After a long weekend of forging and grinding knives I was joined by 10 veterans to discuss the weekend we had together.  Last spring we raised money through a raffle knife to help bring veterans to our shop here at Montana Knife Company.  The weekend of August 21st we brought about 15 veterans to our shop to teach them how to forge and grind.  I thought this may give them a hobby or distraction to use in their own lives when they are struggling with the pains of war.  

This podcast was recorded before the tragic events of August 26th where we lost 13 Marines in Afghanistan.  However we did talk about the withdrawal and you can hear the tone of the room change.  There are no perfect answers to the situation and everyone one of these people could go on for hours I'm sure.  

I encourage you to talk to veterans around you.  Invite them to forge in your shop, go fishing, or maybe even just have a beer.  Not every veteran is wounded.  They aren't broken.  But many struggle with the thoughts of what they experienced and the loss of their fellow soldier.  

Thank you to the veterans who joined me and for allowing a civilian into their world for a weekend.  

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