Lakeside Montana: Amazing weekend turned tragic

[@MaryGarcia-vy6fm]

Thank you for this video! I've posted on your videos a few times because we have the Globetrotter in common and love your videos. I'm a 4th generation veteran and my daughter is currently serving. 10 years ago, I purposely went to work for a company whose mission is to serve the military community and their families. We live in San Antonio and fortunately we have many opportunities to give back to the military. My heart aches for this gentleman and I know there are many veterans out there that could use our help! Thanks for bringing this to light. ❤ God bless our troops & veterans ❤

[@lifebetweentheditches1307]

Wow, Mary!!! We need thousands more of you. You served and still continue to serve others. Thank you for taking an active role in helping others. That’s so inspiring!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@livinglifeinmyrv]

Thank you for this video! We started watching your channel - because you have the Airsteam we are saving up for. This video brought tears to my eyes. My grandfather served (passed while I was young), my dad and my uncle along with my father n law. I raised my childeren to be respectful to our men and women in uniform. Had I been able to, I would have served but circumstances prevented me to. The work I do supports them - and we are always looking for ways to make the processes which help more efficient - but there are so many loop holes that it OUGHT not be so complicated. One of the things a person can do is vote, but as you mentioned - there is not one polictician or president that can fix it. Some have come closer than others. My heart goes out to our homeless veterans and those who are struggling to make ends meet. One person can make a difference in another person's life. BE THAT PERSON!!! Thank you again!

[@lifebetweentheditches1307]

What a beautiful message this is. Yes! Raising children who understand and respect the sacrifice is definitely a great place to start and it does seem to be that we all need to just do more and take care of each other better rather than waiting for someone else to fix it. Thank you for this and for your family’s service and sacrifice. ❤️. We hope your Globetrotter finds its way to you soon! We can’t remember why we ever overlooked this floor plan. 🤷‍♀️ It has really worked great for us!

[@jnbond]

So sad. My husband has served 25+ years and is retired now, but took up working with our county and state to assist veterans in all similar ways you mentioned. Our veterans are so overlooked and in need of so much help. Thank you for sharing your kind thoughts and prompts to do all we can to step up too. God bless.❤

[@lifebetweentheditches1307]

It is encouraging to hear about how many service people are still using their time for service to others. We need so many more like that. We thank your husband and we thank you. You are what the world needs more of ❤️

[@thepath3293]

I will pray for veterans until I find more that I can do. Thank you for your loving hearts. God sent you there for a reason and you answered

[@lifebetweentheditches1307]

They certainly deserve and appreciate those prayers, we are sure.

[@barbaraghylin1594]

From ALL the multiple veterans in my family THANK YOU

[@lifebetweentheditches1307]

No. Thank YOU!! They each deserve better.

[@jayner3981]

My husband is a CDN vet, served 33 yrs for Canada. What I do is, I'm there for him everyday for support and understanding. He does suffer from PDST but hes managing it. Dosnt matter what country a vet is from, they all need our support and understanding, these men and women go through hell to keep us safe. WE WILL REMEMBER

[@lifebetweentheditches1307]

Such a very good point!!! Yes! These are all incredibly brave human beings who endured so much for the benefit of all. Absolutely! He’s so lucky to have your love and support ❤️

[@jessicasplans6848]

Everyday I honor all human beings, especially 37 years of nursing. But vets have always and will always have what they need if I can do it. I owe them so much more then I can give. If I can’t give it, I will work to find someone that can. Those have given their lives and there is never a way to thank them enough except making sure they and what they fought for, and paid the ultimate price for my freedom, for our freedom. They will NEVER be forgotten.

[@lifebetweentheditches1307]

Nurses have our hearts ❤️ Thank you for taking care of others. If everyone would try to take care of others, we’d solve so many problems.

[@hathawaywego]

Wow! Thanks so much for sharing this video. I was in tears and said to my husband..."I don't know what to do!" He's a veteran and he replied, "I'm going to make sure to always introduce myself when I see any signs that someone may be a veteran and let them know I'm here and willing to help in any way!"

[@lifebetweentheditches1307]

Yes 😭😭 so unnecessary and heartbreaking! We sincerely appreciate your service and willingness to sacrifice for others and that is a brilliant idea!!! Love it!

[@billhill8570]

Well Said! Thank you.

[@Momoftalented2]

Absolutely agree. Wish I had an answer to help.

[@TerryM-755]

Absolutely love your video and your comments. Thank you.

