In this war, troops get rousing welcome home
By Rick Hampson - USA Today
Posted : Thursday Jul 3, 2008 8:16:31 EDT
WARMINSTER, Pa. — The young soldier hadn’t slept in 48 hours or bathed in 72. Now that he was finally back from Iraq, all Pfc. Justin Gindhart wanted was a hot shower and a soft bed.
But these days, Gindhart discovered, a soldier’s homecoming isn’t always that simple.
To his surprise, there was a troop of motorcycle-riding Vietnam vets to greet him at the airport; a police-escorted motorcade past blocked-off intersections and highway entrances that backed up traffic for miles; an appearance at a support-the-troops rally; and a gathering of neighbors and friends, alerted by fire and ambulance sirens, outside his family’s house. And the biggest shock of all — a reunion with a disabled comrade whose life he’d helped save in Iraq.
“Wow! I thought I was just gonna come home,” the startled private told the crowd that spilled across his lawn and into the street on Father’s Day. “I didn’t expect anything like this!”
He should have. Troops coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan are being welcomed with celebrations that are increasingly elaborate, frequently surreptitious and occasionally over the top.
Like many of those who are greeted like latter-day Caesars, Gindhart was quick to point out that he wasn’t exceptional. He was a 20-year-old medic who’d spent eight months in Iraq and hadn’t been seriously wounded or highly decorated. He was home only on an 18-day leave.
For many communities, nothing is too good when it comes to showing support for returning troops.
“He really deserved something special,” said Gindhart’s mother, Lisa, who had only 18 hours to complete arrangements after learning of her son’s scheduled arrival at the Philadelphia airport. “This is the happiest day of my life.”
She, like many other Americans, said any military homecoming — for temporary leave or to stay home for good — deserves major festivities.
Celebrations such as Gindhart’s reflect a renewed national appreciation of those who serve, said Morten Ender, a sociologist at the U.S. Military Academy.
One reason, he said, is that the home front is asked to sacrifice relatively little for the war effort — no tax surcharges, rationing or draft. So some civilians show their patriotism by how they honor the troops.
“The [Bush] administration has set the tone of going about our normal lives, but people aren’t necessarily comfortable with that,” Ender said. “They want to do something to show their appreciation.”
Sarah Schoen of Port Clinton, Ohio, said that partly explains the elaborate homecoming reception she planned for her boyfriend, Army Sgt. Travis McCleary: “There is a war going on, and we’re here back home, just hangin’ out. This was a way of doing something.”
Diane Mazur, a University of Florida law professor and former Air Force officer, goes further: “What motivates these ostentatious displays is the unspoken, almost unconscious guilt over the way military service works now. A narrow slice of Americans serve again and again. It’s as if we’re saying, ‘We will engage in these very public displays of worship, provided you don’t ask ‘us’ to serve.’”
And there’s something else. Talk to those who stage these welcome celebrations, and it becomes clear that it’s not only about the reception these troops deserve but also about the reception another generation of returning veterans deserved and did not get.
It’s about Vietnam.
go here for more
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/07/gns_homecomings_070308/
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Sgt. Austin D. Pratt's family, a lesson on how to forgive
Family forgives as they learn how their son died
Sgt. Austin D. Pratt's death is 'negligent homicide'
By DONNA HICKMAN
Daily Journal Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Six and a half months ago, Sgt. Austin David Pratt was killed in Iraq in what the Army would only describe as a “non-combat related death under investigation.” The investigation is over now and Monica and David Pratt know the details of how their son died. They also know how to forgive the young soldier responsible.
Austin, 22, Cadet, had arrived in Iraq on Dec. 12, 2007. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. Three days later, his unit went out to the local police station. When there wasn’t enough room for him to travel with them, he stayed back at camp with other soldiers. They were in the Green Zone, the safe zone, in Rustamiyah, Iraq — not far from Balad. As David Pratt tells it, Austin was sitting on a cot watching a movie on his computer. Another soldier was nearby just “messing with” his gun.
“He was loading and unloading it. He did that a couple of times and loaded a magazine (a clip with several rounds of ammunition in it) and he dropped the magazine. When he dropped the magazine, the mechanism slid forward. He had chambered a round. He held the weapon in the air — not knowing he had loaded a round — and brought it down slowly and pointed it at my son and fired. ”
go here for more
http://dailyjournalonline.com/articles/2008/07/02/news/doc486b9ccad46d6596152435.txt
Sgt. Austin D. Pratt's death is 'negligent homicide'
By DONNA HICKMAN
Daily Journal Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Six and a half months ago, Sgt. Austin David Pratt was killed in Iraq in what the Army would only describe as a “non-combat related death under investigation.” The investigation is over now and Monica and David Pratt know the details of how their son died. They also know how to forgive the young soldier responsible.
Austin, 22, Cadet, had arrived in Iraq on Dec. 12, 2007. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. Three days later, his unit went out to the local police station. When there wasn’t enough room for him to travel with them, he stayed back at camp with other soldiers. They were in the Green Zone, the safe zone, in Rustamiyah, Iraq — not far from Balad. As David Pratt tells it, Austin was sitting on a cot watching a movie on his computer. Another soldier was nearby just “messing with” his gun.
