Frequently Asked Questions

As an organization that supports specifically PTSD and TBI combat veteran spouses and their families, we know the long-lasting effects war has on our veterans. Veterans who have struggled post-deployment PTSD and /or TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) do not always receive the help or support they need. They may become consumed with depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and isolation. When this happens, they may become homeless, destroy their lives through addiction, or sadly, commit suicide. These Veterans have lost their lives to the consequences of war. Our belief is that whether a Veteran lost their life while deployed or took their own life slowly through addiction or suddenly through suicide, they are a victim of war. The manner of their death in no way diminishes their service or sacrifice to their country. Our goal is to provide their families with the opportunity to honor their service and sacrifice.

The initial cost of developing the website came from a corporate gift donation received from The Nordson Corporation. Tax-deductible donations in support of the Memorial defray the cost of maintaining the website. Donations can be made directly to Hearts of Patriots.

Revenue from Tiles supports the Hearts of Patriots programs that assist our PTSD and TBI combat veteran families still living with the consequences of war.

All graphics and text used to create the website are the intellectual property of Hearts of Patriots and protected by the United States and international copyright laws and treaties. All personal notes and graphics in remembrance of a veteran are the property of the private individual submitting the Veteran Tribute. 

No. The VVM is a somber remembrance to all who served, and the purpose of the Memorial is to honor that service. We believe including any form of commercialization would be exploiting the sacrifice of our veterans.

VVM is a Project of Hearts of Patriots a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization whose mission is to provide education, support, and resources to PTSD and/or TBI combat veteran spouses and families of all wars.

The stigma surrounding mental and emotional health disorders is no more apparent than in the military where seeking treatment for anything remotely related to a mental health condition is considered a sign of weakness. An estimated 17% of veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars suffer from TBI, and 20% are diagnosed with PTSD. An estimated 35% will develop PTSD over time. Veterans with PTSD and TBI can also be at risk for becoming part of another statistic, Suicide. Each day 20 veterans take their own life.

Often for their families, the stigma of mental health conditions continues overshadowing their veteran’s service and contribution to our country. The death of a veteran from suicide is a tragic outcome of their service. It just didn’t take place while on the battlefield. The Virtual Veterans Memorial is a safe place for families of veterans lost to the invisible wounds of war to celebrate their loved one’s life and their service to their country.

The Virtual Veteran Memorial offers families of those lost to Invisible Wounds a chance to honor their veteran’s service, recognizing that their death is not a result of any weakness on the part of the veteran. Instead, it is a result of our military’s inability to aggressively treat invisible wounds and a failure to destigmatize mental and emotional health issues.

Honoring our veterans’ service provides us with the opportunity to face a hard reality. Moral injury and invisible wounds are consequences of sending young men and women to war. It is time to acknowledge the inevitable; our military men and women will sustain mental injuries in the line of duty that will require treatment in the same way a broken arm requires treatment.