The Florida Patriot Guard has a great opportunity for a Wounded Veteran who loves to bass fish. They have been asked to find a Veteran who would like to take advantage of this and who is has suffered and sacrificed greatly for their country and us.
This Veteran must:
- lives in central Florida
- loves to fish
- knows all about Bass Pro Tournaments
- is familiar with the top names of professional fishermen
- would like to be in a TV recorded Bass Pro Tournament
AND wants to have a great day of fishing. Sounds like a very good time to me and plus all expenses paid and good benefits to boot.
This event takes place in August 2011 so we must hurry. So, if any of you know of anyone who qualifies please contact Shannon Locke at 813-447-3535.
Let’s try to give a deserving Veteran the time of their life.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Fort Hood Soldier Found Dead In Barracks Room
Fort Hood Soldier Found Dead In Barracks Room
A 41-year-old Fort Hood soldier has been found dead in his barracks room.
FORT HOOD (July 26, 2011)—An investigation is underway into the death of a Fort Hood specialist who was found unresponsive Sunday in his barracks room.
Fort Hood identified the soldier Tuesday as Spc. Ralph Edward Dawson of Trevorton, Pa.
He joined the Army in 2007 and had been assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team since April 2008.
He deployed to Iraq from December 2008 to December 2009.
Fort Hood Soldier Found Dead In Barracks Room
My final project for Digital Video and Sound
This is the reason I went back to college. There are plenty of projects I want to do and more than enough opportunities considering how many veterans there are along with how few people are focusing on them. Their stories are remarkable but few hear them.
When I was trying to decide what the interview project should be, I thought about the "Bunker" otherwise known as Cpl. Larry Smedley National Vietnam War Museum right here in Orlando. Few know it is there. Even less know that we had a 19 year old Medal of Honor fallen hero from the Vietnam War.
I couldn't think of a better subject to interview for this than Harry Scholer. Valencia Digital Media Professor Matt Messenger put the project up on the Valencia web site. As you can see, because of him, I've come a long way in a year.
My Digital Video and Sound Final Project
When I was trying to decide what the interview project should be, I thought about the "Bunker" otherwise known as Cpl. Larry Smedley National Vietnam War Museum right here in Orlando. Few know it is there. Even less know that we had a 19 year old Medal of Honor fallen hero from the Vietnam War.
I couldn't think of a better subject to interview for this than Harry Scholer. Valencia Digital Media Professor Matt Messenger put the project up on the Valencia web site. As you can see, because of him, I've come a long way in a year.
My Digital Video and Sound Final Project
Widow, children of fallen officer to finally get benefits
Another case when there was a reporter caring enough to report and caused a wrong to be made right.
Widow, children of fallen Fed Way officer to finally get benefits
By Michelle Esteban Published: Jul 26, 2011
SEATTLE -- After a year of denials for a police officer's widow and a Problem Solvers investigation, the state has made a stunning about-face.
The widow of Federal Way police officer Brian Walsh and her children will now get the financial benefits they desperately need.
The Walsh family is beyond relieved. Yesterday, they didn't know how they would make ends meet. Today's news means financial and medical benefits for Vanessa Walsh and her three young children.
"As a cop's wife, you worry every day what's going to happen if something happens. 'How are we going to do it?'" said Vanessa. "He (Brian) always told me, 'You're going to be taken care of don't worry about it.'"
But shortly after her husband died, Vanessa learned she and her three children were on their own.
"I didn't understand being denied," she said.
Because Brian died of a heart attack while guarding a crime scene, the state insisted he didn't die in the line of duty and denied his widow benefits.
The Problem Solvers were the first to expose Vanessa's struggle and question the denial. Then, Vanessa learned if she could prove Brian suffered from "unusual stress", she could collect a portion of his salary and get medical coverage for her family.
At the time of his death, Brian was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after being involved in a prior police shooting. His doctor told the state Brian's PTSD worsened when four Lakewood officers and a Seattle officer were gunned down in 2009 a few months prior to his death.
read more here
Widow, children of fallen Fed Way officer to finally get benefits
Red Cross finds PTSD Conversation Falls On Deaf Ears
With so many suffering the ravages of PTSD on them and their families, you'd think the seats would be filled, but as with most things, it isn't the message but the way it is delivered that causes issues.
