24-hour sleep out at National War Memorial in St. John's for homeless vets

Two veteran volunteerswill spend the night at the National War Memorial in St. John's in an attempt to raise awareness for homeless veterans in Canada.

The small group from Veterans Emergency Transition Services (VETS)Canada are holding the third 24-Hour Vigil for Veterans from 9 a.m. Tuesday to 9 a.m. Wednesday. The volunteers are pledging they'll sleep outside regardless of the weather.

• Vigil at St. John's War Memorial highlights struggles faced by veterans

"The vigil allows us to shed some light on what our homeless veterans go through on a daily/nightly basis," said Don Hookey, a veteran and aNewfoundland organizer with the charity, in a press release.

"The difference is that we get to go home when it's over; homeless veterans are unable to do that."

The charity says its goal is to raise awareness of the problems facing veterans in Canada, and help connect veterans to the services available to them. VETS Canada says it has helped 1,400 veterans since 2010.

Culture shock

MarkGauci is the other volunteer pledging to spend the night at the National War Memorial.

Both he and Hookey served lengthy careers with the Canadian Forces, and both served in Afghanistan.

Gauci told CBC's Here and Nowthat the return to home for some soldiers can be like a "culture shock."

"We spend our entire careers training together, working together, sometimes even living together. And it's hard to leave that brotherhood and sisterhood," heexplained.

"Suddenly now you're in a different world, with different rules. It's a complete culture shock, and for some it's almost irreversible."

Gauci says the pair have been visited by a group of students from St. John's today, which was a "fantastic" learning opportunity.