Showing posts with label Orlando FL. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Orlando FL. Show all posts

Saturday, October 13, 2018

Ace Cafe got Cycle Fever Thursday night

Thursday night I was out at Ace Cafe in Orlando for a rare behind the scene recording of Cycle Fever TV because our buddy Sgt. Dave Matthews of Never Forgotten Memorials was their guest. Dave is also on KLRN Radio on, you guessed it, Thursday nights. 
Cycle Fever TV
To Keep Up To Date With Our Special Events, Check Out Our Podcast Every Thursday At 7:30pm EST sharp! We Are Live streaming on YouTube! Check Out Our Social As Well To Check Out What We Are Up To! See Us At Ace Cafe, Where We Regularly Stream!
And yes, bikers! Naturally, between bikers and veterans I felt right at home! 

(On a personal note, to the staff of Ace Cafe, you guys are awesome! Once I explained that basically I have a broken back and climbing stairs up to the tower was not good for me, you guys got me into the elevator! I didn't even know there was one there after being out there several times.)




In these videos it is clear to see that these guys are absolutely passionate about veterans and bikers!

These guys are awesome! I had to make sure I did not bust out laughing since I was standing right in front of them.

John of Cycle Fever and Rick of United States Motorcycle Corps Charities Inc and Hank do one of the funniest shows I've heard and on every other Thursday night.
This is Dave's show that was on when Dave was doing this show.

Remember the Fallen



Shadow Warrior Riders Fundraiser Krystal Parker
October 11, 2018•59 min
As we lose another Patriot "Krystal Parker" to the silent epidemic of 22 every day dying of suicide, we honor, remember and celebrate her life with a Fundraiser Memorial at the Ace Cafe with the assistance of Shadow Warrior Riders Motorcycle Club, LLC, Today's Veteran Organization, Never Forgotten Memorials, Inc. and Adam Martin from black Bird Anthem

Thursday, October 11, 2018

UCF Veterans Resource Fair

The Mustard Seed of Central Florida is helping people get back on their feet, including veterans! They helped a veteran and his family find a place of their own after becoming homeless. That homelessness happened after Marine was discharged for medical reasons after serving 4 years!




I have spent most of my life knowing what the DAV does. After all, my Dad was 100% disabled Korean War veteran and they helped him with his claim. Then they helped my husband. 

If you have questions or need some answers...or someone to fight for you for a change, contact them! DAV Chapter 16 in Orlando~




Orlando Vet Center has everything you need to let the healing begin!
Address5575 S Semoran Blvd # 30, Orlando, FL 32822

The Vet Centers have been able to get veterans understand that they are not taking another veteran's place, but help them understand that they matter just as much. Heck, they helped me back in the 90's in Massachusetts when I was trying to get my husband understand that he paid for his care the day he signed the blank check to Uncle Sam.
VITAS Healthcare
"You fought a war for us. 
Is your health still a battle?"
No one washes their hands of veterans who choose hospice services from VITAS. It does not matter if you need to be in a facility or, choose to stay home, they will help you when you need it, but also help your caregivers when they need it. They know what you are dealing with and everything that came from your service. It does not matter which war, illness or even if it is from being on a contaminated military base, like Camp Lejeune. If you want to find out more about all the fabulous services they offer, call 407-921-2695



The UCF Veterans History Project is also near and dear to my heart! Since I grew up surrounded by two generations of combat veterans, I am ashamed to admit, I stopped listening to their stories...then I stopped remembering them. This is about documenting the services of veterans so that we never forget those who paid the price for the freedoms we have.


Orlando Veterans Court has a mission to help veterans heal instead of seeing them locked up! It is not a get out of jail free pass, but they set veterans up with the resources they need to begin to heal their lives!

UCF Cares About You
Phone 407-823-5607
Email ucfcares@ucf.edu
Location Ferrell Commons, Room 142
UCF Cares is an umbrella of care-related programs and resources dedicated to fostering a caring community of Knights. However, it takes all of us from students to staff, from faculty to friends, to show that we care about one another. The goal of the UCF CARES initiative is to build a culture of care one KNIGHT at a time. We are all UCF and need to do our part in connecting any fellow knights in distress to appropriate resources.

