As the sun shone down on the crowd gathered Sunday afternoon at the Polk Township Veterans Memorial, speaker Glenn Lippencott used the opportunity to draw attention to modern-day troops.

The director of Small Group Operations for the VALOR Clinic Foundation, Lippencott addressed the audience on behalf of the organization to raise awareness on issues faced by the formerly deployed."VALOR is an organization that helps war to peace transitions for troops," said Lippencott.Lippencott enlisted in the Army in 1970. He was deployed in Vietnam to serve with the Alpha Company 3-21 Infantry Regiment.A year later his brigade was ambushed by the opposition with grenades and automatic weapons, leaving nine soldiers wounded and two fatally injured.During his medical treatment, Lippencott saw firsthand troops were being handled when returning from the field. He became aware of the lack of down time and post-combat support for troops returning to American soil."A lot of vets don't get the therapy they need for post-traumatic stress disorder," he said. "Twenty-two vets a day destroy themselves. That number eclipses the number of casualties in the Iraq."According to the organization's published statistics, the number of veterans suicides have overtaken combat casualty rates since 9/11. Divorce, unemployment and homelessness rates are also double compared with civilian rates.Co-founded in 2008 by veterans Mark Baylis and Tony Cross, VALOR has the long-term vision of being able to provide health clinics, homeless shelters, transition homes and recovery sanctuaries for veterans in need. The nonprofit organization is based in Brodheadsville and works to create pathways for combat troops to blend back into everyday life.The program uses three phases including peer-to-peer and retreat counseling.During the third phase veterans spend time in the retreat sanctuary where counseling and life projects are assigned and worked through."A lot of skills are taught in the military that are great in war but don't serve you as a civilian," Lippencott said.VALOR's goal is to serve 200 veterans a year. In 2015 Lippencott said 85 soldiers successfully worked the therapy program."It's a decision they have to make, to come out of living in the field and we're there for them when they do," he said.For more information on the organization visit valorclinic.org.