JOSH'S COMMENTARY
To Be of Service is about the enduring costs of war told through the lives of veterans of the Viet Nam, Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The film follows vets with PTSD who, after years of struggle with substance abuse, suicide attempts, talk therapy, and prescription medications have finally come to find that bonding with a highly trained service dog helps them find a way back to independence, emotion and love. Almost miraculously, through the unconditional acceptance and love of their service dogs, our veterans are able to re-establish their lives and family connections in a way that is uplifting and deeply moving. Spouses and mothers of our vets all report that the relationship with the service dog has helped to heal family wounds.
Vets who had been virtual shut-ins, torn by their guilt, shame and memories are forced to take responsibility for another being who loves them unconditionally and who is trained to get his owner out, to protect him and to return him to life. The vet who has had no comrades since his time at war bonds with his dog and soon realizes for the first time since his service he has a new battle buddy who will go to the ends of the earth to support and protect his owner. These relationships are powerful and healing.
We’ll learn, as our vets do, that their experiences at war, and the invisible injuries that have changed them forever, can actually be a path for growth. The men and women veterans who we meet, canine battle buddies at their side, tell their stories and open their hearts. We see them becoming elder warriors in American society, which is today deeply challenged for moral example and wisdom.
In showing so viscerally how war ravages the young men and women we send into the maw of combat, To Be of Service is a plea to our present and future leaders to use every possible political and diplomatic means at our disposal to avoid armed conflict.
Another recurring theme of the film is how America is neglecting its deep obligation to return our soldiers properly to civilian society. For thousands of years, from the early Greeks to the Native American nations of our own land, warriors were taught the rites of return, the rituals of healing and they were welcomed, honored and celebrated for their service. It’s all too clear that we have dropped this ball and that neglect is haunting us. We were warned of the consequences of this by our first American general:
Vets who had been virtual shut-ins, torn by their guilt, shame and memories are forced to take responsibility for another being who loves them unconditionally and who is trained to get his owner out, to protect him and to return him to life. The vet who has had no comrades since his time at war bonds with his dog and soon realizes for the first time since his service he has a new battle buddy who will go to the ends of the earth to support and protect his owner. These relationships are powerful and healing.
We’ll learn, as our vets do, that their experiences at war, and the invisible injuries that have changed them forever, can actually be a path for growth. The men and women veterans who we meet, canine battle buddies at their side, tell their stories and open their hearts. We see them becoming elder warriors in American society, which is today deeply challenged for moral example and wisdom.
In showing so viscerally how war ravages the young men and women we send into the maw of combat, To Be of Service is a plea to our present and future leaders to use every possible political and diplomatic means at our disposal to avoid armed conflict.
Another recurring theme of the film is how America is neglecting its deep obligation to return our soldiers properly to civilian society. For thousands of years, from the early Greeks to the Native American nations of our own land, warriors were taught the rites of return, the rituals of healing and they were welcomed, honored and celebrated for their service. It’s all too clear that we have dropped this ball and that neglect is haunting us. We were warned of the consequences of this by our first American general: