'Reaching for Spirit,' 2010. Catherine Herrera.

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This week, we all celebrated Veteran’s Day. I saw a lot of Facebook posts thanking relatives for their service. One person clarified how he ended up in the army – the judge said four years there or four years in jail.

I do think about all my relatives that served in wars, and give great thanks to them for their service.

Ohlone Veterans Honoring 2010. Catherine Herrera.

I try to stay on the patriotic, yet, I read this week that our country is currently spending $700 billion, near 50% of all the country’s income, on defense. I think about our future, and wonder what the heck we are doing. As someone who grew up with no wars, this generation has had to make it up. Two and possibly, a third war.

Sometimes I wish those advocating for more war would sit down to practice their speeches with their grandchildren, to really make them think about what they are saying.

'Peace is Patriotic.' Photo by Catherine Herrera. 2010.

Isn’t this the rub? The desire for peace and yet, the need to honor those who served. I, like everyone, feels such a responsibility to veterans who have protected us, and in the case before us, are doing what they are told even if the people who got them into the war lied.

I read this week from Aaron Glantz that WWII veterans appear to have a higher suicide rate than even today’s veterans. The article pointed out just how many of that generation never got the mental health services and understanding that veterans of later wars experienced, when PTSD had been found and could be diagnosed. Those WWII veterans missed out on those services, and the trauma remains for many today. Young veterans now still face hurdles for obtaining care for PTSD, despite changes in VA coverage. The combined generational suffering breaks my heart.

'Warriors Medal of Honor.' Catherine Herrera

Its why I made a point last Sunday to push myself out of the house to be at the Ohlone Veterans Honoring, held November 07, 2010, in San Francisco, in collaboration with the Veterans Association of San Francisco. Chief Tony Cerda awarded the Warriors Medal of Honor to many veterans, and, paid special tribute to each.

This Sunday, there was a special honoring for a young man, Reuben Paul Santos, who lost his battle with PTSD, taking his own life in 2009. Reuben shared in poetry and with family, as much as he could, just how overwhelmed he felt by the recovery process and set backs. The pain in his brother’s eyes when he received Reuben’s medal was enough to swear me to saying publicly I am against war and its awful, terrible toil on souls who seek nothing more than to honor their country. My heart breaks that so many young people, a whole new generation, and perhaps two, will be scarred by this rush towards war with lies. Please read more about this young person Reuben Paul Santos who shared with words of poetry his spirit as a warrior and the awful result of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Aaron Glantz of New American Media and The Bay Citizen has done a series of articles on veterans that seeks to better inform the public about issues facing veterans of this and other wars.

Sunday, I saw such warmth and caring among today and yesterday’s veterans. I come back from the macro and go to the people here before us, the veterans of all wars, to see their healing, their overcoming of obstacles, their reaching out to others to speak of the unspeakable, and move to a place of recovery.

My wish? Some day we will never force war on another generation. No culture on earth has escaped this trauma. What is it about humans? Will we ever move beyond to Peace? For all of humanity’s advances, for all humanity has achieved, not one country, nation or state has been able to evolve yet beyond war. Will we ever see the day? This is my prayer for healing.

Mary Jean Robertson (Cherokee)  and Neil McClean, of the Ohlone Profiles Project, worked tirelessly in collaboration with the Ohlone and  the Veterans for eight months to bring about Sunday’s honoring. 2010 is the first of a four-year ceremony.

'Mary Jean Robertson (Cherokee) mc's with a flair.' Ohlone Veterans Honoring Ceremony 2010. Catherine Herrera

Chief Tony Cerda made his top priority the honoring of veterans as one of the key events the Ohlone will carry forth during this four- year ceremony marking the return of the Ohlone to San Francisco. Tony Cerda is a direct descendant of documented Ohlone members at San Francisco’s Mission Dolores. Chief Cerda continues traditional Ohlone ceremonies and brings together modern-day collaborations to promote the healing.

'Healing Collaborations,' Ohlone Veterans Honoring 2010. Catherine Herrera.