“I just remember sobbing and just saying, ‘Why? Why is this happening to me, and why did they die? What’s it all for?’ I completely lost my faith.”

An Iraq War veteran, Ben Peterson grew up wanting nothing more than to become a soldier and make his family proud. It seemed like the only way to find acceptance.

“Grew up in a family that was pretty out of control,” Ben said. “There wasn't the emotional capacity to share that I was alone, I was depressed, I didn’t have a lot of friends. And in my house the greatest thing you could do with your life is serve America in combat. I wanted to gain power and respect, some approval from my dad.”

Ben’s feelings of isolation and powerlessness only worsened in high school when he became a target of intense bullying. But then something changed. One of

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