Tag Archive: Chaplain Dan Doyle

Post Chaplain Dan Doyle Speaks on VFW Honor Guard

Post Chaplain Dan Doyle Speaks on VFW Honor Guard

Our Post Chaplain, Dan Doyle a Navy Corpsman and Fleet Marine Force veteran, has taken it upon himself to join what is becoming the South Shohomish County VFW Honor Guard. At the July Post meeting, Dan filled us in on the nature and functions of the Honor Guard.

Started as the Lynnwood Post1040 Honor Guard and still run by that Post, it was organized primarily to provide burial services to veterans in our area, but they also participate in other events, such as Wreaths Across America where appropriate. Demand for the group’s services has grown dramatically in recent years and as new volunteers are need to share the load, the group is morphing into a combined unit of all South County posts.

Members are uniformed, (funded by Post 1040) and rifles owned by all of the participating posts (8870 has three M1 Grarands) are utilized. While at least one excellent bugler is involved, but if you are a bugle/trumpet player, your services would be of value.

Doyle spoke of the satisfaction he has found in provided this service to grieving families and believes other members will appreciate the opportunity to serve.

For more information on how to get involved, contact Chaplain Doyle.

Veteran Suicide Epidemic

Chaplain Dan Doyleby Chaplain Dan Doyle

To say that war is hell is merely an aphorism, but to have lived through that hell is another thing altogether. To come back from that hell and to try to get back into the everyday realities of civilian life while still bearing the unhealed external and internal scars of that hell is more difficult than most can understand. It is important here to remember that all wounds are capable of being healed, if the proper conditions are offered. Currently we are experiencing an epidemic of veteran suicides. On average, 22 of our veterans are committing suicide each day.  Why is this happening? What is being done about it? I have written a series of two articles on this topic, which have just been published on my blog for theveteranssite.com.

[ed. note: Recent statistics on total suicides in the US show approximately 18% (based on the 22 per day quoted above) are veterans, a number far above the approximately 7% percent of the population veterans represent]

I have been writing for theveteranssite.com for the last seven years. The site raises money to feed homeless veterans, and offers lots of valuable veteran information. You can reach the site by going to theveteranssite.com. There is a blue “free” donation button on the homepage and, by clicking on that button, you generate funds from corporate sponsors, 100% of which goes to various organizations around the country that provide meals for homeless veterans. On the menu line of the homepage, second from the left, you will see the words “videos and stories,” click on that and a drop down menu appears. Click on “Notes from a Veteran” and that will take you to my blog. You will find the articles mentioned above, as well as many of the other articles I have written over the last few years.

Following is a direct link to the first of Dan’s two articles:

http://blog.theveteranssite.com/veteran-treatment/

Dan Doyle is a Vietam veteran who served as a Navy Corpsman with the Marine Corps.