Fireworks a painful reminder for some veterans

For most of us, the Fourth of July is a time of celebration with food and fireworks. For others, it’s a source of stress. Veterans said the loud noises of the fireworks can backfire on them, bringing them back to dark places.

“I can picture pilots that we’ve rescued,” Retired Chief Petty Officer James Farrell said. “I can picture being fired at. Different things like that. And sometimes it seems like it was just yesterday. Well, it was about 50 years ago.”

It’s been decades since retired Chief Petty Officer James Farrell was in Vietnam. The experience still impacts him today.

“I always check the doors about two or three times a night,” Farrell said. I like to make sure everything is secured. And sometimes sleep with one eye open.”

So it’s no surprise to him that fellow veterans may have a hard time coming to grips with reality this weekend.

“I’ve had some of my friends stand up on their rooftops with an M-16 and fire it,” Farrell said. “And this has been within the last ten years. On their roof, because they thought they were still in Vietnam.”

With more incoming veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan, there’s an online movement to get others to realize the severity of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. ‘Military with PTSD’ has been handing out these signs, asking people to be courteous with fireworks. Farrell hopes to keep the dialogue over PTSD going.

“Hopefully in the next generation, it’s going to be a lot better,” Farrell said. “Hopefully I’ll be around here for another 10-20 years to see that happen.”

As for his experience, Farrell is proud of his service. He said during tomorrow’s festivities, he’ll keep busy with meditation and poetry – things that have helped him move through dark times in the past.