November Central Florida Veterans Events

Central Florida Veterans Events
From Cathy Haynes

NOVEMBER 2016 –Week #1 of veterans, military and patriotic events in Central Florida This list does NOT include the Veterans Day events. It will be sent soon.
*Send me your events – people cannot attend an event if they don’t know about it!
*Event information is concentrated mostly on the Central Florida counties served by the new VA Hospital at Lake Nona – Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Brevard, Lake and Volusia. Other events elsewhere are considered based upon uniqueness and groups best served.
*Every effort is made to put a space into email addresses and websites – firewalls and spam filters don’t like direct links, website and email addresses. If you use ‘Copy and Paste’ to make contact or get additional information, please keep this in
Avoid the confusion - Just a bit of a reminder - There is a difference between veterans and military.

Sometimes people get confused that veterans were once active military but they are not officially serving anymore. And our military who are serving now and will one day be veterans. Retired veterans served a specified required time in service. All military retirees are veterans but not all veterans are military retired.

Veterans Day honors all persons who once were in the military - especially the living. Formerly known as Armistice Day after WWI – 11/11/11 – Eleventh day of the Eleventh month at the Eleventh hour.

Armed Forces Day is the third Saturday in May - it was established in 1950 to replace separate Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Air Force Days. That is a day to pay tribute to men and women who ARE currently serve the United States’ armed forces.

Memorial Day honors those who died while serving in the military; Observed on the last Monday in May.

Hats Off to Our Veterans – Nov 1 – 14 – AVET Project, based near Patrick Air Force Base, sponsors this fundraiser where businesses/groups offer special HATS that can be purchased for a donation. The HATS can hang on a chosen WALL – at work, at home, etc., for the month of November. The HATS are provided by AVET Project. Proceeds assist active military, veterans, and their families in MANY ways. Contact: Kim at kim@ avetproject .org

Space Coast Veterans Prayer Breakfast – Wed. Nov 2 – Keynote speaker Col. Danny McKnight will address the attendees from 7:30-9:30, at Hilton Melbourne Rialto Place, 200 Rialto Pl, Melbourne, 32901. Coordinated by the Space Coast Paratroopers Association (SCPA). Contact Doug at 321-408-2289 Donald.Overton@ palmbayflorida .org

Career Fair – Wed. Nov 2 - Over 35 employers will be conducting interviews with companies such as Lockheed Martin, Golf Channel, Sea World, Massey, UPS, The Middlesex Corporation, Universal Orlando, Amazon and many more. 11am – 2pm at the UCF Venue (behind the CFE Arena). Attendees who RSVP will be entered to win various door prizes. Parking is available in garages D and H, across from the arena. Info: lorine.cisch-taylor@ ucf .edu or joshua.johnson@ ucf .edu

Greeters needed! Honor Flight Welcome Home – WED. NOV 2 - Orlando Int’l Airport – LAST FLIGHT FOR 2016! After a day spent in Washington DC, 40 veterans - 13 veterans of WWII, 27 beginning their service from the Korean War - return home thru Orlando Int’l Airport. (This group includes an Air Force fighter pilot shot down over Vietnam and spent over 6 years as a POW, a Marine who took part in the Inchon Landing in Korea, an Air Force test pilot, and a Canadian engineer.) This Honor Flight hub is a part of the nation-wide organization that takes veterans on a single day trip to our nation’s capital where they visit the WWII, Korea, and Vietnam War Memorials, Marine Corps Iwo Jima and the Air Force Monuments, and witness the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. This particular group will return just about 9:20pm and enter the terminal area at (+/-) 10:00pm. Come welcome these former warriors home! “Welcome Home” receptions at the airports makes a difference! Bring your flags, banners and signs! – Southwest Airlines # 936 from Reagan National (DCA) (Note: Different departure airport than usual), Terminal A, Airside 2 (hotel area in front of Starbucks.)
Before leaving home, check online to see if the flight is on time because there may be delays due to weather, mechanical or medical issues. Free parking has been arranged at an off airport property – FastPark and Relax – who has been very generous to Honor Flights with free parking and shuttles to the airport (tips welcomed by drivers!) - 7870 N Frontage Rd, Orlando, 32812. Contact Cathy Haynes for those details NLT 7pm 407-239-8468 chaynes11629 @yahoo .com
New: Vouchers are available for airport garage parking from a GOAA rep. in the terminal for this event – maximum of 3 hours – BUT you have to take a paper ticket upon entering the airport garage. The vouchers will NOT work if you use the SunPass transponders – we cannot credit the charge back. For the Early Birds - you can wave these veterans off in the morning no later than 5am – same location. They process thru Security early and quickly. Wave them off for a wonderful day! (NOTE: This is the LAST 2016 Honor Flight from this area – weather gets unpredictable over the winter. Honor Flight Missions resume in Spring 2017.)

