Photographer Captures Boy Scouts Burning Flag

If I used their title, you'd never read it and you'd miss how the flag is respected instead of just being thrown away.

U.S. Flags Retired In Vernon Ceremony
EGP News
By Nancy Martinez,
EGP Staff Writer

Members of Boy Scouts of America Troop 419 held a special

flag retirement ceremony June 25 at Vernon Fire Station 1.

(EGP photo by Nancy Martinez)

There were hundreds of them: U.S. flags battered by years of exposure to sun and pollution, a far cry from the vibrant red, white and blue of their “Old Glory” days.

Last week, the Vernon Chamber of Commerce hosted a ceremony to retire faded and torn flags they had collected from area businesses and the homes of individuals that were in danger of being discarded in trash bins, a disrespectful end to the best-known symbol of U.S. independence, the red, white and blue American flag.

This Saturday, people all across the country will display the flag as part of their Fourth of July celebration. Many will have no clue that there’s an etiquette that goes with flying and caring for Old Glory and for disposing of the flag when it falls into disrepair.

Boy Scout Troop 419 led last Thursday’s flag ceremony at Vernon Fire Station 1. The troop is located in Vernon but none of its members actually live in the city. Some of the younger Cub Scouts attend Vernon Elementary; most live in the bordering cities of Cudahy, Maywood and Huntington Park. They meet at the Vernon Fire Station.
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July 4 Celebrations Canceled at UK Bases Due to 'Threat Assessments'

July 4 Celebrations Canceled at UK Bases Due to 'Threat Assessments' 
Stars and Stripes
July 3, 2015

A C-130 Hercules from the Air Force Reserve Command's 440th Airlift 

Wing at General Mitchell Air Reserve Station, Wis., sits on the ramp

during a 4th of July (2007) fireworks display. (U.S. Air Force archive photo/Joe Oliva)

The U.S. Air Force has canceled 4th of July events in Britain due to “local threat assessments,” it was announced Thursday.

A statement on the website of Royal Air Force Mildenhall said RAFs Lakenheath and Mildenhall called off celebrations set for Friday and Saturday at Royal Air Force Feltwell.

“The decision was made due to the most current local threat assessments. The base continually surveys the security environment alongside host nation counterparts and must take appropriate measures based on those assessments,” the statement said.

The statement quoted Col. David Eaglin, 48th Fighter Wing vice commander, as saying the decision was taken in the interest of safety.
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Winn Dixie Forgot To Honor All The Other 20 Million Veterans

Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
July 1, 2015

Blind patriotism is writing a check and thinking you just did something worthy of all they did for us. Ignorance is no excuse for forgetting those who came before those you choose to remember.

This morning started out like every other day. I got up at 4:30, put on the coffee, let my dog out and turned on the TV to catch up on the news. As soon as I turned it on there was, what I thought would be, a great patriotic commercial for those who served this nation. After all, they are the reason we are still free. They are ready to defend us with their lives. All of them. And that is the part that made me sick to my stomach.

The commercial from Winn Dixie wasn't about all our veterans. It was not about the over 20 million veterans out of the news and the spotlight of the reporters. It wasn't about all the dedicated groups taking care of all our veterans equally simply because they are worthy of so much more. No, not about WWII veterans, Korean War veterans, Vietnam War veterans or Gulf War veterans. It was about donating money to Wounded Warrior Project despite the hashtag Winn Dixie wants folks to use which is "#allforhonor."

 This is from WWP website

Why don't you offer services to ALL veterans?
WWP began as a small, grassroots effort to provide immediate assistance when a warrior of this generation was injured. We felt we could do the most good by providing more comprehensive programs and services to the newly injured, rather than spread ourselves too thin by trying to help all veterans. We also knew there were many terrific veterans' organizations for warriors from previous conflicts, but very few focused on serving our newest generation.

Driving to work at 5:45, my favorite radio station played their ad. They repeated it all day long.

I emailed Winn Dixie and asked how they abandoned the other veterans. This was their response.

Thank you for reaching out to us to express your opinions. We are partnering with WPP for this particular promotion because we have a responsibility to care and contribute to the lives of those who have served and sacrificed for our nation, and we believe WWP is doing just that. We have chosen to be specific with our donation by donating to the Independence program so that 100% of our donation goes directly to the veterans they serve and not administrative costs.

