When it comes to coping with deployment, it takes a community to help get through tough times. That was the message at a mental health seminar in Honolulu Today just as the Schofield ceremony was wrapping up.

Two year old Luke Anthony soaks up every minute with his mom -- who since he was born has deployed to Iraq now twice -- a single mother who had to leave the first time when he was four months old.

Kimberly Romano says, "It's very emotionally stressful and emotionally hard. I left him the last deployment when he was only 4 months 45 and I didn't get to see him until he turned 1, and that was very heartbreaking because he didn't recognize who I was, and that whole transition again to see him again was very heartbreaking."

Coping with experiences like hers and his {child} is what this group hopes more of the community can help with.

"When families are deployed that the soldiers are impacted, but we also recognize that the families, in particular children, are affected," says Jean Adair-Leland, President of Mental Health America.

The group "Mental Health America of Hawaii" held a two-hour seminar called "The Trauma of War." It was attended by nearly 200 people -- military, spouses, neighbors and community members who want to help turn the tide on the strain of deployment -- especially for children like luke growing up with a parent away.

"There are a lot of transitions that occur during that time so a lot of the services are focused on helping children adjust and deal with those kinds of changes."

The group says veterans health systems in place try but are overburdened when it comes to handling the mental health needs of servicemembers and their families. It's a problem the top brass doesn't shy away from.


U.S. Army Pacific Commander, Lt. General Benjamin R. Mixon says, "I encourage you to let the chain of command know what we can improve and how we can ease the strain of these difficult times. I can assure you that every effort possible will be made to meet your concerns."

Efforts both in and outside the armed services help Sgt. Romano go off to war to fulfill this mission for her country and her child.

"I want to be able to make sure that he doesn't have to go out to war when he gets older and also I'm in the army to provide for him. So I just want to make sure that i'm doing my best to make sure that he doesn't have to do what i'm doing now."