[@lifebetweentheditches1307]

So nice of you❤️

[@TheHwig]

We've never taken care of those most willing to sacrifice. So sad, they deserve so much more.

[@lifebetweentheditches1307]

It really blows your mind on a larger level, doesn’t it?! And the fact that it has gone on forever! 💔

[@sandiloforti1681]

As the wife of a veteran, thank you❤ he served 30 years

[@lifebetweentheditches1307]

We thank YOU!!! From the very depths of our hearts, we thank you.

[@sallybergsma9308]

This video has hit way to close to home tonight. My husband served for almost 32 years and was diagnosed with Lewy Body dementia three years ago. He had a terrible set back while we were inAlaska this summer and let me just say that the VA is a screwed up mess! I don’t understand the entirely to long waiting periods and the incompetence of care they receive. Our story is way to long for this comment, but I want to give a shout out to the Fisher house project and the mission they have. If you are not familiar with it, look it up. There are always volunteers needed at every VA facility, at every veteran organization in this country. Lastly I will say this, if you know a veteran, check in on them routinely. Even if they have family, there is always room for one more!! Thank you both for bringing this to the forefront of the video, they do deserve better!

[@lifebetweentheditches1307]

Sally - so many feelings on this comment. First - thank you for being a caregiver to a vet. We see you. Caregiving is the most challenging job there is and it takes a mighty toll. Thank you for this fantastic information. We are not familiar with Fisher House and we will look into it. We will never appropriately thank your husband for his sacrifice because that is 100% what it was. We know you both deserved better care than what you’ve received. Lastly…Lewy Body dementia. 💔😭 It’s hard to find words for that diagnosis. We went through it with my (Amy) father and it was a very painful ride. We are glad you got a diagnosis. It’s odd but it helped us some once we understood the cause of the behaviors but when he passed away - we were all exhausted beyond description. Please find some resources for yourself and any close family as well. This, and Jim’s mom’s Alzheimer’s has everything to do with why we ever started making these videos. We hope you can spend time with memories of happier times to carry you through. Here for you if you ever need an ear!

[@Cecelia-u1j]

All veterans in the flathead Valley. There is a vet store anyone can donate to. There arefree services for them in kalispell mt. About 12 miles from lakeside. Money donated to the veterans organization in mt. The money stays in Montana to help them. Thanks for visiting our great state. We love our vets.

[@PastorKThroop]

As a veteran, who is a member of both the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion, I really appreciate your video. If people want to help veterans, those two organizations will have lots of ways to do it. Contact either organization to find out ways to help. Also, consider contacting your local V.A. clinic to ask for ways to help Veterans. If you know a veteran who might be struggling, please feel free to call him or her to thank them for their service and simply ask, “How are you doing? Is there any way I can help?” But, never forget that the best thing you can ever do for anyone is to pray for God's grace and healing for them. So, pray and act.

[@lifebetweentheditches1307]

We really appreciate YOU! Wow. And thank you for such helpful suggestions. And you are so right, we all appreciate someone just asking how we are doing sometimes and knowing someone’s offered up a prayer for you is a really effective way to let someone know that they matter! ❤️

[@Jasonrcsd]

Flathead area is absolutely beautiful! Such a relaxing place. My aunt & uncle owns property overlooking Flathead Lake. He flew Marine One (Carter, Reagan and maybe Ford?). Now he's battling stage 3 pancreatic cancer. I still have the jelly bean jar that President Reagan gave him to give to me, although the younger me must have ate the jelly beans. lol. Flathead Lake is huge but is low for this time of the year though. Oh in the summer time there are quite a few celebrities in that area as they own homes on Flathead and Whitefish Lake. How tragic to experience that man's death.

[@lifebetweentheditches1307]

Oh, wow!! That is the most precious story and how lucky are you to have a Reagan jelly bean jar?!?!! Love it!!! And flying Marine One!!! What a very cool life your uncle had. We thank him for his sacrifice and are terribly sad for his current battle. 💔. We really enjoyed our time there until that most heartbreaking event.

[@timf6916]

I am a Combat Veteran, B Troop Scouts, 7/17 Air Cavalry. Vietnam, 1969 to1971, 19 months. Yes you are right. We all need to help out. And take care of each other.YES, JUST SAD.

[@lifebetweentheditches1307]

Tim. We are so sorry for what we could only guess your journey has been. Please know that many people DO see and DO deeply appreciate you. Not sure when people quit taking care of each other. We believe that’s why many people are drawn towards the RV community. When it comes to those who made and kept us “the USA” - we can absolutely do better.

