The photo of Rebecca Morrison and Butter from the Saratoga War Horse program ("Trauma program gains ally," July 27) conveyed well the calming, healing spirit of the endeavor.
The picture of Capt. Ian Morrison, Rebecca's husband, concealed his inner torment, the witnessed horror, that led to his suicide.
Perhaps Capt. Morrison entered West Point with the dream of becoming a soldier and defending his country. Perhaps he — like others — realized he had been duped by his government, that he wasn't defending his country but invading other countries, that we have become the aggressors, that his colleagues were being killed or wounded by people who were defending their country.
We should all be thankful for what Bob Nevins is doing with his Saratoga War Horse program. It's a much-needed effort in the suicide prevention struggle.
We, too, have a role to play. We have allowed Washington to send our young men and women to invade. Meanwhile, suicides have taken the lives of 154 active-duty troops in the first five months of this year alone. Can we, will we, learn from Capt. Morrison?
PAUL REHM
Greenville