Valley News Live: Fireworks Fun; Not For Everyone

When Stewart returned she was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, better known as PTSD. And the days leading up to it can be just as bad. Some vets say signs like these will help make the holiday a lot easier to celebrate.

Army National Guard Veteran Chad Johnson served 14 years overseas.

Eric Calley fought in Iraq, but the memories have followed him home.

“Practice listening to loud booms or fireworks, watching fireworks displays, they can be practicing breathing or other relaxation techniques”, Dr. Erica White said.

“It’s not just a firework to us. You know common courtesy can go a long way when you’re talking about July 4 and our veterans”. “You know I jump if I hear a vehicle backfire sometimes”, he explained.

Charlie Joseph is a Valley Vietnam veteran living with PTSD. “To the point that they became so defensive to those noises for survival”, he says.

If you are a veteran or the loved one of a veteran and need any type of help, please reach out to the Veterans Crisis Line any time of day. It also allows the veteran to feel a sense of connection and understanding with his neighbors.

The group Military with PTSD has launched a campaign called Explosion of Kindness that uses lawn signs to raise awareness and start conversations about the unintended consequences that fireworks can have.

“For some veterans the fireworks are a severe trigger and for some veterans it’s a moderate or mild trigger”.

Rhoades said he wants everyone to have fun this weekend, but to also be more thoughtful about the impact of excessive noise on those who have experienced combat. Light off as many as you want.

“This is a conversation that’s needed to happen for a very long time”, Gourley said.

It was a big step for Evans Wednesday night when he took his daughter to see a fireworks show.