[@southernrebel]

I am an Air Force Vet. Thank you for this video!!!!! I know the answer to your question but my only option to fix is by Voting. Which brings us right back to where we are now and have been for a long time. I do know treatment from V A hospitals has gotten better, from my personal experience, in the last 7 years or so!!!!!!!!!!!! Where I live, I am far enough from a V A hospital, I can see all civilian doctors and most of the time, I have MY CHOICE of the doctor I WANT!!!!!!!! I am truly blessed. The V A, C B O C clinic has good medical support also. At this time in history, 22 veterans committee suicide everyday!!!!!!!!!!! This is unacceptable but that brings us back to, WHAT DO WE DO????? WE vote politicians that are supposed to be for the U S A!!!!!!! BUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GOD BLESS!!!!!!!! Thank You for this video!!!!

[@lifebetweentheditches1307]

Thank you for this. We are so happy for those that can find the help we need. There is an organization in our hometown that recently found that specifically focuses on preventing Veteran suicide. We are working on some things and hope to be able to share more on that in the future. Thank you for taking part of your life to serve others. We appreciate you! ❤️

[@mikeray6898]

Be aware of folks around us; in grocery stores, gas stations etc. say hello, be available for conversation. I do this every day, and have found many that are willing to share words and experience, and find that some of them need help that I can provide or help provide. We’re all in this together Put down phones, interact with each other.

[@lifebetweentheditches1307]

Thank you for this. We have definitely been more conscious about since this wake up call. It is amazing to hear the different perspectives and experiences.

[@barbaradowney4207]

Spot on! Of all the things our supposed "greatest country in the world" (that phrase just seem so arrogant to me) fails at is taking care of our Veterans. It is shameful that someone who served his country for all the right reasons can't be seen for 7 months. How can you not have deep mental trauma seeing fellow soldiers blown to bits, yourself losing limbs, and having to kill people. It a pretty horrendous atmosphere and you're supposed to come home and be fine and go back to normal everyday life. So so sad. Thank you for this video and keeping politics out of it!

[@lifebetweentheditches1307]

Exactly. Yes! There’s simply no logic or common sense let alone care applied here.

[@laurahenshaw3590]

Alright. First off, I'm a 10-yr USAF vet. My husband's a 21-yr vet/USAF retiree. Nearly all of our families are vets all the way back to the Revolutionary War. We get it. We served to protect and defend the constitution of these United States. Americans everywhere are allowed to have their opinions because we defended their right to do so. That being said, any retired member of the US military services cannot be denied medical assistance. It's a law. Non-retiree vets aren't as lucky. The best we can hope for outside of private insurance is the VA. Unfortunately, the VA is awful. Which is why your neighbor likely gave up on that system. I'm sorry, Amy, that you had to experience such a devastating scene. But I'm glad he at least had that one neighbor who we trying to get him his meds. We can speak more about it if you'd like, but just know I'm proud of you for doing what you could to save that particular vet. You are good people. Both of you. You two are why I'm proud to have served, because you two get it. Thank you. ❤

[@lifebetweentheditches1307]

Wowwwwww. We sincerely thank you and your entire family. We are deeply moved that so many people put it all on the line for others. It’s extraordinary and something we just all take for granted whether we mean to or not. We are working on some ideas for vets this year and will update everyone when we get it all worked out. For now - we just all need to do better at taking care of one another and it would cure a lot of ills in the world. ❤️

[@sheilalove7685]

I am a female veteran who spent 24 years in the military. There is a sense of disenfranchisement veterans experience when returning "home." My time spent in Navy and Marine Corps changed me forever. Unfortunately, due to my time away from my siblings and parents as well as the changes within myself forever changed our relationship. Luckily for me, I have friends who I treasure and they treasure me as I am. The only thing I can think to help returning veterans is don't expect them to be the same, but embrace who they are now. God bless all!

[@lifebetweentheditches1307]

This is SUCH an important perspective that many of us would never consider. Thank you for sharing your journey with us and thank you for such sacrifice. You deserve better and we are so thankful you’ve found those special friends. ❤️

[@laurahenshaw3590]

Just a suggestion... maybe deflate it?

[@lifebetweentheditches1307]

We do 99%of the time but we knew we were going in and out of the lake several times a day during this stop.

[@laurahenshaw3590]

Y'all are a riot 😂

[@laurahenshaw3590]

And, that makes sense!