We understand that our campaign focus is of concern to you, but we hope you’ll understand this is one of many programs we have in place to give back to the communities we serve, many of which are veterans organizations. Just last year, with the help of our customers, vendor partners and associates – BI-LO, Harveys and Winn-Dixie channeled more than $10 million and nearly 33 million pounds of food back to hundreds of non-profit organizations across our footprint. Again, we appreciate your feedback and thank you for shopping with us!
Winn Dixie Customer Support

This is their press release

BI-LO, Harveys and Winn-Dixie to hold Wounded Warrior Project Day
Fourth of July profits to go to Wounded Warrior Project

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., July 1, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) and longtime collaborator Southeastern Grocers — home of BI-LO, Harveys and Winn-Dixie — band together for a special Fourth of July initiative: Wounded Warrior Project Day. Southeastern Grocers will donate every cent of every dollar of Independence Day profits to WWP to help support the Independence Program.

The WWP Independence Program helps warriors live life to the fullest, on their own terms. It pairs a specialized case manager with each injured service member and his or her family to develop a personalized plan that targets the warrior's needs or interests. In many instances, for the cost of one month in an in-patient institutionalized brain injury rehabilitation program, the WWP Independence Program can provide a year's worth of community-based support on a weekly basis to an individual warrior.

On Saturday, July 4, BI-LO, Harveys and Winn-Dixie customers can support WWP programs by simply shopping at one of the nearly 800 participating grocery stores in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, North and South Carolina. Customers are also able to make individual contributions to WWP at BI-LO, Harveys and Winn-Dixie websites and in-store checkout stations.

"BI-LO, Harveys and Winn-Dixie operate in states with some of the highest active duty military populations in the United States," said Ian McLeod, Southeastern Grocers president and chief executive officer.

McLeod announced the initiative and thanked active and retired military and their families for their service and sacrifice. "While we recognize on Memorial Day those soldiers who paid the supreme sacrifice, and give thanks to those that have served on Veterans Day; the sacrifice and needs of those who are severely injured visibly or invisibly is not necessarily fully understood. I am honoured that we are running this program and am thankful to the military men and women and their families for their service and sacrifice."

"We are excited to continue our work with BI-LO, Harveys and Winn-Dixie in the spirit of lifelong commitment to serving our nation's veterans," said Steve Nardizzi, WWP chief executive officer. "The promise we have made to injured servicemen and women is evident in the kindness from companies like Southeastern Grocers. The generosity that will result from Wounded Warrior Project Day is vital to honoring and empowering our nation's bravest. Independence Day provides a timely framework to celebrate that mission and those who help us fulfill it, while uplifting those we serve."

Wounded Warrior Project Day is one of many ways Southeastern Grocers continues to support Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP). Southeastern Grocers has donated more than $610,000 to WWP in the following areas: Believe In Heroes® campaign, Soldier Ride® and the Alumni Program. Wounded Warrior Day will also be celebrated on social media platforms across the Internet. Donors with social media accounts are welcome to post tributes to injured veterans using #allforhonor.

All for honor? Seriously? I thought about all my uncles who served in WWII. They passed away years ago after fighting for this country. My husband's Dad and his uncles also served in WWII and passed away. We're losing that generation but many are still with us and they endured the same wounds as the generations before them.

I thought about my Dad and how he served in Korea and all the other Korean veterans still with us. My Dad was 100% disabled but he passed away years ago after his generation also suffering from the same wounds.

I thought about my husband, a Vietnam veteran, also 100% disabled for serving this country and thank God he is still here. We've been married over 30 years. There are a lot of other families just like mine. Forgotten in all of this even though our generation fought for everything being done on PTSD and TBI long before this generation was even born topped off with Agent Orange. I thought about how most of the veteran suicides are over the age of 50 but no one seems to care.

I thought about friends, Gulf War veterans suffering from the same wounds plus the wounds causing illnesses no one is really sure about even after all these years.

