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This is Backstory. I'm Ed Ayers.

Each day in the United States, an average of 22 military veterans take their own lives.

It's a grim reminder of the deep psychological toll that wars take on the people who fight them.

So, how did Americans in a pre-psychological era understand the impact of war?

Physicians of the 19th century believe that there were literal physical changes to the

heart and how it functions as a result of exposure to war.

Today on Backstory, we'll ask whether vets are only as popular as the wars they fought in,

and we'll consider how best to remember those who fought for causes in which we no longer believe.

We're not necessarily promoting a succession again, a separate country, the Confederate States of America,

but that didn't happen, but we still honor our ancestors for standing up for what they believe.

The history of coming home from war.

The New York Times

Major funding for Backstories provided by the anonymous donor, the National Endowment for the Humanities,

the Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation, and the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations.

This episode was originally broadcast in 2008.

From the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, this is Backstory, with the American History Guide.

Welcome to the show. I'm Brian Ballot, 20th century guy, and I'm here with Ed Ayers.

Notting century guy?

And Peter Ones with us.

18th century guy.

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