While many individuals in Door County are looking forward to parties and fireworks over the weekend, loud celebrations can be triggering for combat veterans who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Knowing where to get support and how to offer it is a compassionate way to ensure that everyone has a safe holiday. 

“If you’ve got neighbors who are veterans, stop by and knock on their door and let them know that you’re going to be doing fireworks,” suggested Jacob VanderPlas, a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post #3088 in Sturgeon Bay, “just informing them is a tremendous help.”

VanderPlas served in the Wisconsin Army National Guard and served two back-to-back tours in Iraq from 2004-2007. He said celebrations can be difficult to maneuver but that preparation is key to being able to manage anxiousness. 

“For me personally, if I know the fireworks are going to be going off, it’s not bothersome, but it’s when I don’t know they’re happening and they go off that I get a surge of adrenaline and then start getting memories back,” said VanderPlas.

You can help support a veteran through courtesy and awareness and if you see someone having a flashback, it's important to give the veteran space. While the noise of fireworks can cause concern, veterans do still in fact enjoy celebrating the meaning behind the day.

“We are so proud to be Americans and we love the celebration,” VanderPlas added, “it just happens to be a trigger, but being cognizant of it is a good first step to actually help to let the veteran heal as well.”

If you’re a veteran and are struggling with PTSD, you can reach out to the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 and then selecting option one, or the Door County Crisis/Suicide Intervention Hotline 24/7 by calling (920) 746-2588. VanderPlas also encourages fellow veterans to reach out to their battle buddies, calling them the best resource a veteran will ever have.