Agent Orange Awareness

Each and every time the American Flag goes by in a procession, the Star Spangled Banner is sang at a sports event, or veterans are recognized I feel a desire to thank those that gave. Some like my cousin gave some, some time , some memories both good and bad that he will never forget and so much more including experience that has helped him shape into who he is. Some gave more like my father in law that suffered from effects of agent orange and a disability he received when injured in Viet Nam. Some even gave all like my moms good friend who went to military right after graduating from school and never came back. All who served I thank you.

October, is a month that helps bring awareness to those like my father in law that suffered from agent orange. Agent Orange was a powerful herbicide used by the U.S. military forces during the Vietnam War. The herbicide was used to help cut the thick forest and crops that helped hide the Vietnamese troops. More than 20 million gallons of herbicides were used to spray areas of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. The herbicide used most often was Agent Orange as it held a deadly chemical dioxin. Dioxin was later proven to cause serious health issues such as cancer, birth defect, rashes and severe psychological and neurological problems.

Agent Orange not only caused many severe health issues but also devastated the environment in Vietnam. More than 400,000 Vietnamese were killed or maimed due to exposure of herbicides like Agent Orange. Nearly a million children have been born in Vietnam with serious birth defects and more than 2 million people suffer from cancer or other illness caused by Agent Orange.

shared this post at these blog linkups
over the moon