Weekly Connections with Brian Lafontaine July 27, 2025
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I grew up in a time when all young men were required to sign up for the draft at the age of 18. My four brothers all signed up and then enlisted for the required two-year term. Three of them went into the Air Force and one in the Army. My husband also signed up and then enlisted in the Army. Many of us have parents who served in previous wars. My father served in WWII. Today, we no longer have the draft, but Americans both male and female still feel the call to enlist to serve our country.
We must remember that our freedom came with a cost. Each day our focus on maintaining our country’s freedom continues to cost something to those who serve in the military. Some have given the ultimate sacrifice: their life for our freedom. That sacrifice leaves behind family and friends who grieve the loss and are left to put the pieces of their lives back together.
Those who serve make so many sacrifices. I heard someone share a statistic that greater than 60% of deployed soldiers are divorced. Their separation from their families, in addition to other factors, is a sacrifice that contributes to many of them feeling alone and defeated.
Others have experienced post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They struggle to get through the tasks of everyday life. The impact of PTSD leads to loss of control over themselves and their environment and often the loss of their family and friends.
Yet others have suffered the loss of one, two, or more limbs as well as other physiologic aspects of their person — forever changed. Their families also suffer shock and can be overwhelmed with this change in the situation. They feel the loss of the person that they knew before and are trying to put the pieces of their lives back together.
I do not propose to know everything about this topic, but I can provide some direction to allow each reader to learn a little more. I also encourage you to connect with your community to find out how you can support the military — those who have served and are still serving our country. Here are two resources that can get you started.
Richard’s Coffee Shop in Mooresville
Located on main street in Mooresville, this coffee shop and military history museum is dedicated to honoring America’s veterans, active duty personnel, and emergency services personnel. Anyone can come in and purchase something to eat and drink. You can browse around the items displayed. There is a list of needed items. You can make a note of the items needed and bring back your contributions to help those in need. Once when I was there. I saw group of men seated in a circle. They were all playing some kind of musical instrument and having a good time. It’s a place to honor and connect.
Community is important to healing. Stop by and check it out. Find some items to donate. Sit and chat with a veteran. Veterans are welcome to come for “Free Coffee Thursday.”
Field of Flags
One focus of this Club is “Americanism,” a dedication to support those in the military, past and present.
This year’s “Field of Flags” event will be held from July 1 – 5th at Lowe’s YMCA in Mooresville. Each American flag purchased is a celebration in honor/memory of a United States Veteran or First Responder. A ceremony on July 3rd at 5:00 pm will include a bagpipe rendition of Amazing Grace, each branch’s service song, and attendance by local dignitaries. At 6:15 pm, Rockie Lynne, founder of Tribute to the Troops will perform. FIREWORKS are at 9:15 pm.
Recognition of service and respect for each other is important to healing. Walk the rows of flags and read the names of those who have served. Thank a veteran, someone serving in the military currently, or a First Responder you know in your community for their service.
Another focus of the Club is to give back to those who served and are serving. Each year they support a “One Nation Under God” banquet. Instead of a sit-down event, the most recent one during COVID was done as a drive-through event. Volunteers provided boxed meals, desserts, goody bags, drinks, smiles, music, and more. Our veterans felt appreciated and part of a community.
Connections like this one with community help decrease the loneliness that abounds. This was especially true during the restrictions surrounding COVID.
Cheryl A. Barrett, RN, MSN, NC-BC, is a retired nurse with 30-plus years in a variety of settings: clinical bedside in ICU, staff educator, academic instructor both didactic and clinical, supervisor, home care education, editorial director of a nursing magazine and is a board certified integrative nurse coach.
In 2018 she published Good Grief: Strategies for Building Resilience and Supporting Transformation, inspired by the death of her husband. She won the American Journal of Nursing Book of the Year, 2018 in the category of Palliative Care and Hospice for her book. She is currently creating a companion workbook for those experiencing grief and loss.
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