I am not sure what the Red Cross is doing in this case but going into this other report, it is easy to see that it is the way they are doing it.
Red Cross Holds Veteran Information Night
The video report shows a couple of people sitting in the chairs. Most of the presentations, hearings and conferences I've attended over the years, were well attended but they were geared toward professionals treating PTSD and not for those with PTSD. What they had in common with programs like the Red Cross is they were all boring.
Every group out there trying to help has to adapt to the generation that grew up with the Internet, video games, iTunes and being entertained. They don't want to see a poorly made Power Point with graphs and a couple of pictures. They don't want to hear a presenter reading off a script with no passion in their voice. Above all this, the last thing they want to do is spend a couple of hours sitting in a room paying attention to people not really paying attention to them. If these service groups do not adapt to their world they will continue to show them that they are not willing to go there.
Imagine trying to help homeless veterans but holding the program in an upper scale neighborhood. That may be where the providers live, but it is not where the homeless veterans live. Then try to establish any kind of relationship with them when you avoid the area they live in otherwise. You have to know "where they live" in order to help them live better.
It is the same no matter what help you want to give. You have to get into their world. You have to understand them and speak their language, or at the very least, make it comfortable for them to use theirs freely. If they swear, let them. Your sensitive ears can stand it when you understand the depth of their pain, so if that's the language they need to use to communicate it to you, let them. At least they're trying.
If you have a service group trying to get thru to them, then spend the time to understand their world. Spend a few bucks and get an updated presentation to show. Get someone with a video camera to put together a video to show. While these veterans are showing up more and more at shelters, arrested, divorced and attempting suicide at higher rates, they are screaming for not just help, but people willing to really show they understand every aspect of their lives. Don't just show up as if that's all they need because they won't be there.
I am not sure what the Red Cross is doing in this case but going into this other report, it is easy to see that it is the way they are doing it.
Red Cross Holds Veteran Information Night
The video report shows a couple of people sitting in the chairs. Most of the presentations, hearings and conferences I've attended over the years, were well attended but they were geared toward professionals treating PTSD and not for those with PTSD. What they had in common with programs like the Red Cross is they were all boring.
PTSD Conversation Falls On Deaf Ears
By Jenna Hanchard
July 26, 2011
Updated Jul 26, 2011 at 11:04 PM EDT
Endicott, NY (WBNG Binghamton) A message about post traumatic stress disorder falls on empty seats at the American Red Cross in Endicott Tuesday night.
Since January, the Red Cross has been hosting veteran information nights.
read more here
PTSD Conversation Falls On Deaf Ears
Every group out there trying to help has to adapt to the generation that grew up with the Internet, video games, iTunes and being entertained. They don't want to see a poorly made Power Point with graphs and a couple of pictures. They don't want to hear a presenter reading off a script with no passion in their voice. Above all this, the last thing they want to do is spend a couple of hours sitting in a room paying attention to people not really paying attention to them. If these service groups do not adapt to their world they will continue to show them that they are not willing to go there.
Imagine trying to help homeless veterans but holding the program in an upper scale neighborhood. That may be where the providers live, but it is not where the homeless veterans live. Then try to establish any kind of relationship with them when you avoid the area they live in otherwise. You have to know "where they live" in order to help them live better.
It is the same no matter what help you want to give. You have to get into their world. You have to understand them and speak their language, or at the very least, make it comfortable for them to use theirs freely. If they swear, let them. Your sensitive ears can stand it when you understand the depth of their pain, so if that's the language they need to use to communicate it to you, let them. At least they're trying.
If you have a service group trying to get thru to them, then spend the time to understand their world. Spend a few bucks and get an updated presentation to show. Get someone with a video camera to put together a video to show. While these veterans are showing up more and more at shelters, arrested, divorced and attempting suicide at higher rates, they are screaming for not just help, but people willing to really show they understand every aspect of their lives. Don't just show up as if that's all they need because they won't be there.
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