News campaign sees results as MPs agree to discuss military veteran suicides
Portsmouth News UK Danny Johnston TOM COTTERILL 28 March 2019
THE true scale of the UK’s suicide epidemic among its veteran community will be exposed to MPs after campaigners secured a parliamentary debate on the crisis. For months The News has been lobbying the government to do more to address the escalating number of armed forces heroes taking their lives. Viv Johnston, mother of special forces hero Danny Johnston
Daniel Arnold and Stephen James, founders of armed forces support network All Call Signs. Photo: Ian Hargreaves
Now, following our campaign and efforts by military groups from Portsmouth, city MP Stephen Morgan has finally secured an official Westminster debate on the issue. Set to take place on Wednesday afternoon, it will see politicians discussing the crisis and working out how to address it. Portsmouth South MP Mr Morgan was ‘pleased’ to have achieved the Westminster hearing, and said: ‘This will be an excellent opportunity to show the government that more needs to be done to protect our serving men and women, and veterans. ‘It is clear ministers are letting down our armed forces personnel by not properly recording veteran suicide and I believe much of the support offered needs drastic improvement. read more here
Vietnam veteran who feeds fellow veterans named 2019 Red Cross Military Hero
WSLS NBC 10 News Lindsey Ward March 19, 2019
Our 2019 Red Cross Military Hero is a Vietnam veteran now helping other vets with one of life's basics: food.
You could say Bill McCann is surrounded by veterans.
When he's at home he helps his 95-year-old father-in-law who fought in World War II, pass the time with a puzzle.
But when McCann's out and about he's most likely volunteering with his nonprofit, Vittles for Vets.
“What we do is we issue $50 food gift cards to veterans who qualify for the program and to qualify you must be other than dishonorably discharged, you must be alcohol - and drug-free, and you must be living at or below federal guidelines for poverty,” McCann, he Red Cross Military Hero Award honoree, said.
Giving out these gift cards to veterans stemmed from a conversation with a homeless vet back in 2014.
“I took him to lunch in the cafeteria at the VA, gave him a $50 gift card to a supermarket and this big guy grabbed my hand and started crying and that was the very second Vittles for Vets was born,” McCann said.
Celebrities Help Build Homes for Veterans in SCV with Homes 4 Families
PRESS RELEASE MAR 18, 2019
Homes 4 Families hosted its third Celebs4Vets Build at the Veteran Enriched Neighborhood off Soledad Canyon Road in Santa Clarita on Saturday.
The Los Angeles-based nonprofit empowers low-income veterans and their families to enter the middle class by providing them with affordable housing and holistic services that build resiliency, self-sufficiency and economic growth.
More than 30 celebrities and other entertainment industry professionals picked up hammers and paint brushes and poured concrete to build homes, including stars from YouTube Red’s “Cobra Kai” and CBS’ “SEAL Team,” among many others.
Celebs4Vets is a membership-based group comprised of representatives of the entertainment industry who subscribe to the Homes 4 Families mission and lend their support by participating in H4F activities, events, and programs.
The Celebs4Vets Build provided members with the opportunity to help build some of the remaining 9 of 78 homes for low-income veterans and their families in Santa Clarita before H4F moves on to build another 56 veteran homes in Palmdale.
Celebrities each rolled up their sleeves to spend the day painting homes, doing finish carpentry, and pouring concrete driveways while also calling upon their fans to sponsor their efforts, raising money for their building supplies and materials.
“The Celebs4Vets members are truly making a difference in the lives of these low-income military families,” said Donna Deutchman, Homes 4 Families president and CEO. “Their passion for helping those that served our country is evident in every dollar they raise, every nail they hammer, and every wheelbarrow of concrete they mix.”
