Think of the veterans when celebrating Fourth of July

GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — For some veterans, celebrating the Fourth of July can sometimes bring with it a lot of stress and it can feel isolating.

It makes some vets feel sadness for their fellow servicemembers who did not make it home. The loud noises from fireworks can sound similar to shots and the flashes of light can also be triggering. Crowds can also cause stress to the veterans.

“I’ve got six kids, a wife and grandchildren and they’re out there having a good time, celebrating,” Veteran, American Legion Post 43 Commander and 1st Vice Commander of AmVets Post 1111 Shep McLawhorn said. “I can’t be out there, I can’t be around fireworks, I’ll get triggered. The sound of that stuff is going to put you in places you’d rather forget about.”

Veterans like McLawhorn ask for people to be considerate when celebrating the holiday by giving them a heads up if you’re going to be shooting off fireworks in the neighborhood.

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