" It's home. It sucks because it's home. It's horrible and disgusting but it's my cue to move. " -quote from a McKeesport resident after Monday's shooting

 

The corner of Grandview and Versailles avenue. Source: KDKA

 

 Hearts broke this week after two police officers were shot, one fatally, in McKeesport.  Despite the fact this kind of headline is not rare when we tune into the morning news, this one was different. This one took place at home. 

 When I say home, I mean the place where I grew up. The shooting occurred not far from the home my parents still occupy. 

The area (Grandview) is one I travel on a frequent basis and always have. I walked home from high school through Grandview. We ate fish dinners at a restaurant that was on the corner of Grandview Avenue. My family frequently stopped at the UniMart to pick up last minute items to and from visiting my grandmother who lived a short distance down the road. 

 Yes, there is familiarity there and a sense of propriety.  I have lived out of state and I currently live about ten minutes from my parents but McKeesport will always be home. 

 I thought it was hard when I was growing up having to defend myself when I met kids from other schools. Even thirty years ago, they would say in a snarky tone, "You're from McKeesport?" The ewww was silent. 

 In my adult years, I defend my hometown each summer leading up to International Village, the beloved annual ethnic food festival held at Renzie Park. Friends who live in nearby communities ask me, "Is it safe to go there?" I respond, "Yes, of course it is safe to go there."

 Gun violence is certainly on the rise in McKeesport.  In fact, the UniMart I mentioned earlier was the scene of a fatal shooting of a 16-year-old  back in December. 

There are sections of the city I try to avoid. But there are many sections of the city, other than Grandview, that I do frequent; the bike trail by the public safely building downtown, the walking trail in Renzie Park, the Aldi on Walnut Street. I am a frequent flier for sure. 

 But to be honest, McKeesport is not the only local community dealing with this uptick in crime. It is not the only community with so much good happening behind the tragic headlines. It is not the only community where people have lived their entire lives and refuse to leave because it is home. This once vibrant steel town has an amazing history and still could have an amazing future.

 My parents are lifers. My mom says she will never leave the place she brought her babies home to. My dad has to stay because of this reason. But my siblings and I do worry. The events on Monday hit a little too close to home. When details were just coming in, I called my parents to make sure everyone was ok. I told them not to go anywhere until we knew more information.

 I would be a liar if I didn't admit to noticing the decline of my parents' neighborhood. There are a lot of people moving in and out of the area. There is a lot of blight. While there are many residents who take pride in their homes and community, there is a growing number that do not. As much as my childhood home means to our family, nostagia does not trump safety. It is hard to wrap our heads around.

 But it seems we need to look at two important facts which have come to light about this recent shooting and neither of them involve location. The suspect in this shooting was a military veteran who was dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Conversations need to happen about the services that are provided for veterans when they return from serving our country and access to mental health care overall. The need is great not only in our area but nationwide.

 Currently, it can take months to get an appointment with a health care provider. Mental health care should not have that kind of wait time. As the child of a Vietnam veteran, I know first hand that help is needed. There are things my father has never shared with his children and even his wife. We cannot take for granted that when our servicemen and women return home they will magically ease back in to every day life. These are conversations we need to have with our loved ones and friends even if just to pick up the phone and ask, "Are you ok?"

 In honor of fallen officer Sean Sluganski let's do our part, the smallest thing we can possibly do, to care for each other. We can be part of the change - starting in our homes, workplaces and places of worship. Reach out to a veteran. Do it today.

 "Are you ok?" This could be the start of a lifesaving conversation.

 

*My blog is featured as the On My Mind column in The Valley Mirror Newspaper. The weekly publication serves the Woodland Hills and Steel Valley communities.  *