About This Site
Ulysses was a legendary King in Greek mythology, most famous for his 10-year journey of return home after the Trojan War. He faced obstacles. He faced loss. This was his Odyssey.
For thousands of U.S. service men and women, that same journey has just begun. And while many of them may have returned physically, emotionally they are still on that journey to find their way home. They are dealing with issues like PTSD, suicidal thoughts, depression, and other mental health concerns.
Troops often have no way to communicate with their loved ones about these issues, and outside of clinics there are no family-friendly online resources that help bridge that emotional gap.
The award-winning documentary, The Way We Get By, shares with audiences the world of the volunteers known as the Maine Troop Greeters—older Americans in Bangor, Maine who devote themselves to welcoming home the troops as they first land back on U.S. soil. Soldiers speak movingly in the film about the effect that these volunteers have on their transition back to the U.S., but we know that this is only the first step of what will be a long journey.
Returning Home is an online interactive resource that extends and encourages that heartfelt process begun by the Greeters of welcoming home U.S. troops. A unique aspect of the online resource, however, is that it creates a welcoming space for those seeking to support all U.S. Vets—from those who served in the second World War to those returning from the current wars.
The resources provided on the Returning Home site will allow family and friends of troops to, in effect, become troop greeters themselves, helping to bring all of our loved ones home emotionally if not physically, regardless of the time during which they served.
Developed at the BAVC Producers Institute as a companion site to The Way We Get By’s website, Returning Home promotes many of the same themes of the documentary, including community building, support, and personal storytelling, and does so in a user friendly way that we believe will encourage people of all ages to use the site.
Unlike the majority of the military-themed sites currently available, Returning Home sets aside politics and serves instead as a simple tool for supporting troops in a very personal and intimate way. The site is comprised of three interactive components: the Mosaic Of Support, the Vigil Room (currently in development) and the Virtual Care Package (currently in development). A curator will ensure that each section is maintained, and that registered users are adhering to the guidelines of the site.
Users of Returning Home are not allowed to post in any way their political opinions. Regarding War, another website dedicated to sharing opinions about war is a perfect place to have this discussion. We encourage visitors to go there if they prefer a political platform.