PITTSFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (CBS DETROIT) — A big part of celebrating the Fourth of July is honoring those who’ve served. However, this time of year can also be a nightmare for veterans if you’re not mindful about where you’re lighting your fireworks.
The same dazzling displays that light up the sky during the Fourth of July are the same ones that send many veterans cowering in fear that they’re back on the frontlines.
Bob Bull knows that better than anyone else, not only because he personally deals with PTSD from his time in the Air Force, but also from his time supporting veterans as they adjust to civilian life.
“It’s a duck and cover kind of thing. It’s hard to eat, it’s hard to sleep, and it’s hard to breathe sometimes because when you hear that, you’re drawn back to where you were when you first heard it and when you heard it every day,” Bull said.
Bull founded the nonprofit Bridge with his business partner and social worker Erika Behm to serve as an on-call resource to help veterans with everything from transportation to connecting them with veteran services. As folks celebrate those who fought for our freedom during the holiday weekend, Bull says fireworks can cause much more harm than good.