Then I thought about all the organizations formed so many years ago but have been ignored by all these businesses writing checks and getting a lot of publicity doing it. They are blind, as you noticed from the response from Winn Dixie.

We belong to the Disabled American Veterans. My husband is a Commander at one of the Chapters. We belong simply because of the work they have been doing for all disabled veterans since WWI. One of those veterans was my Dad and then they helped my husband.

The historical account of DAV in Wars and Scars on the pages that follow tells the story of that journey, from the days after World War I to the men and women of today returning from Iraq, Afghanistan and beyond. It tells the story of the veterans, families and civilians who made the commitment that none of America’s heroes should ever go it alone.

We support and belong to the Veterans of Foreign Wars

The VFW traces its roots back to 1899 when veterans of the Spanish-American War (1898) and the Philippine Insurrection (1899-1902) founded local organizations to secure rights and benefits for their service: Many arrived home wounded or sick. There was no medical care or veterans' pension for them,and they were left to care for themselves.

In their misery, some of these veterans banded together and formed organizations with what would become known as the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. After chapters were formed in Ohio, Colorado and Pennsylvania, the movement quickly gained momentum. By 1915, membership grew to 5,000; by 1936, membership was almost 200,000

I belong to Point Man International Ministries helping veterans heal the spiritual wound of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder since 1984.

Since 1984, when Seattle Police Officer and Vietnam Veteran Bill Landreth noticed he was arresting the same people each night, he discovered most were Vietnam vets like himself that just never seemed to have quite made it home. He began to meet with them in coffee shops and on a regular basis for fellowship and prayer. Soon, Point Man Ministries was conceived and became a staple of the Seattle area. Bills untimely death soon after put the future of Point Man in jeopardy.

However, Chuck Dean, publisher of a Veterans self help newspaper, Reveille, had a vision for the ministry and developed it into a system of small groups across the USA for the purpose of mutual support and fellowship. These groups are known as Outposts. Worldwide there are hundreds of Outposts and Homefront groups serving the families of veterans.

When you go shopping on July 4th remember the faces that have been forgotten by Winn Dixie and far too many others pretending to be doing something for all veterans while only caring about some.

WWII Veterans Still Matter

Korean War Veterans Still Matter

Vietnam Veteran Still Matter

Gulf War Veterans Still Matter

These are the veterans forgotten this July 4th

Army Drops July 4th Tradition

Army refuses to provide Honor Guard for church's July 4th celebration 
FoxNews.com
By Todd Starnes
Published June 09, 2015

For nearly two decades, the U.S. Army has provided an honor guard for an Independence Day celebration at a Baptist church that predates the founding of the nation. But this year – that tradition has come to an end.

Officials at Fort Gordon say they will not be able to send an honor guard to a July 5th service at Abilene Baptist Church because it violates a military policy banning any involvement in a religious service.

“While there are conditions under which the Army can participate in events conducted at a house of worship, we cannot participate in the context of a religious service,” Public Affairs Officer J.C. Mathews told me.

He said officials at Fort Gordon as well as the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate reviewed the church’s request and determined they were in fact holding a “religious service.”

So it’s OK to invite the troops so long as you don’t pray, talk about Jesus or read the Bible?
read more here

Fort Fumble does it again!

Honor veterans requires more than holidays

PBS Capitol 4th

Four out of ten Federal Holidays are about the men and women serving this country.

Federal Holiday
1. New Year’s Day
2. Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
3. Washington’s Birthday

*This holiday is designated as "Washington’s Birthday" in section 6103(a) of title 5 of the United States Code, which is the law that specifies holidays for Federal employees. Though other institutions such as state and local governments and private businesses may use other names, it is our policy to always refer to holidays by the names designated in the law.

4. Memorial Day
5. Independence Day
6. Labor Day
7. Columbus Day
8. Veterans Day
9. Thanksgiving Day
10. Christmas Day

George Washington was the 1st President and a veteran.

The History of America’s Independence Day

On June 11, 1776, the colonies' Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia and formed a committee whose express purpose was drafting a document that would formally sever their ties with Great Britain. The committee included Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman and Robert R. Livingston. Jefferson, who was considered the strongest and most eloquent writer, crafted the original draft document (as seen above). A total of 86 changes were made to his draft and the Continental Congress officially adopted the final version on July 4, 1776.

