Over two decades, hundreds of thousands of Americans fought in Afghanistan or Iraq and are now watching what's going on at Kabul airport. A few of them spoke with WBFO Sunday.
The Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park is a landmark for the veterans community, veterans of the wars memorialized on the waterfront. The Naval Park is currently working with veterans on "The Naval Park through Veteran Eyes." It's the museum collection as viewed by vets with cameras.
The photographs are on display through Sept. 6. Some of the photographers were on scene Sunday as prizes were distributed for the best pictures.
A prize winner in the competition is former Army administrator Tina Toole. After 13 years in the Army, Toole now works for a group trying to prevent military suicides.
"I've been talking to a lot of veterans because I work with Vet Life for Life and we counsel suicidal veterans," Toole said. "So all of us on my team are on high alert right now, in case we have a veteran in distress due to what's going on."
Dan Arnold, who helped run the exhibit, is a retired Air Force member who went into Afghanistan when it all started.
"It's hard for me to say. I was there, I was there in the very beginning in Afghanistan. My unit was one of the first ones in. So we did our job," Arnold said. "What they are saying, what's happening now is correct or not, it's not my place to say. I'm a veteran. I did what I'm told and I love what I did and I don't regret anything I did."
Others felt the same way. They did what they were trained to do and are now watching what happened later.
Dr. Michael Fairbanks was a Navy corpsman before going to medical school and into military active duty. Fairbanks said it's going to be hard on those left behind.
"Really feel badly for the people whose expectations were risen all these past 20 years and now they're dashed," Fairbanks said. "There are young people, especially girls and women, who have grown up under a relatively free society and now they just don't know what to expect and it's very unfortunate."
