Veterans Day was yesterday, so it’s a good time time to share video from our recent community conversation “Glory Denied, Coming Home from Modern Conflict”.

The evening was hosted by Fort Worth Opera, Art&Seek and Tarrant County College South Campus. It was a rare opportunity to see both Tom Philpott, author of the book Glory Denied  *and* Tom Cipullo, who composed the chamber opera based on the book.  (Fort Worth will produce the opera in 2013.)

But the veterans on the panel really helped build a bridge from the book and opera to the varied real life experiences both works reflect.  Charles Overstreet is a psychology professor at TCC, expert on post-traumatic stress and a veteran of three postings overseas, including two in Iraq.  Robert E. Carroll is retired and taking classes at TCC. But decades ago, he was shot during his time fighting in Vietnam.  PTSD wasn’t something commonly discussed when he returned home.  “I didn’t even try to get treated for it because I didn’t know what it was, he says in the video above.  “I thought I was normal.”

There were many vets in the audience, and still others who have families who served. Their observations and experiences were just as compelling as the panelists’.