Every Day is Veterans Day – Thurs. Nov 3 – A special tribute celebration to honor and remember the service and sacrifice of our veterans past and present. Open to the public. 10-11:30am at the Wayne Densch YMCA, 870 N Hastings St, Orlando, Florida 32808 Keynote Speaker is Army 1st Sgt Daila Espeut-Jones, ret. Info: Casman.Flowers@ VITAS .com or 407.865.4614

City of Orlando Mayors’ Veterans Advisory Council – Thurs. Nov 3 – 1:30pm monthly meeting of numerous organizations and individuals for the benefit of local veterans and active duty personnel. Planning of functions (ie: Veterans Day parade) and awareness of events is shared. Designated representatives allow groups to coordinate efforts. If your Orlando area vet/military associated group isn’t attending, it should plan to get involved. Networking before and after the meeting. See website at cityoforlando.net, Office of the Mayor, Mayor’s Committees, Veterans. Contact Chairman Michael Waldrop for attendance and location information. mwaldrop@ blue-cord. com

Vietnam Era Veterans luncheon – Sat. Nov 5 – Sebastian in Brevard Co. but are welcome! The American Legion Auxiliary Dept of Florida 12th District have a special “Welcome Home” luncheon planned for all Vietnam era veterans. 11am – 3pm with special guest speaker. Hosted by American Legion Auxiliary Unit 189, at 807 Louisiana Ave., Sebastian 32958. The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) will award each Vietnam Era Veteran in attendance a special congressional pin and certificate. RSVP requested by Wed. Oct 19 for proper count for food and planning. RSVP/Info: Dorothy Walsh at dwalshusa @gmail .com or 321-426-6736

Veterans Village Groundbreaking – Sat. Nov 5 - Hosted by Habitat for Humanity of Lake-Sumter FL from 11am – 2pm at 112 Turtle Run, Umatilla, 32784-9545. Do a Search or contact them about specifics. Danielle at 352-483-0434 Ext 133 or Danielle @habitatls .org.

Daylight Savings Time ends – Sun. Nov 6 – Turn your clocks back one hour. Use that bonus time to do something nice for our veteran and service personnel!

Election Day – Tues. Nov 8 – Become educated and do your civic duty – VOTE! Our local elections are especially important as they tend to have a more direct impact on us.

Misc. info
Everyone and especially Veterans – please plan to attend the various school programs. There MAY be events at some schools near your home that are not listed here. Our young ones need to be aware of who veterans are and how they have served our country. Your attendance reinforces the efforts that some teachers are trying to provide. Be an example – be someone that the young generation will remember and model after…

Shopping consideration – As we are preparing for the upcoming holidays, please consider buying items that are made in this country. Buying “Made in U.S.A.” allows employment for more persons in this country and some of those workers may be veterans, reservists, or guardsmen/women. UPC barcodes do not always indicate the country of manufacture. Look for the “Made in U.S.A.” labeling.

