On the eve of Memorial Day 2022, an estimated 90 SaddleBrooke Ranch (SBR) residents gathered at the Ranch House to honor the millions of men and women who have died in wartime conflicts while protecting our country’s freedoms. Featured speaker for the event, which was organized by Unit 10, was Roy Thompson, chairman of the SBR Veterans Club. Thompson achieved the rank of captain in the U.S. Army while flying 1,800 combat hours over Vietnam. He reminded the audience that casualties aren’t limited to the battlefield: “Every single day, 22 veterans take their own lives. That’s 22 suicides a day; a suicide every 65 minutes. As shocking as that number is, the actual number may be higher.” Thompson said veteran casualties that are most overlooked and forgotten are post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI).
The SaddleBrooke Ranch Veterans Club stands ready to provide assistance to any service veteran in need. The club is available at [email protected] or you may reach Roy directly at 805-368-8463.