The truth is, we may honor them with holidays, but we don't honor them with days of caring for them. The problems within the VA are not new. Nothing is new. That is the most disgraceful thing of all. We let it all happen because we forgot about them.

U.S. troops celebrate July 4th in Afghanistan
0:57

July 4, 2014 4:04 PM EDT — American troops mark July 4th at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan with music and games. (Reuters)

Suicidal Iraq Veteran Killed by Police in Kansas

Possibly suicidal Iraq war veteran dead after officer-involved shooting in Wichita, KS
41 Action News Staff , With KSN
July 4, 2014

WICHITA, Kan. - Police in Wichita, Kan., fatally shot a man who, they said, was coming at them with a weapon.

Police said they received a call from family members inside a house in the 7800 block of East Clay around 1 p.m. that a man was suicidal.

When the police arrived, he came outside and approached officers in an aggressive manner with a weapon in hand.

One of the two police officers involved attempted to subdue the man with a stun gun after noticing the weapon. When that didn’t work, the officer used their handgun.

The family said the man was in the military and had done tours in Iraq. He had been dealing with mental issues prior to this incident.
read more here

UPDATE

Family holds vigil after man dies in officer-involved shooting
KWCH 12 News
Jul 05, 2014

WICHITA, Kan.
Family members spoke today at a vigil in honor of a man who died in an officer-involved shooting yesterday.

"We were failed, they failed," Ida Allen, sister of the man killed said. "The city failed us."

Police say Icarus Randolph charged at an officer with a knife after they were called to the scene by family for a report of a suicidal person.

His family says Randolph's mother made a call for law enforcement to check on his mental wellness, saying he suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after serving in the Iraq war as a Marine.
read more here

Procession 3 miles long escorted fallen Marine Home

New Braunfels welcomes home fallen Marine
Sgt. Thomas Spitzer killed last week in Afghanistan
ABC 12 News
By Stephanie Serna
KSAT Reporter
July 4, 2014

NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas - It was an emotional homecoming for fallen Marine Sgt. Thomas Spitzer, 23, as the New Braunfels community gathered along FM 758 to thank the young sergeant and his family for his service.

"To show support for the family and their extreme loss," said Rhonda Sanders, a New Braunfels resident.

"He gave all so we can have the freedoms we have today."

Spitzer was killed just over a week ago while conducting combat operations in Afghanistan.

On Friday, a nearly 3 mile long procession with patriot guard riders, emergency vehicles, family members and friends made its way through New Braunfels to honor the fallen Marine.
read more here

Fireworks too much like "bombs bursting in air"

For some veterans, fireworks too much like "bombs bursting in air"
KPAX News
by Jacqueline Quynh
8 hours 34 minutes ago

It's seems ironic, that those who may have fought the hardest to keep our country safe and free, may have a hard time celebrating this holiday. But loud noise could potentially trigger flashbacks.

Even if you have never seen combat, if you've ever heard fireworks before, you can imagine it sounds a lot like gun fire. And that sound will be hard to escape this 4th of July weekend, and that's why some veterans who have seen combat have a hard time coping this week.

"It sounded kind of like being back on the airport in Mosul Iraq and having incoming fire," said Brian Becker an army combat veteran with the Missoula Vet Center, who's served tours in Iraq. He remembers one year when a firework display he was enjoying with family turned out to be too much.

"I remember specifically just sitting down kind of putting my head in my hands and just kind of waiting it out," said Becker.
read more here


Veterans and the Rockets Red Glare

Veterans and the Rockets Red Glare

Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
July 3, 2014

The 4th of July is tomorrow and tonight many will head out to see fireworks but many more will avoid them. Veterans don't have to see fireworks to remember but since men were willing to risk their lives for this nation, it has been a cause of celebrating what Americans have without honestly thinking about the price paid by them.

Thought to be invented by the Chinese 2,000 years ago, fireworks have been a tradition of America's Fourth of July celebrations since the country's inception, with the founding fathers themselves seeing fireworks fit to mark the birth of their nation.

