OPINION: Veteran Games showed our country’s champions dignity and respect
Royal Marine Commando Chris Hayes, who was medically discharged in 2017, reflects on competing at the Veteran Games and returning this year as a mentor and ambassador.
I’m a veteran who resides in the phenomena know as ‘civilian life’ in the poppy-filled countryside of Norwich. I still uphold the standards and bearing of a marine.
I was medically discharged in 2017 with a myriad of mental health issues – mind-bending psychosis, extreme anxiety, a deep, dark depression and, at the time, undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder and compounded trauma.
During my turbulent recovery after a poorly-thought out suicide attempt, I was invited to attend the Veteran Games in 2019.
After my own life-changing experiences and performance (winning concurrent gold medals in the CrossFit event), I had the honour of being asked to be an ambassador and mentor in the 2022 Games. Knowing this would be a humbling insight and a show of humanity’s intrinsic strength, I accepted immediately.
For the uninitiated, the Veteran Games is funded entirely by British/Israeli philanthropists with a passion to support our veterans, but also their individual families.
The love they give their partners is unending. They are the adoring glue holding together the individual family units while injured veterans rebuild their bodies, minds and spirits. They do this unseen and almost with a whisper quiet paired with a devotion I have never seen matched.
During this whirlwind week of emotions in the wondrous and progressive city of Tel Aviv, I witnessed a moment so human it will stay in my heart and soul forever.
During a break in the swimming heats, two competitors turned to each other and shook hands smiling warmly, then leant against the poolside for a chinwag. The man to the right? An English Royal Marine Commando. To the left? An Israel Defense Forces veteran. The British marine explained through simple hand gestures to the Israeli (who spoke little to no English) about his own internal struggle and personal injuries. Post-traumatic stress disorder. The invisible wound.
The Games are a breeding ground for personal growth
The Israeli nodded slowly, profoundly and very simply, gently tapped his own head with his forefinger… he understood completely, empathised. With wet eyes and a lump in my throat I slipped away to the next moment of breathtaking humanity.
The Games themselves are a breeding ground for personal growth but, in between these barrier-breaking moments, they provide cultural insight and spiritual balm.
British warriors visited the famous Western wall, paying reverence and respect to the Old City of Jerusalem. We ate and drank merrily with unconquered spirits in the finest restaurants and with cultural tours and food tastings.
Our wounded servicemen are indomitable, unbroken and shining examples of British resolve.
I felt a deep connection to Tel Aviv, this sun-kissed city in a country that has not only welcomed my fraternal brothers and sisters but venerated them overtly. We live in a world that, at times, does not celebrate its serving soldiers and veterans, but the people of Israel have treated these champions of Britain as they deserve, with respect and dignity.
During the flight home, I tried to pull apart the individual moments of the week that had blurred into a tapestry of profundity and British fighting spirit. Prouder than ever of my service and that of my brothers and sisters, I exchanged heartfelt hugs and firm handshakes as I left Heathrow, blissful in the knowledge that our wounded servicemen were indomitable, unbroken and shining examples of British resolve.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
