Veterans Groups
Military forces create a strong sense of unit pride and comradeship that is often difficult for civilians without the shared experiences to understand. Many Veterans Groups exist, some specifically for units, some for wars and campaigns. As time marches on, their numbers grew fewer, but we should always remember those that have fought for what they believed to be right.
Veterans Groups offer support and assistance to veterans or their relatives. They organise reunion events help individuals to keep in contact or meet former friends separated by time or geography.
Some veterans groups are state funded, others are registered charities funded by donations. Different countries are able to afford different levels of support for their veterans.
On occasion, they bring former enemies together showing that old hatreds can be changed and that time is also a great healer. It is possibly this type of meeting that gives us the greatest hope for the future. Will we be able to read the memoirs of a suicide bomber the same way we can read the memoirs of a kamikaze pilot?