The participants included: John Ross Bowie (Speechless); “SEAL Team” cast members Toni Trucks and Judd Lormand; “Cobra Kai” cast members Tanner Buchanan, William Zabka, Mary Mouser, Xolo Mariduena and Jacob Bertrand; Johnathan Fernandez (“Lethal Weapon”); Phillip P. Keene (“Major Crimes); Noah Emmerich (“The Americans”); Drew Powell (“Gotham”); Tate Ellington (“The Brave”); Natacha Karam (“The Brave”); Edwin Hodge (“Mayans M.C.”); Reed Diamond (“The Purge”); Amy Paffrath (“Entertainment Tonight”); Drew Seeley (“Max and Wrigley”); Anna Konkle (“PEN15”); Sean Maguire (“Once Upon a Time”); Grace Kaufman (“Man with a Plan”); Bella Shepard (“A Girl Named Jo”); Reid Miller (“Play by Play”); Rod Man (“Last Comic Standing”); Al Coronel (“Bosch”); Matt Micucci (“Life is Boring”); and ‘Cobra Kai “writers Hayden Schlossberg, Jon Hurwitz and Josh Heald. read more here
“Why create another [charity]? Why not just come up with a way to generate some money to help charities that are already out there doing good work?” Carey asked.
“They don’t understand why I’m doing this,” Carey said, noting he is constantly explaining to those around him why he chooses to sacrifice his own income for the greater good.
We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers. While he’s not particularly religious, that’s the biblical principal that inspires one watchmaker in Illinois to donate his profits to different veterans charities around the country.
In 2012, Thomas Carey and his dad started Minuteman Watches, a company they created with the sole purpose of giving back to those who have served in the military.
Though his father — a Vietnam veteran — is permanently disabled as a result of Agent Orange, Carey has continued the work.
During the day, Carey sells RVs. But in his free time, he’s building and shipping out watches to people around the country, choosing not to pocket the money that comes in. Instead, he gives it away.
Carey told Faithwire his extracurricular effort often leaves his coworkers dumbfounded. read more here
Wounded North Texas Army Veteran, Family Get Free Home: ‘I Can’t Say Enough How Great This Place Is’
CBS 11 News By J.D. Miles March 14, 2019
ARGYLE, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) – There were tears of gratitude in Argyle where a wounded veteran and his family moved into a new home.
It was donated by the Gary Sinise Foundation which creates more accessible homes for deserving veterans and first responders.
A parade of veterans led the escort to where Jake Murphy and his wife raised the American flag outside their new home.
“As years pass I’ll be able to live comfortably in a place that is customized to my specific needs,” said Ret. Army Captain Jake Murphy.
Murphy lost both of his legs in an explosion while serving in Afghanistan more than seven years ago.
His previous home was inaccessible for a wheelchair which he sometimes uses.
The new home has wider doorways, lower racks and faucets as well has tablet controlled lights and other home environment functions.
“I can’t say enough how great this place is for me, Lisa and our children,” he said.
The home is one of 71 gifted to wounded heroes across the country through the Gary Sinise Foundation.
read more here
CT attorney misused money meant for veteran families, group says
New Haven Register By Pam McLoughlin March 12, 2019
A spokesperson at Fisher House Foundation released a statement Tuesday: “Fisher House Foundation is extremely disappointed that anyone would betray donors’ trust and misuse funds earmarked for veterans and their families and has never encountered an issue like this in its 29-year history.
WEST HAVEN — Lawyers for the national charitable arm and local fundraising group of Fisher House — a place where veterans’ families stay while loved ones are being treated at a VA Hospital — are trying going to recoup a large sum of money they allege went missing through the hands of Attorney Kevin Creed of Litchfield, founder and former CEO of Fisher House in West Haven.
Attorneys for Fisher House Foundation Inc. and Friends of Fisher House Connecticut Inc., are due to appear in court April 8 to ask a judge to appoint a “receiver” to take over the finances of Creed’s law firm in order to repay the money that a judge ruled Creed owes the organizations. read more here
"The Press-Enterprise reports co-founders John Wertz and Nate Parienti are motivated by the high rate of suicides amongst Iraq War veterans."
OMG! Not enough they are still stuck on the 22 a day, but now they just bumped all the other veterans out of the conversation? Looks like all the other generations are not even worth honorable mentioning.
Well, this is from the report with the "22" that apparently no one read before they decided to become the knight on a white horse to raise awareness on something THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT!!!
How the hell do any of them expect to change anything when they do not even understand what the "anything" actually is?
VA Struggles To Unlock The Reasons Behind High Suicide Rates Among Older Veterans
NPRHeard on All Things ConsideredMarch 11, 2019
The VA National Suicide Data Report for 2005 to 2016, which came out in September 2018, highlights an alarming rise in suicides among veterans age 18 to 34 — 45 per 100,000 veterans. Younger veterans have the highest rate of suicide among veterans, but those 55 and older still represent the largest number of suicides.
