I am fortunate to work in an industry where I can help people recover from their injuries, but for some people, the scars never fade. I’m talking of course about the men and women who defend our freedom in the armed services. Some return home with mental scars, others with physical impairments, and some don’t return at all.
Those who do return home face many new obstacles because of the injuries they’ve suffered during war. But it’s not just the veterans that have to adjust to a new life, so too do their families, as they sometimes need shift their primary role from wife or girlfriend to caregiver.
That is the focus of the upcoming film “The Weight of Honor.” The film is being produced and directed by Stephanie Seldin Howard, a regular cable news contributor, Los Angeles News Emmy winner, and for the sake of full disclosure, a cousin of mine. While there’s no denying that a have a familial interest in sharing this story, I truly believe in the message and the story The Weight of Honor tells. Here’s a little more information about the film.
Of the 5.5 million family caregivers to wounded veterans, The War on Terror has created more than one million families caring for wounded veterans (Rand Report 2014). The impact of these wars in Afghanistan and Iraq will be with us for generations. The Weight of Honor chronicles stories of love, courage and resilience as it introduces audiences to the parents, siblings, spouses and children whose lives are forever changed by these conflicts.
“As Americans we’re predisposed to think about the sacrifices and challenges of our veterans. As a filmmaker I was compelled to dig deeper by looking at the impact The War on Terror has had on Family Caregivers,” said Howard. “These selfless individuals are the unsung heroes, caring for our veterans against insurmountable odds, often without the respect or recognition they deserve, and often without the support they need.”
Below, you can see a short trailer for the film.
The Weight of Honor is currently running an Indiegogo campaign to help complete the project. Please consider heading over to that page to learn more about the project or to watch the extended 10-minute trailer. The page also explains some of the perks you’ll receive should you contribute to the project, but more than anything I hope you consider sharing this story with others. The invisible scars of war cut deep, but it’s not just the service members that must cope with their aftermath. These families face challenges that some of us couldn’t even fathom, and their story should be heard, because they too carry The Weight of Honor.