In a July 3, 1776 letter to his wife, John Adams declared that the signing of the Declaration of Independence should be a "great anniversary Festival" and "solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more."

It was not the last time average citizens would rise above their own needs for the sake of the country.

The Star Spangled Banner On September 14, 1814, U.S. soldiers at Baltimore’s Fort McHenry raised a huge American flag to celebrate a crucial victory over British forces during the War of 1812. The sight of those “broad stripes and bright stars” inspired Francis Scott Key to write a song that eventually became the United States national anthem. Key’s words gave new significance to a national symbol and started a tradition through which generations of Americans have invested the flag with their own meanings and memories.

The Star Spangled Banner will be played as always as the fireworks explode in the air but few will think of why or what price was paid.

The Star-Spangled Banner
O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight
O’er the ramparts we watch’d were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there,
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream,
’Tis the star-spangled banner - O long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore,
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion
A home and a Country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash’d out their foul footstep’s pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
Between their lov’d home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with vict’ry and peace may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the power that hath made and preserv’d us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto - “In God is our trust,”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

As we've seen throughout our history, there sadly may never be a last time citizens will be asked to pay any price to retain this nation of ours.

Think of them tonight and tomorrow and why we have reason to celebrate what they did for us. Understand that for them, they will remember those who did not come home again. They will remember friends long gone. They will remember the terror they survived as real rockets and bombs exploded while they were far from home. Then think of the veterans with the war still fresh inside of them everyday. If you are not a veteran, thank one today for what we celebrate tomorrow. If you have Combat PTSD, this video was done for you.
Hero After War
When it comes to the wound of war that leaves a scar on the soul, Vietnam veterans have been there fighting to make sure it is treated and helping to heal all generations of veterans. Brothers taking care of brothers and sisters like no one else can understand.

Fireworks over furloughs?

Fireworks over furloughs?
Wounded Times Blog
Kathie Costos
July 12, 2013

Last week I was reading about how Camp Lejeune turned down free fireworks. After posting about twisted values in this country, when amusement seemed to matter more to the general pubic than what is happening to within the military, it was impossible to let this go.

While it is great that people stepped up and offered to donate money so that Camp Lejeune would shoot fireworks into the air, the money donated was not enough to cover the expenses.

There was something in the news report from The Jacksonville Daily news that clearly explained the disconnect between the public and the military.

“During a period in which federal employees are scheduled to be furloughed due to sequestration, expending limited funds and paying personnel overtime to manage a non-mission-essential event did not seem to be a prudent use of finite government resources,” said Fahy.

How can this not matter as much? How can people not hold Congress accountable for what they have done to the members of the military and civilians working in support of them? This report came out July 4th Camp Lejeune prepares for furloughs

The county simply spent more money on the fireworks they were doing, so no one really lost out except for the members of the military. When they have to do without because of budget cuts, when workers have to take unpaid time off and miss the income, none of it seemed to matter as much as celebrating the outcome of the Patriots taking a stand and risking their lives to obtain our freedom. Seems pretty twisted that the people responsible for retaining that freedom are suffering while the celebration meant more.

Vietnam vet showing Independence Day spirit in his yard

Vietnam vet showing Independence Day spirit in his yard
Bismarck, ND
(WDAY TV) - The Fourth of July holiday has been filled with fireworks, families, and American flags. As the holiday weekend winds down, one man gets ready to take down his contribution to Independence Day. An explosion of color on his front lawn.
By: WDAY Staff Reports, WDAY
July 8, 2013

Bismarck, ND (WDAY TV) - The Fourth of July holiday has been filled with fireworks, families, and American flags. As the holiday weekend winds down, one man gets ready to take down his contribution to Independence Day. An explosion of color on his front lawn.

Daniel Dacar, Vietnam Vet: "We can't shoot fireworks in town so, this is my way of celebrating."

For the past four years, Daniel Dacar has celebrated military holidays like the Fourth of July by adorning his lawn.

Dacar: "It's pretty simple, but it does take time."

Two-hundred thirty-three flags get put up a few days before the holiday and fly high until a few days after.

Dacar: "I have all the branches of the military, North Dakota, United Nations, then on the far end is all the states."
read more here

KETK News director upset over fireworks instead of National Guards pay cut?