Much of the focus by the Veterans Health Administration has been on the growing number of younger veterans who commit suicide. However, statistics show that the suicide rate for elderly veterans is higher than that of non-veterans of the same age.
Robert Neilson was drafted in 1961. He spent two years in the Army just before the Vietnam War. Three years ago, the 76-year-old came into the VA Hospital in San Diego after contemplating suicide.
"That's what really brought me into the emergency room. That wasn't really the first time," Neilson said. "Two months after I got out of the service, I attempted suicide."
After he got out of the Army, Neilson remembers going back home to New Jersey. He was standing on a subway platform watching a speeding train."
"And I figured if I just hold my hands in the air, I could just let [the train] suck me in," Neilson said. "Somebody shouted, 'What are you doing?' And that was enough to snap me out of the trance. But I still didn't seek any help. I just figured, OK, I'll just struggle through life."read more here
Hey NPR...how about you read this site and then you'll know why! While most people get the "number" wrong, they also get the demographics wrong.
Fiscal Year 2017 (Federal Year: 10/1/2016-9/30/2017) demographic information from the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs, Veteran Population Projection Model 2016 (VetPop2016). Florida
has the third largest veteran population in the nation. There are 1,525,400 veterans in the State
of Florida.
Less than 354,000 currently receive VA service-connected compensation and pension benefits (not to be confused with military retirement benefits) Post-9/11 Veterans
There are 177,494 post-9/11 veterans in Florida.
Our returning veterans, much like the Greatest Generation of World War II, are seeking employment, housing and education opportunities for themselves, their spouses and families.
Research suggests that 10% to 18% of these service members are likely to have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after they return.
Gulf War (1990 to 9/11)
There are 188,024 Gulf War era veterans in Florida, from Gulf War 1990 to 9/11. Urban warfare has changed not only the face of war, but also what our veterans face after the war. With advances in technology and medicine, more service members are surviving injuries incurred in war that would have killed them in previous eras.
Peacetime
There are 352,600 Peacetime veterans in Florida, who served on active duty from 1976 to 1980. Almost a quarter of Florida’s veteran population served honorably during a unique and relatively conflict-free time in our history. Many of these veterans do not seek benefits, mistakenly believing that if they did not serve in combat, then they must not qualify for veteran benefits and programs.
Vietnam War
There are 519,843 Vietnam era veterans in Florida, who served during 1961 to 1975. FDVA has seen an increase in disability claims filed on behalf of Vietnam veterans due to triggered responses to the current wars and the manifestation of acute diseases brought on by exposure to Agent Orange.
Korean War
There are 139,129 Korean War era veterans in Florida, who served during 1950 to 1955. As these veterans have aged, benefits and services that address a variety of issues unique to their demographic, including changing health risks and long-neglected mental health needs, financial challenges and long-term care needs are being implemented.
World War II
There are 61,646 World War II veterans in Florida. World War II veterans were among the nation’s first to
participate in modern warfare. Their service also coincided with major advances in modern medicine, resulting in a then extraordinary survival rate.
In one of the latest reports from the VA, Florida and Texas topped the country for the most known suicides reported. When they "awareness" folks decided that all they needed to do to gain fame, fortune and a huge following, was yack about veterans killing themselves, and wow, you know, THEY GOT IT! They got it because the American people want to help but have no clue how to do it. These people took over social media, so that is what the public was made aware of and they wrote checks, clicked the donation buttons and shared the crap out of it with everyone they knew...and so on...on so on. Veterans need to know what PTSD is, why they have it, how they can heal most of it, and learn to live a better quality of life...but hey, why complicate a slogan with pesky facts? In the process, they made it seem as if all the older veterans you read about had already vanished! In other words, the MAJORITY OF OUR VETERANS ARE SENIORS and waited for help a hell of lot longer!
Veterans with no family are laid to rest at Sarasota National Cemetery
WWSB ABC 7 News By Kamara Daughtry March 10, 2019 SARASOTA (WWSB) - The Sarasota National Cemetery holds “Unclaimed Veteran” services once a week to honor those who’ve served our country.
