Originally written in 2004 (the year of her father’s death, and one year after the Iraq war began) and updated in August of 2021, after 20 painful years in Iraq and Afghanistan. Quynn Elizabeth shares her father’s story of combat, family and PTSD. She hopes that other veterans and their loved ones might not have to wait 30 years to heal their painful feelings stemming from military trauma from any war, and through the generations. The illustrated pocket paperback hosts evocative illustrations by E Gentry.
Since 2004, “Accepting the Ashes” has helped many veterans and their families to recognize signs of Post Trauma Stress and has been used by The National Chaplain Center in its national program, the Veterans Community Outreach Initiative. Whether you are a veteran, loved one, co-worker or citizen of an allied troop country, “Accepting the Ashes” is for you. Included are 15 simple ideas to help people understand Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and move toward healing.
“Accepting the Ashes” does not attempt to diagnose or treat any veteran. It is written from the perspective of an adult daughter, honestly highlighting one man and how PTSD negatively affected him and his family. This short book originally released in 2004, with evocative illustrations by E. Gentry, is reissued in 2021 to acknowledge that 20 years has passed since 9/11/2001. The troop withdrawal from Afghanistan after a 20 year presence exacerbates the trauma of all who have given so much for their countries (both U.S. and Afghanistan), and we honor the memories of those who made the greatest sacrifice.
Order the Kindle version for 3.95 here.
Each page is to be digested slowly to let the message sink in. The advice is sound from my experiences with vets as an emergency physician and as a vet myself. A heart felt book well worth reading.
“Accepting the Ashes is both an easy read (short, to the point) and a difficult read, because of its truth and directness. The advice is straightforward and obviously comes from the heart. I applaud this book.”
COL CHARLES W. HOGE, M.D., (RET) PAST DIRECTOR OF PSYCHIATRY AND NEUROSCIENCE, WALTER REED ARMY INSTITUTE OF RESEARCH AND CO-AUTHOR OF “BATTLE MIND”.
