Oak BayB次元官网网址檚 Joseph E. L. (Larry) Gollner describes his military career with one word B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址渓ucky.B次元官网网址�

During the course of his career, Larry traveled to more than 60 countries, including China, Egypt, Lebanon, Kenya, Austria, Norway and China. He had three children B次元官网网址� each born in a different country B次元官网网址� with his wife of 56 years Christine Gollner.

B次元官网网址淚 loved the adventure,B次元官网网址� says Christine, adding they moved 24 times while Larry served on different missions.

The 80-year-old veteran joined the Princess PatriciaB次元官网网址檚 Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) in 1956 and served mainly in the PPCLIB次元官网网址檚 second battalion, which defends Canadian interests at home and abroad.

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He said one of their most challenging missions took place in northern Norway, where the Canadian Forces encountered an B次元官网网址渆xtremely difficult terrainB次元官网网址� while they assisted the Norwegian army in preventing a possible Russian intrusion.

B次元官网网址淚 had a great time,B次元官网网址� he said emphatically.

Although Gollner retired from the military in 1993, he has been actively involved with veteransB次元官网网址� issues.

Between 2006 to 2010, he went to Afghanistan twice to visit battle groups of the Regiment of the Princess PatriciaB次元官网网址檚 Canadian Light Infantry and was very active in supporting families of the fallen and the wounded.

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As the patron of the Canadian Peacekeepers Veterans Association, Gollner continues to work toward improved quality of life for wounded and ill veterans. He has also been a member of the VeteranB次元官网网址檚 OmbudsmanB次元官网网址檚 Advisory Council, a position that allows him to provide insight in an important forum for veterans.

Earlier this year he earned a SovereignB次元官网网址檚 Medal for Volunteers, which recognizes exceptional volunteer achievements from across the country and abroad.

According to Gollner, the growing awareness around post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is having a positive impact on Canadian veterans.

B次元官网网址淚 think the whole question of PTSD is now dealt with more responsibly than it was,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t wasnB次元官网网址檛 dealt with well in the B次元官网网址�80s and B次元官网网址�90s B次元官网网址� the system wasnB次元官网网址檛 reacting, and people didnB次元官网网址檛 know what was wrong with [veterans struggling with PTSD].B次元官网网址�

Although Canadians have started to hear a lot more about PTSD in recent years, the condition is known to exist at least since the times of ancient Greece, and has been called by many different names.

But while thereB次元官网网址檚 more awareness nowadays, Gollner says thereB次元官网网址檚 no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to supporting veterans struggling with PTSD.

B次元官网网址淚t never will be perfect, but at least a whole bunch of people are working hard now to try to make it so.B次元官网网址