Shouldn’t we honor all who served?

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City of Battle Ground officials, community leaders, area veterans and residents gathered on March 11 at Kiwanis Park for the ceremonial groundbreaking of the Battle Ground Veterans Memorial.

It was one of the few cloudy and damp days we’ve had recently, but the significance of the event shined bright. The creation of the memorial has not happened overnight. It has taken a great deal of effort by a great many to make it a reality. Funding for the memorial is solely dependent on public donations and contributions. Those folks who have made the memorial possible should be commended.

The memorial is expected to be completed by the end of the year. It will honor all known veterans who were residents within the boundary of the Battle Ground School District who died in service to our country. The memorial will also have a place for engraved bricks to recognize any veteran, living or deceased, who served their country and protected our freedom. Those bricks can be purchased for $250.

I have shared with you before in this space that I never served in the military. My father and brother served in the U.S. Navy and my nephew was a Staff Sergeant in the Air Force. He received a Silver Star “for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity of action.’’

Those who organized the Battle Ground Veterans Memorial were careful to follow appropriate military criteria for the memorial.

“It’s a military criteria for those who died in service on the battlefield during a conflict,’’ said Debbi Hanson, Parks & Recreation director for the City of Battle Ground. “When the City Council (members) directed the Park Advisory Board to design and construct and oversee the Veterans Memorial, it was determined that it would honor those people from the area who died in service. We decided local would be anyone who lived in the Battle Ground School District area.’’

I have nothing but praise for the staff and others who are responsible for making the memorial a reality in Battle Ground. I guess I was naive in that I didn’t realize it, and most veterans memorials, honored just those veterans who died in service. Maybe it’s not practical, but why aren’t we honoring everyone who served?

I spent some time this week interacting with Charlotte Jolma, the mother of Brandon Jolma, who served as a Lance Corporal in the United States Marine Corps. Jolma grew up in Battle Ground before he served our country, seeing combat in Iraq.

Brandon returned home after his service and Charlotte said he struggled mightily with PTSD. He was treated. He was medicated. He battled for eight years before taking his own life.

I know we’re not supposed to glorify suicide, and I’m not. But, many of you are likely aware of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ study published in 2013 that revealed there are 22 veterans who die by suicide each day in this country. Many are older and not all served in combat like Brandon Jolma did.



That’s a staggering statistic, no matter how you dissect it. I recognize there is a great deal of respect and appreciation in our country for those who served, but no matter how much exists, it’s not enough. I’m as guilty, or more guilty, than anyone else in not taking more time to honor those who served.

When I hear Charlotte talk about Brandon it breaks my heart.

“He was different when he came home,’’ Charlotte said of her son. “We just weren’t aware. I didn’t have any idea. We weren’t a military family. I knew he was angry, but he had a way of slipping out of situations by telling a joke.

“It’s something to have your child go to war and then come home,’’ Charlotte added. “You know you’re going to have to pick up the pieces.’’

And, that’s much more difficult to do in the face of the stigma that is attached to suicide, whether it’s committed by a veteran or another.

Brandon Jolma’s name won’t be on the Battle Ground Veterans Memorial. It’s not because he committed suicide. It’s because he didn’t die in combat. I’m not going to get into a conversation about connecting the dots between his service and his death eight years later, although I don’t see how anyone can deny there is a connection.

I’m also not saying those who organized the memorial did anything wrong. The Jolma family will likely purchase a brick to honor Brandon at the Battle Ground Veterans Memorial. Again, it just might not be practical, but I just don’t see how the names of any veterans can be left off any memorial.

Charlotte Jolma just wants to start a conversation about veterans who served and later suffered as a result. I think that’s appropriate. Isn’t it the least we can do?

Ken Vance

Editor