Volunteering - Would you have liked to be able to help senior veterans, active military and veteran families after the hurricane? You still can, and it doesn’t require damage from hurricanes.
Hands On Orlando - Volunteer Central Florida - Brittany@ HandsOnOrlando .com 407.740.8652 (c) 407.375.9389 The Mission Continues - Orlando 1st Platoon –Daniel Kalagian at dkalagian@ missioncontinues .org or Eric Weiss, 2nd Platoon Leader Orlando eweiss@ missioncontinues .org Team Red, White and Blue (RWB) – Sherrie LaBarre at sherrie.labarre@gmail.com

Mentors needed - Veteran Courts ARE succeeding! Longer term success is possible with community mentors and there are mentoring programs in Orange, Seminole and Osceola Counties. Be a “battle buddy” or “foxhole buddy” by assisting someone with life challenges. No proselytizing – just non-judgmental caring. Most of the offenders are DUI or possession, or PTS anger issues that are being rechanneled. If you have experienced substance abuse – although not required - and came thru it, you may be very helpful to someone else. If you are interested in participating as a mentor, know someone who is interested, or are a part of an organization where Mentors can be recruited, contact your local Veterans Court resource.

Caring and sharing,

Cathy Haynes

Member/supporter of numerous veteran and military organizations in Central FL
407-239-8468

NOTE TO READERS OF WOUNDED TIMES

Just to let you know, there will be limited posts for the near future. I am dealing with arthritis in my spine, plus discs crushing some nerves. Not much fun working all day for a paycheck, then trying to sit at the computer doing this afterwards. I'll do what I can but please don't forget about me.

If you are a regular reader please take some time to check out my latest book, RESIDUAL WAR, SOMETHING WORTH LIVING FOR on AMAZON and also on Kindle. 

This one is fiction but totally inspired by the men and women I've met over the last 3 decades. It has a female hero, actually make that two, PTSD, suicides, murder, homeless veterans, and all the other bad stuff, but it also has hope, peer support, love, compassion and a whole lot of finding something worth living for after have plenty to die for in combat, like the others they served with.

I was hoping to have part two done by Veterans Day, but that isn't going to happen. Hopefully by the end of the year anyway.

Soldier Wanted Help For PTSD, He Faced Being "Disciplined" Instead

A soldier battling PTSD reported that he wanted to hurt his commanders. They disciplined him.
The Baltimore Sun
Ian Duncan
November 1, 2016

Since returning from his second deployment to Afghanistan, Army Spc. Scott Miller had been through several stays at a mental health hospital. But after Christmas, the thoughts about taking his own life were joined by new ones about killing members of his unit.

Scott Miller suffered PTSD after serving with the Army in Afghanistan. When his symptoms got worse and he was having thoughts of killing people in his unit, he sought treatment but ended up being disciplined for making threats. (Family photo / HANDOUT)

Miller, a helicopter mechanic from Bowie, sought help in the emergency room at the hospital on his post at Fort Campbell, Ky. He says he revealed his murderous thoughts so that he could get the treatment he thought he needed.

He eventually was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. But his words triggered a criminal investigation and a lengthy disciplinary process that ended with him stripped of his rank on his way out of the service.

"I didn't threaten anybody directly," Miller said. "I was there to try and get help, and I was honest with the behavioral health provider. I know that I'm not going to get any better if I'm not honest with my feelings and thoughts."

Lt. Col. Jay Thoman, the Army lawyer who represented Miller in his disciplinary proceedings, said he was unable to find other cases in which hospital staff aided a criminal investigation, or a commander took disciplinary action over something a soldier said to a medical provider.
read more here

Civilian Doctors Untrained To Take Care of Veterans, Duh!

Very timely consideirng today is Halloween and for the most part veterans have been finding either great care or walking away as if someone just played a trick on them in exchange for their service. Congress has been playing more of an April Fool's joke on them when they say they will fix the VA but sought to kill it and privatize it instead.

