FARMINGTON — When Michael Smilek’s son, Justin, stepped off the plane that brought him home from Afghanistan, he realized something was wrong.
Gone was Justin’s smile, and the look in his eyes was different.
There are 150,000 veterans in Maine, and more are expected to return soon from the global war on terrorism. They return with a variety of issues that affect their reintegration into society, he said.
“Society doesn’t recognize a vet’s problems are unique,” he said. “Unless you’ve been to war, you don’t have a clue what problems they face.”
Society needs to know about the issues vets and their families encounter in order to help, he said.
“When troops come home, the question is will we be prepared or are we just going to ignore them?” Smilek said. “The answer is: we will be prepared.”
A better understanding of these issues is the basis of a free conference, Bringing Worlds Together, planned for 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sept. 15 at the University of Maine at Farmington. It is open to veterans, their families, service providers and anyone interested, said Jerry DeWitt, Veterans Outreach Coordinator for Franklin, Oxford and Androscoggin counties. He is serving this year as a VISTA volunteer in Lewiston with host agency, Tri-County Mental Health Services, which is sponsoring the conference.
DeWitt and Smilek are two of a small committee who have spent nearly a year planning the conference. It features two speakers and several sessions that address some of these vet issues.
Keynote speaker and clinical psychologist Anne Freund of Florida authored, “Taming the Fire Within: Life After War.” The book centers on the “natural reactions virtually all war veterans’ experience after they return home from the war zone.”
Speaker and Maine soldier Matthew Pennington was injured in Iraq. He created a film that “portrays and injured veteran’s transition back into the workplace.”
Participants will choose from 18 sessions provided by professionals and lay people, such as Smilek and his wife, Lorna. They, along with Paula Widmer, licensed clinical social worker of Wilton, will discuss families living with veterans who have post traumatic stress disorder.
Farmington resident Doug Rawlings of Veterans for Peace and Dovey Balsam of Industry, mother of a veteran, will lead one. So will Lewiston Police Department Deputy Chief James Minkowsky, who addresses veteran interaction with law enforcement on how to bridge the gap.
Other topics include traumatic brain injury, working with older veterans, and veterans benefits.
According to state records, there are 2,600 veterans in Franklin County but no services are provided, DeWitt said. There are few services in the Western Mountains region, he tries to provide better understanding for the vet, civilian and professionals, including service providers and law enforcement.
Most vets in rural areas turn to private mental health providers who know the basis of treatment but they may not have a good understanding of this special clientele and the issues they run into, said DeWitt, who retired from the military after 28 years.
“We’re at the tip of the iceberg at the moment,” he said.
With 20 percent of today’s military made up of women veterans, many married with children when they are deployed, it can be overwhelming for the family and can result in the break-up of the marriage, he said.
“The Veterans Administration is overwhelmed, understaffed and underfunded,” Smilek said. He acted as a guide for his son through the maze of the Veterans Administration.
“Those who need…many wait in line but may never receive help,” he said.
UMF provided space free for the conference, and the United Way of the Tri-Valley Area gave financial support. Certificates for conference attendance will be given for course study.
Anyone in Maine is welcome. Nearly 50 have registered. DeWitt hopes for a couple hundred.
People may register at the conference or for preregistration or more information, contact him at 783-4663 ext. 228 or email: jdewitt@tcmhs.org or visit www.tcmhs.org
abryant@sunjournal.com
What: Bringing Worlds Together, a free conference for military veterans, family, community members and service providers.
When: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15
Where: Olsen Student Center and Roberts Learning Center at the University of Maine at Farmington
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- A free conference for military veterans, their families, the community and service providers is planned for Sept. 15 at the University of Maine at Farmington. Michael Smilek, a member of the conference planning committee, discussed it Friday after viewing memorials in Meetinghouse Park in Farmington.
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- A free conference for military veterans, their families, the community and service providers is planned for Sept. 15 at the University of Maine at Farmington. Michael Smilek, a member of the conference planning committee, discussed the event Friday after viewing memorials in Meetinghouse Park in Farmington.
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