Neal Barton, KETK News Director article "The government is trying to punish some of us" starts with

Happy 4th of July, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

By the way, we won't be having a fireworks show this year because of the sequestration.

Let me get this straight.

This is Camp Lejeune which is full of military famililes who make no money being in the service.

The fireworks show is an event all families there look forward to, but no fireworks because the government can't afford it.

So how is it his priorities can be so twisted that he didn't mention this? National Guardsmen worth-less to congress as they end up getting less pay.

The list of wrongs being done to members of our military is long and a hell of a lot more important than if they put on a fireworks display or not. Talk about selfish because "all families" enjoy it. All military families are hurting and have been hurting over the lack of honest reporting going on. Barton is just one more in a long list so self absorbed he can't see the empty sky is a tiny issue compared to what is really going on.

Soldier killed on July 4th in Afghanistan was only 18 years old

DoD Identifies Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Pvt. Errol D.A. Milliard, 18, of Birmingham, Ala., died July 4 in Farah province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with a rocket propelled grenade while on dismounted patrol. He was assigned to the 2nd Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade, White Sands Missile Range, N.M.

Vietnam veteran passed away waiting for parade to begin

Vietnam vet dies near start of parade route
By The Record
July 05, 2013

STOCKTON - One reason revelers turned out for the Fourth of July parade in Stockton on Thursday was to remember those who served in the armed forces.

But after the parade, Stockton's veterans were remembering one of their own. Arthur "Cowboy" Owens, 67, apparently died near the starting point of the parade route, sometime near where the procession began, said friends of the U.S. Army veteran who served during the Vietnam War.

Part of the Stockton's Veterans of Foreign Wars Luneta Post 52, he was one of the parade captains helping to organize the group.
read more here

Soldiers return to Fort Campbell on Fourth of July

Soldiers return to Fort Campbell on Fourth of July
WSMV News
Posted by Kevin Young
Posted: Jul 03, 2013

FORT CAMPBELL, KY (WSMV)

There's no day more patriotic than Independence Day, especially for a soldier homecoming.

Members of the 541st Transportation Company returned home to Fort Campbell early Thursday morning after a nine-month deployment to Afghanistan.
read more here and see video report

Fourth of July parade tragedy when child run over by float Dad was driving

Father driving float accidentally runs over son at Fourth of July parade
NBC News
By Sophia Rosenbaum
July 4, 2013

An Oklahoma Fourth of July parade turned tragic Thursday morning when a father accidentally ran over and killed his eight-year-old son who had been on a parade float, police said.

Thousands of people had gathered on the streets of Edmond, Okla., to watch the 40th annual Fourth of July parade, which is part of the weeklong LibertyFest celebration.

When he was loaded into the ambulance, the nurse said he still had a pulse but the boy was pronounced dead when he arrived at UC Presbyterian Hospital.
read more here

The Ongoing Sacrifice: Exploring PTSD This Independence Day

The Ongoing Sacrifice: Exploring PTSD This Independence Day
Huffington Post
Jane Mosbacher Morris
Director of Humanitarian Action
McCain Institute for International Leadership
Posted: 07/03/2013

As a kid, I used to count down the days until the Fourth of July. The holiday meant that I got to don my favorite red, white and blue swimsuit, eat endless amounts of BBQ and spend time with my family and friends. As I've gotten older, however, I've tried to reflect less on the festivities and more on the true meaning of Independence Day and all that it represents. In anticipation of this year's holiday, my mission was to learn more about the ongoing needs of those who have made and kept America free -- our veterans.

I decided to reach out to William Roby, Board Chair of the veterans' organization USA Cares, to teach me about the challenges that post-9/11 veterans are facing, particularly with regards to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Morris: First, tell me about USA Cares. What is the mission of the organization?

Roby: USA Cares' official mission is to help bear the burdens of service by providing post-9/11 military families with financial and advocacy support in their time of need.

M: Tell me more about what that means and what that looks like on a day-to-day basis.

