Support network helps military families navigate 9/11 emotions
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) -- A Fayetteville woman whose husband is deployed with the 82nd Airborne says the anniversary of 9/11 remains a deeply emotional day, and a local nonprofit is helping her and other military families manage the stress it can bring.
Allie Anderson said the date carries heavy meaning for her family.
"It can be a very emotional day for me, to say the least," she said.
Anderson grew up in a military household, with both parents serving in the Air Force. She shared a photo of her father returning from the Middle East in 1995 and said each year she is reminded of his sacrifices over 32 years of service.
"A large amount of his career was heavily influenced by the events of 9/11," she said.
With her husband currently deployed, Anderson is home caring for their two children.
She said The Joel Fund, a nonprofit supporting veterans and their families, has helped her cope with the emotional strain.
"Get out of the house, lean on each other," she said.
The organization opened its Joel Center in Rolesville three months ago. Most of its programming for veterans and families takes place in a multipurpose room, and nearly all services are free.
"This is our multi-purpose room," a staff member said during a walkthrough. "We can meet one-on-one with people if they need that assistance."
Executive Director Brooke Dickhart founded the organization in honor of her father, a former Navy SEAL who died in 2014 after a long battle with PTSD. The fund now serves about 3,000 people, and Dickhart expects that number to grow.
"We just took our experience and turned it into an organization so we can help other families that these don't have to go through what we went through," she said.