A Veterans Affairs pension or other compensation is no longer a pre-requisite for “Unclaimed Veterans” to receive burial benefits. Unclaimed veterans are defined as those who die with no next of kin to claim their remains and insufficient funds to cover burial expenses.
ABC 7 covered the event Facebook live to show residents on Thurs. March 7, around 11:30 a.m., on volunteers around the Suncoast who paid their respects. The Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus organization came together to lay two Marines to rest, one soldier and one airman.
The Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus ensures that the veterans have a proper burial at no cost.
John Rosentrater, Director of the Sarasota National Cemetery told ABC7 burials occur at least once a week and veterans from all over the Suncoast come to the service and accept the flag as their “kin.”
A funeral home usually contacts the National Cemetery when an unclaimed veteran needs to be laid to rest and is reimbursed for their efforts. The PDF document listed here shows the Unclaimed Veteran Remains Casket or Urn Reimbursement Program.
For more information about the Sarasota National Cemetery contact (941) 922-7200. go here for video report
Central Florida veterans gave wounded veteran extra horsepower!
Combat PTSD Wounded Times Kathie Costos March 10, 2019
Today at the Horsepower Ranch, several veterans groups got onto their motorcycles...(horses would take too long) and helpedPatrick Wickens, who lost his leg in Iraq...but has not lost his love of riding...a motorcycle, gain a huge smile!
Homeless man and the woman in viral good Samaritan story plead guilty to federal charges
CNN By Janet DiGiacomo and Madison Park March 6, 2019
(CNN)It was a feel-good story that got people to open their wallets and donate.
The premise of the story that went viral in 2017 was that New Jersey resident Kate McClure ran out of gas on Interstate 95 in Philadelphia and a homeless man, Johnny Bobbitt Jr., gave her his last $20 while she was stranded. In return, McClure and her boyfriend, Mark D'Amico, started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for Bobbitt, saying they wanted to pay it forward to the good Samaritan and get him off the streets.
But the story wasn't true, authorities said, as McClure and Bobbitt pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal charges. "In reality, McClure never ran out of gas and Bobbitt never spent his last $20 for her," according to a US Attorney's Office press release. "D'Amico and McClure allegedly conspired to create the false story to obtain money from donors."
McClure, 28, could face up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. She will be sentenced on June 19. Bobbitt, 36, could face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. He will be sentenced at a later date. read more here
Veterans Receive Golden 'Tickets' Canceling Their Medical Debt
Military.com By Patricia Kime 5 Mar 2019 It sounds crazy and looks like a scam: a golden envelope containing a letter that says part or all of your health care debt has been erased.
But for thousands of veterans and family members, the mailings, which have been going out since 2016, have been the winning ticket for getting out from under a mountain of medical bills.
RIP Medical Debt’s VP of Acquisition, Mikel Burroughs (left), and its Executive Vice President, Jerry Ashton (right). (Facebook/RIP Medical Debt)
In the past three years, RIP Medical Debt has quietly erased roughly $65 million worth of medical debt for veterans, family members, National Guard and reserve members, notifying them by mail of the action, according to retired Army Col. Mikel Burroughs, vice president of military and civilian debt acquisition and relief at RIP Medical Debt.
The random acts of kindness are not just reserved for former military service members. Since beginning its mission in 2014, the nonprofit has forgiven about $435 million worth of medical debt for civilians with significant bills who are living at less than twice the poverty level, are insolvent or have more than 5 percent of their gross income going to health care debt.
The idea began when two collections industry executives, Craig Antico and Jerry Ashton, decided to establish a nonprofit to provide a tax-deductible means for individuals and donors to give money to forgive unpaid medical debt for those in dire need.
RIP Medical Debt works like this: Donors and organizations raise the funds needed to purchase medical debt from the companies that hold it after hospitals, providers, ambulance companies and agencies have exhausted their efforts to collect payment. RIP buys the debt for a penny -- or less -- on the dollar, so if a philanthropist donates $50,000, the non-profit can erase $5 million in debt. read more here
Florida Attorney General closes bogus veterans charity following 8 On Your Side Investigation
WFLA By: Steve Andrews Posted: Mar 06, 2019
Tampa, Fla Florida's Attorney General shut down a Tampa based veterans charity following a series of 8 On Your Side reports which revealed VetMade Industries was bogus.
VetMade Industries claimed it provided training to unemployed disabled veterans.
