impacted by the condition, 10 percent of Gulf War vets and 30 percent of Vietnam vets suffer from PTSD, though it occurs in approximately 7 to 8 percent of the general population.
“It is important to realize that veterans who suffer from PTSD do not have an ‘ailment.’ They have a battlefield injury, and they need more effective treatment so that they can live productive, safe and happy lives when they return home to their families,” Graham said. “Our mission is not so much to do the work to help heal our service men and women, but to help create awareness and provide funds that are vital to those groups who support and help heal our veterans.”
This year’s event will take place from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, at Sharkey’s Sports Bar on Route 57 in Liverpool. (See sidebar for the lineup.) In addition to a performance from 1980s recording act John Waite, former member of The Babies and Bad English who had a solo hit with “Missing You,” the festival includes several local bands, as well as basket raffles, silent auctions and 50-50 raffles. Food, drinks and souvenirs are available for purchase.
While general admission tickets have always been available and can be purchased for $20, this year festival organizers are offering reserve seat tickets ranging in price from $50 to $100. Tickets can be purchased online at ticketor.com/v4v.
Also new this year is a bike ride called “Rolling Thunder” that will precede the opening ceremony. The ride will feature local riders arriving at Sharkey’s at 2:30 p.m., a color guard, a 21-gun salute and a performance of the national anthem by Terry Bender.
“Victory For Vets is committed to helping our local veterans, particularly those who suffer with the effects of post-traumatic stress,” Graham said. “The money that we raise helps provide service dogs and training for veterans in our community. Once trained, the dogs assist in allowing them to lead productive lives both with their families and in the community.”
All money raised goes toward Clear Path’s Dogs2Vets program. The goal of the program is for an accepted veteran who suspects he or she has PTSD or who has experienced military sexual trauma to train his or her own dog to become a service dog.
All veterans are accepted into the program, regardless of their disability status, and dogs are selected from shelters and matched with veterans based on their specific needs and interests, although exceptions are made if the veteran already owns a dog.
“In the first two years, we have donated almost $35,000, which was all designated for Clear Path’s Dogs 2 Vets Program,” Graham said. “The cost for a dog and veteran to go through the complete training program is about $10,000.”
Organizers hope that this year’s event will add even more to that total, as well as continue to raise awareness of the struggles faced by returning veterans.
“Over the last three years, we have seen the awareness and the support in the community grow,” Graham said. “That is truly our ultimate goal — to get the community involved in supporting our veterans and to be able to donate more every year to ensure the veterans in our local area receive the support services they need.”
Graham encouraged people to reach out to vets and let them know their sacrifices are appreciated.
“If you see a vet out in your daily travels, say thank you, shake their hand, buy them a meal, support local events like Victory For Vets to help raise the money that is so desperately needed to fund programs and organizations that help our veterans every day,” said Graham, who is herself the mother of a vet. “Alone, we may not be able to do much, but together, we can join our resources and make sure that our veterans know that we care, and that we are thankful for all they do and have done to protect our freedoms.”
