By Daniele Amandolini

It was not more than a few weeks ago when President Trump allegedly told a veteran’s widow that her late husband “knew what he signed up for.”

The idea that death in battle is to be expected was soon debunked — only one out of every 5000 soldiers lost their lives in Afghanistan or Iraq since 9/11 — but that doesn’t mean that the pain will vanish once back home.

Like many, Linda Strout Lajoie wasn’t aware of the extent of that pain. Not until her 22-year-old son, Dustin, an Afghanistan veteran, took his life in December 2014.

PTSD is a whole new battlefield for a veteran, one that no training will prepare him or her for because it’s so personal. Most will conceal the pain, hide the signs, and go through this alone… until it’s too much.

Every day, approximately 20 veterans commit suicide. It’s an astonishing number, but one that doesn’t tell the whole story. For this reason, Ms. Lajoie developed the Silhouette Project, consisting of a collection of life-size silhouettes with pictures and memories of Maine veterans who lost their lives to PTSD.

I was able to visit the exhibition, on display in the SMCC Library in the Campus Center during Veterans Day week, and read through the book containing photos and biographies of the fallen veterans. Although many of them took their lives in their early 20s, soon upon returning from service and unable to outlive the horrors of war, I was surprised to see some who lived into their 40s or even 60s: It shows that it doesn’t get any easier. And that time won’t simply heal the wounds.

It was hard to go through their stories, and some of the details really stuck with me. Even in their waning moments, they kept thinking about others, whether it’s making sure their organs would be donated or sharing a few written words with their families to make sure they knew they’d done everything for them. This kind of generosity and altruism is what should be remembered, and something that a cold statistic will never convey.

This is why this exhibition was so powerful and moving. As it leaves SMCC to continue touring around Maine, its legacy can live on in raising awareness on the struggle that veterans face every day of their lives. Ms. Lajoie set up a Facebook page so you can learn about the resources available and contribute with a donation to the more than 400 organizations devoted to helping veterans with PTSD.

Visit Amy Lainoff, coordinator of student success and VA certifying official, in the SMCC advising office to learn more about our school’s support to veterans.

Check out the Silhouette Project on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themainesilhouetteproject/