An 8 On Your Side investigation exposed that while VetMade collected more than $6.5 million dollars in contributions, its doors remained closed for 5 years and it trained no one.
So what happened to all that money collected to help unemployed disabled veterans? Join me tonight at 6 for this follow up go here for more
John Mayer launches foundation for veterans’ health
Press Herald February 28, 2019
Mayer, whose father was a World War II veteran, said part of the reason he started The Heart and Armor Foundation came after he visited the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in 2008.
John Mayer, a Grammy-winning singer, has started The Heart and Armor Foundation, which plans to focus on veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and meeting the needs of women veterans. Photo by Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP, file
NEW YORK — John Mayer is launching a foundation focused on improving the health of veterans through scientific research.
The Grammy-winning singer announced The Heart and Armor Foundation, which plans to focus on veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and meeting the emerging needs of women veterans.
John Mayer, a Grammy-winning singer, has started The Heart and Armor Foundation, which plans to focus on veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and meeting the needs of women veterans.
John Mayer, a Grammy-winning singer, has started The Heart and Armor Foundation, which plans to focus on veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and meeting the needs of women veterans. Photo by Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP, file
Though he publicly announced the foundation Friday, Mayer has been working on the organization since 2012 alongside veterans, scientists and clinicians.
“We’re going to the public with things like published research papers and having raised enough money to really build some pilot programs. We have some really great data and … we want it to be working first so that a lot of the questions were answered before we brought things to people by way of awareness,” Mayer said in an interview. “I think it just makes it that much more compelling and much more concise to bring it to people with the message being, ‘Hey, this is not taking something that is zero to try to get it to five. This is something that is at 50 and we want to get it to 100.'” read more here
Houston Chronicle Samantha Ketterer February 23, 2019
Foster, also a founder of Combined Arms, said that while PTSD is a real issue among veterans, mental health-related, violent incidents reinforce a stereotype of a veteran that’s difficult to undo.
Denise Slaughter believes that the man who nearly killed her three years ago slipped through the cracks.
He was a veteran who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder; a loving person who snapped, his parents said. He ultimately opened fire for 55 terrifying minutes on a west Houston neighborhood, firing at unsuspecting passers-by with a pistol and an AR-15. At the end of the rampage, he and one other person were dead. Six more were injured.
Denise Slaughter, survivor of a 2016 shooting, has helped the veterans organization Combined Arms equip a weight room with a donation that is also helping to build accessible bathrooms and showers. Slaughter believes that the shooter who wounded her could have been saved before he died in a standoff with police in 2016. The shooter, a veteran who reportedly had post-traumatic stress disorder, opened fire for about an hour on a west Houston neighborhood, killing one and injuring six. Two years after the shooting, Slaughter donated money to Combined Arms, an organization that helps veterans find resources they need once they return home.
Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer
Slaughter could have been angry. Instead, her family foundation donated thousands of dollars to a Houston veterans organization, hoping to prevent other service members from ending up in a situation like the man who almost took her life.
“I think he could have been saved,” she said.
read more here
Man's love of woodworking aids vets group, animal shelter
WFTV 9 ABC News Nahan Cobb Northwest Florida Daily News February 18, 2019
SANTA ROSA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - An any given day, you might find Dennis Wise crafting wood in his garage.
Wise then sells his creations - from bat houses to refrigerator magnets - through his nonprofit, Pets and the Vets, with proceeds split between Paws for Purple Hearts and a DeFuniak Springs animal shelter.
"I take care of who I can, when we can," he said, and added 100 percent of profits are donated. "The more sales we get, the more people we can help."
Wise sees bringing together veterans with shelter animals as a win-win proposition. He said there is strong evidence that shows owning a pet reduces post-traumatic stress disorder.
The shelter animals benefit too.
"If the dog (or cat) goes home with the vet, he's now in a home (and) everybody loves him," he said.
His wooden creations include bat houses, bee traps, bookends, superhero and military plaques, and flip-flop magnets.
Prices for Wise's wooden artwork range from $1.75 to $12. He also accepts requests and will personalize items.
Wise is retired from the Illinois Wing Civil Air Patrol and also worked as a public information officer for the Walton County Sheriff's Office.
He said his patriotism runs deep, along with his love for animals. read more here