 UCF Restores
Among other awesome things UCF Restores is doing, they are conducting research on smelling~ Yep! You know how when you smell something, it can bring back memories of growing up. I sure do, because it is chocolate chip cookies out of the oven and right away I remember my Aunt's cookies. I get all warm and filled with great memories. 

Those smells can also be a trigger for something bad that happened to you. When you survived "it" every part of "you" was involved. That is why sounds and smells can bring things back you do not want to relive. They are trying to understand the association and how it can be treated.

Awesome right? For older veterans it is the smell of diesel. You know what that does.

Anyway, they are looking for males from 18 and up who are OEF OIF veterans. They want you to call 407-823-3910. 


If you are still wondering how to #TakeBackYourLife, then contact all those great groups and START DOING IT!

Saturday, August 11, 2018

Orlando police escorted wounded officer's son first day of school

Orlando Police, Chief Mina escort Officer Valencia's son to first day of school
WESH2 News
August 10, 2018

ORLANDO, Fla.
Two months after Orlando police officer Kevin Valencia was shot during a standoff, his coworkers, and Chief John Mina escorted his son to his first day of school.
The Orlando Police Department released a video of the group escorting Kaleb to his first day of kindergarten.

Valencia was shot during a standoff that killed four children and remains in a coma at a rehab center near Atlanta, Georgia.

If you would like to donate to Kevin Valencia's short and long term expenses while he recovers, click here.
go here for this video but have tissues ready.

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Inspiring National Veterans Wheelchair Games

National Veterans Wheelchair Games brings adaptive sports to Orlando
Orlando Sentinel
Patrick Connolly
August 1, 2018
Over 650 disabled military veterans, including some from Great Britain and Puerto Rico, are expected to compete in 21 events.
The National Veterans Wheelchair Games rolled into Orlando this week, bringing events ranging from wheelchair rugby to archery and table tennis.

The 38th games kicked off at the Orange County Convention Center on Monday with events happening through Saturday. Admission is free except for paid convention center parking.
Josh Burch, a Marine veteran from Virginia, is in his first year of playing wheelchair rugby. Wheelchair rugby isn’t exactly like the rugby other athletes play, he explained.

“It’s not really like rugby at all,” Burch said. “It’s more like basketball and catch.”

For the games, he’s on a team with Mason Symons, an Army veteran from Texas who has dreams of making it to the USA team. He said things can get heated sometimes.

“It’s intense, it’s combative,” Symons said. “It gets pretty brutal.”
read more here

Sunday, April 15, 2018

Blue Jacket Park Honors Female Sailors

Statue of female sailor at Blue Jacket Park honors Navy legacy, women who served at sea
On Saturday, a bronze statue of a woman in a Navy uniform was unveiled at Blue Jacket Park in Baldwin Park, a community with more than 4,600 homes that sprouted after the 1,900-acre Naval Training Center was shuttered in the 1990s.
The statue, named the Blue Jacket Recruit — a Navy term for an enlisted sailor, honors the 188,000 female recruits whose graduation from the nation’s first coed boot camp proved they were not only as ready as men but also willing and able to serve their country.
read more from Orlando Sentinel here

Sunday, March 4, 2018

6th Annual Orlando Rocks for Veterans Honoree Ret. US Navy Kelly Smith

Yesterday was one of my favorite events. It was the 6th Annual Orlando Rocks for Veterans at VFW Post 4287 in Orlando, sponsored by Semper Fidelis America. 

This year, I am dealing with a lot of back problems, so not the same footage as previous years, but as you can see, we still had a great day for a great lady!








 Kelly Smith and Cook
 CB Mike, Seabees





















 Hubby visiting after he locked me up!
 And yes, he took my camera away too!
This is Jason. He was locked up more than most people.
And yes, we locked up his adorable baby son too!