Expert: Most physicians outside VA are untrained to handle vets' issues
The Times-Tribune, Scranton, Pa. (Tribune News Service)
By Jon O'Connell
Published: October 31, 2016

SCRANTON, Pa. (Tribune News Service) — Most veterans get some health care from private doctors.

But most doctors outside the Veterans Affairs system aren’t trained to identify service-related illness, according to a physician working to educate clinicians on the issues.

“While everybody seems to be mostly focused on the health care that veterans are getting at the VA, it sort of went unnoticed that 80 percent of veterans get most of their health care from civilian providers,” said Jeffrey L. Brown, M.D., a clinical professor of pediatrics at New York Medical College who also teaches at Weill Cornell Medicine.

While about 40 percent of veterans get some health care from the VA, only about 20 percent of all veterans rely totally on the VA, according to a 2015 government survey of health and health care use.

Dr. Brown, a pediatrician and retired U.S. Army medic, carried a .45 pistol and treated wounded and sick soldiers and, at times, local children in Vietnam. Late in his post-military private practice career, a New York Times article alerted him that anyone who served in Vietnam should consider themselves exposed to Agent Orange, a carcinogenic defoliant used to kill thick plant growth and expose hiding Vietnamese fighters. Those veterans risked serious illness like cancer, diabetes and heart disease.
read more here

Humane Society Hero Dogs Of Year

Hooch, an abused French mastiff, is Hero Dog of the Year
Associated Press
LEANNE ITALIE
October 29, 2016

NEW YORK — The human nearly lost his life to drug and alcohol addiction. The dog, well, he nearly lost his life to humans.

A French mastiff named Hooch, rescued by Zach Skow in Tehachapi, California, is the 2016 American Humane organization's Hero Dog of the Year, bestowed in a Beverly Hills ceremony taped in September and broadcast Friday on the Hallmark Channel.

Hooch, among eight canine finalists, wore his best tuxedo collar, though he was reluctant to join Skow on stage.

Hosted by James Denton and Beth Stern, and featuring Dave Foley, Kym Johnson, Robert Herjavec, Marilu Henner and Greg Louganis, among other celebrities, this is the sixth year for the awards.
The other seven finalists for Hero Dog, all honored for their service, are:

• Law enforcement: Edo, a K-9 superstar with the Los Angeles Police Department, and handler Nhut Huynh. Edo, a Belgian malinois, was the first sent into a house where a shootout was underway. He pulled the armed man away from his weapon.

• Search and rescue: Kobuk, a German shepherd, and handler Elizabeth Fossett in York, Maine. He sniffed out an elderly woman with diabetes and dementia after she wandered off from a cabin in the wilderness.

• Service: Gander, a labradoodle rescue, and handler Lon Hodge. Hodge is an Army veteran in Great Lakes, Illinois, who suffers from post traumatic stress disorder and was once homebound for months at a time. The two are inseparable and travel the country helping others with disabilities. "Thank you for saving my life," Hodge told his beloved Gander on the show.

• Military: Layka, another Belgian malinois, and trainer/veteran Julian McDonald in Galena, Kansas. The dog lost a leg when she took fire while McDonald's Ranger unit was assaulting an enemy compound in Afghanistan. McDonald and his family adopted Layka.

• Arson: Judge and handler Lee Laubach Jr., fire chief in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Judge is a yellow Labrador who has worked more than 275 fire scenes and has found evidence leading to multiple arrests and civil penalties for insurance fraud.

• Hearing: Hook, a 12-pound, 10-year-old Chihuahua mix, and handler Joyce Herman. Herman, from Sacramento, California, is a hearing-impaired marriage and family therapist. He pulled Herman off some light train tracks as a train approached and once chased away a prowler in her office waiting room.

• Therapy: Mango, a paralyzed Cairn terrier rescue, and handler Judy Walter, a veteran in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Both dog and human had broken their backs. Mango uses a canine wheelchair to get around. "I healed her and she healed me," said Walter, who now routinely visits disabled vets with Mango.
read more here