"Terrible tragedy, but the immediate referral to grief counselors is a modern anomaly. How did the US survive so long without all of this assistance???"
For sure. In about 1951, a Sioux City, Iowa -story meat packing plant was flattened by an explosion. Many were killed and virtually everyone in town lost a friend or neighbor.
We all survived w/o counselors.
"We all survived w/o counselors.
"
Yes, and so have many who have had tragedy occur around them. On the other hand, I cannot see the harm in counselors in such situations. Since I can't see the harm, I can't find any reason to whine about them.