US Marine Corps veteran Sherman Gillums, Jr., Executive Director of Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) at the time of this recording, discusses how to get beyond the phrase “thank you for your service” and really treat veterans well. Gillums was about to deploy to Afghanistan when he sustained a cervical spine injury that left him paralyzed. After going through two years of successful rehabilitation, he pursued a career advocating for veterans with disabilities. In today’s show he tells us why he joined the military and he discusses the work of PVA. He also talks about his own caregiver—his wife, an Afghanistan war veteran—how the Veterans Administration’s caregiver support program works and why it needs an overhaul, and the many ways we can show veterans we truly appreciate their service.
Paralyzed Veterans of America website: http://www.pva.org
Articles mentioned in the show: “It’s Time to Expand VA Support To All Military Caregivers” (5/16/17), Sherman Gillums, Jr.: http://bit.ly/2rcZHrd
“Why Veteran Treatment Matters” (5/12/17), Sherman Gillums, Jr.: http://bit.ly/2rDvBNG
Music: “Raindrops In My Mind” by Letmeknowyouanatole | CC BY SA | Free Music Archive
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