Marine Veteran Grateful to Operation Homefront Donors
After surviving firefights in Iraq, coming home with physical and neurological health complications that could be debilitating, Marine veteran Scotti Fraser turned to music.
“It’s very cathartic and very healing when the nightmares come at 3 in the morning,” he said. “I go into my studio, and I choose to reach for the guitar instead of the bottle. I find hope through music and hope other soldiers and veterans find their story in my songs.”
As a disabled veteran, Scotti understands the difficulties involved with transitioning into civilian life. He tries to give back through performances as well as his songs. Scotti performs throughout Texas and in Nashville. He also volunteers to entertain for organizations that support veterans.
At times, however, Scotti’s own family needs assistance. He is unable to work and his wife, Stacia, has a part-time job while also being a caretaker for her Vietnam veteran father and for Scotti when he needs assistance.
“We would not have had a holiday meal without Operation Homefront. It would have been leftovers and sandwiches.” – Scotti Fraser, Marine Veteran
During this past holiday season, with rising prices related to inflation and a growing family, Scotti was having difficulty keeping up financially. He and Stacia have two kids—ages 17 and 19—as well as two grandchildren ages 2 years and 6 months old.
“It can get expensive with six people all living in one house,” he said.
Through a veteran organization, Scotti heard about Operation Homefront’s Holiday Meals for Military® program. Since 2010, Operation Homefront’s HMFM has provided more than 210,000 holiday meals to military and veteran families.
Scotti and his family attended their first HMFM event at the NASA Gilruth Center in Houston, Texas. The event provided 100 military families with meals. Families also enjoyed crafts, activities, and pictures with Santa. There was even a surprise visit from Astronaut Randy Bresnik.
“We would not have had a holiday meal without Operation Homefront,” Scotti said. “It would have been leftovers and sandwiches.”
Living on disability pay is difficult for many veterans, and Scotti appreciates the donors who support those who served. His own military career was founded in his pride in being a first-generation American of European immigrants. He also wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father—a soldier for the British in WW2.
Scotti enlisted in the Marines and deployed to Guantanamo, Kuwait, and Iraq. The deployment to Iraq caused physical and mental health issues that required nearly a year of treatment at a Naval hospital. Scotti wanted to return to Iraq but was not given the opportunity because of his injuries. After 11 years of service and reaching the rank of sergeant, Scotti was honorably discharged.
“I think I speak for a lot of veterans when I say to the donors to Operation Homefront that we are very grateful,” he said.