R: Let's say that a reservist normally makes $60,000 a year in her civilian job. If she was called to active duty after 9/11 and remained on active duty for seven years, she may only be making $30,000 a year, as a solider. That means that she has been sacrificing half of the income that she normally contributes to her family. Accordingly, her family may be in financial trouble (underwater on the mortgage, owing car loans etc.).

Or, let's take a veteran suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Treatment may be free, but he may need to miss a couple of months of work in order to get that treatment. This often discourages a veteran from seeking treatment because he and his family cannot afford to lose those three months of salary.

This is where USA Cares comes in -- providing emergency financial assistance to veterans and their families in appreciation for their service and sacrifice. The organization relies solely on donations, meaning that it never charges fees or accepts repayment from veterans, so veterans don't have to worry about paying it back.
read more here

Fireworks ignite painful memories for PTSD sufferers

Fireworks ignite painful memories for PTSD sufferers
FOX 4 News
by Andrew Lynch and Charly Arnolt
July 3, 2013

OTTAWA, Kan. – For some war veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, the sights and sounds on the Fourth of July can be nothing short of a shell-shocking nightmare.

“The sounds, the appearances, the smells…they send me back to where I once was,” Allen Hill of Ottawa, Kan said.

He’s been back from Iraq for nearly six years, but due to PTSD he still can’t shake the feeling of being in battle.

“Think about something that scared you once and then that moment is seared into your brain,” Allen said.

Every Fourth of July, Allen fights that battle.

“When he has an episode, he’s not here, he doesn’t see us,” said wife Gina Hill, “If he sees us we’re someone in Iraq instead of his family, so for him it can be pretty dangerous.”

Allen said he and his family prepare for the worst on the holiday with a back-up plan.

If the fireworks prove to be too much, Allen will go into his “quiet room”, equipped with soundproof walls and special equipment to block out the noise.
read more here

Too many have forgotten the true price of the 4th of July

Too many have forgotten the true price of the 4th of July
Wounded Times Blog
Kathie Costos
July 4, 2013

USA Today has an article titled Forget fireworks: July 4 is for freebies and it is a safe bet that many will read it and search for what they can get for free or as cheap as possible.

That is how some view how to honor the birth of this nation. Too many have forgotten the true price of the 4th of July.

“What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated.” Thomas Paine

There is a church near my house with a sign that says the price of freedom has been paid. I hope they are referring to our freedom from sin and the price Christ paid with His life because if they imagine the price for the freedom of this nation has been paid, they are delusional. We will never really pay for our freedom until every man and woman willing to risk their lives so we can retain our freedom are properly taken care of and honored for all they were willing to sacrifice for our sake.

It seem really popular right now to jump all over the Department of Veterans Affairs for all they got wrong in the last four years or so but an honest observation demands clarity. The clear message is, we have never properly taken care of our veterans and we will never do it unless we actually admit what we did before all of this suffering.

We didn't fix much after the Gulf War. We didn't fix enough after Vietnam or Korea. We came close after WWII but there was still much we didn't fix after WWI. We didn't get it right after the Civil War because we didn't learn much from the Revolutionary War.

Too many have forgotten the history of how we not only obtained our freedom but what price has been paid by those willing to sacrifice all to retain it.

When you are looking for your bargain today so you can save some money, remember the price paid for this day in our country.

July 4th celebration for some, frightening for others

4th of July Fireworks a Nightmare for Shell-Shocked War Veterans
GOOD MORNING AMERICA
By SUSAN DONALDSON JAMES
Digital Reporter
July 3, 2013

Samuel Askins spent 545 days as an infantryman in the U.S. Army in Iraq, witnessing numerous firefights and suffering a concussion in an explosion that eventually ended with a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder.

"It ruined my life," Askins said, adding that he tried to kill himself with alcohol and drugs because of the panic attacks and despair that followed him back to the United States and resulted in his retirement from active duty.

Today, at 35, he helps other vets as director of Camp Hope in Houston, but even he is having a tough week anticipating the loud fanfare that comes hand in hand with Fourth of July.

"Even with my recovery, the fireworks will kill me this week. The [fireworks] stands are all open," Askins said.

"Just last week, I went fishing and I put the boat in the water when a cherry bomb exploded. I fell out of the boat.

"I will have to deal with this for the rest of my life," he said.
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