By Williamson County Commissioner Lisa Birkman
The terrible tragedy that occurred hit very close to home for many county residents. Williamson County just south of Fort Hood is home to more than 50000 veterans many of whom served or trained at Fort Hood including my father Marvin Lackey. He is a retired colonel who served multiple tours there. I lived on base as a child for several years and as an adult I visit the base on occasion. I was born at Darnall Army Hospital on the base at Fort Hood where the man charged in the crimes by the military as the shooter worked and also where many of the wounded were treated.
My parents like many retired military members go there regularly still. Quite a few county residents work in Killeen and/or are the spouses of active duty military members based out of Fort Hood.
For all of us Fort Hood has always been a safe place. For one of our own Army officers to commit this terrible act is quite frankly unthinkable.
Since the tragedy many have voiced concern for the mental health of the military men and women who are on active duty or who are veterans.
Williamson County and the United States in general has seen an increase in the amount of mental health crisis calls involving the military as more and more cases of post-traumatic stress disorder are being diagnosed.
Because we have such close ties to Fort Hood the countys mobile outreach team of mental health counselors and the sheriffs crisis intervention team report that more and more often these days they are called to the scene of a veteran or active-duty military member in a mental health crisis.
Dr. Kathryn Kotrla associate dean and professor of psychiatry at the Texas A&M Health Science Center in Round Rock serves on the countys Mental Health Task Force along with me and many others.
She has worked hard on the issue of caring for the mental health of the military and their families for years and recommends folks visit
www.texvet.com a Web site with a wealth of information and resources.
We have also worked with her and U.S. Rep. John R. Carter R-Round Rock to apply for a federal grant for a veterans peer counseling program. We hope we will be awarded that in the coming months.
Additionally the county has a Web site
www.wilcomentalhealth.org with information on local resources.
Many folks in the county have been involved in the Adopt-a-Unit program with Fort Hood. Commissioner Valerie Covey has led that effort for the county and says it has been the most rewarding part of her job so far. She recently spearheaded the donation of cookies to the soldiers and their families at Fort Hood for Veterans Day.
These sorts of small gestures mean a lot to those who serve all of us. I attended several Veterans Day events recently and at each one I was told how much it means to the vets and their families to be acknowledged and remembered.
The mother of Matthew T. Morris of Cedar Park who was killed in Iraq summed it up by saying Having Matthew remembered helps just a bit to heal the hole in my heart.
Please pray for all of those affected by the tragedy at Fort Hood and when you see a member of the military take the time to thank him or her for their service.
A little kindness can heal a heart at least a little bit.