“He was loading and unloading it. He did that a couple of times and loaded a magazine (a clip with several rounds of ammunition in it) and he dropped the magazine. When he dropped the magazine, the mechanism slid forward. He had chambered a round. He held the weapon in the air — not knowing he had loaded a round — and brought it down slowly and pointed it at my son and fired. ”
go here for more
http://dailyjournalonline.com/articles/2008/07/02/news/doc486b9ccad46d6596152435.txt
Florida turning to Warren Buffett for hurricane fund bailout
State turning to Warren Buffett for hurricane fund bailout
Daytona Beach News-Journal - Daytona Beach,FL,USA
By JIM SAUNDERS
Tallahassee bureau chief
TALLAHASSEE -- Worried about financial problems if major hurricanes slam Florida, state leaders are turning to billionaire Warren Buffett for backup.
Gov. Charlie Crist and two Cabinet members moved forward Wednesday with a plan to pay about $224 million to the Buffett-led firm Berkshire Hathaway to help protect the state against catastrophic storm damages.
In exchange for the money, Berkshire Hathaway would agree to buy $4 billion in state bonds if a mega-hurricane -- or multiple big hurricanes -- hit the state.
The deal would partly shore up the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund, a state program that sells low-cost reinsurance to property-insurance companies. Reinsurance is a type of coverage that insurers buy to help pay claims after hurricanes.
With the nation's financial markets in disarray, state officials have grown increasingly concerned the catastrophe fund would not be able to borrow enough money to meet its obligations after a Hurricane Andrew-type storm.
click above for more
When we moved to Florida from Massachusetts, it was June of 2004. Yes, that infamous year here in Central Florida. We were told over and over again that hurricanes never hit Central Florida, reminded the last one had hit over 30 years before we moved in. That changed with Charlie, Francis and Jeanne. Ivan missed us.
When Charlie came roaring through, no one was prepared for it. It wasn't supposed to hit here. Patio doors, which we have two sections of them, were being pounded by the wind. We were lucky and they didn't blow in but several of our neighbors were hit harder. The entire street looked like a battle zone as shocked neighbors staggered out of their homes early in the morning. The worst part of Charlie was that it hit at night. Tornadoes touched down but thankfully these tornadoes were not the size of the strength that hit other parts of the country. They did a fair amount of damage though.
Given the fact that I was accustomed to white outs from snow storms back home, it was and still is extremely difficult to drive thru rain outs when the rain comes down so hard you cannot see the front of your car. That was hard to take and I was thinking it was a mistake to move down here until the hurricanes came. Then I was sure it was. It took a long time to get over that feeling. Four years later, as soon as June arrives, I begin to wonder if we will get hit again. It's normal to worry about all of this, but we are as prepared as we can get.
The day after Charlie hit, we were down Home Depot buying plywood. We stacked it on top of our car and as we drove down the street, our neighbors were laughing. They thought it was funny we bought plywood the day after the hurricane. By the time Francis was heading this way, they were not laughing any more.
Now we have sheets of plywood in our garage, cut and stained to preserve them and ready to get nailed up just in case.
PTSD warning for 4th of July
You see this
They see this
Aside from this, it reminded me of a question I get asked a lot.
A lot of veterans have asked how to deal with the fireworks and neighbors shooting them off for hours several nights in a row. This was a big problem for my husband for a long time.
The best thing is to watch them go off. If you stay in the house and only hear them, they tend to make you very jumpy, lead you into rounds of flashbacks along with making it very unpleasant.
When you see with your own eyes where the sound is coming from, it helps take some of the stress off. Otherwise you hear the sound and it reminds you of where you were the last time you heard that kind of sound. Try to go to fireworks displays with someone close to you who is aware of your PTSD. Do not stay in the house with the shades down. You will smell gun powder and hear the sound but without seeing it, they will make their way into your memory. With your senses connected together it will be a little easier to get through these nights.
If you love someone with PTSD try watching my video Hero After War from the side bar of this blog. It will help you understand what they see and what they are going through.
They see this
For 4th of July, War Vets Seek Peace and Quiet
Julie Sullivan
Chicago Tribune
Jul 02, 2008
July 2, 2008, Portland, OR - The "Minefield" explodes with glittering red tips. "War and Peace" unloads alternating rounds of color and fire. "The Torrent" promises "360 degrees of pyro" in a spectacular barrage.
As Americans stock up on 4th of July fireworks with battlefield themes, those with actual war experience are adopting safety plans instead. Combat veterans say they are heading to quiet campsites, small family gatherings or basements. They'll pre-stage their dreams before bed, visualizing different endings.
Depression, anxiety and drinking all spike around the 4th of July, counselors say. "This time of year is stressful —period," said Jim Sardo, a two-tour military psychologist who manages the PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, Clinical Team and Substance Abuse Services at the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Unexpected bursts of noise, summer heat, crowds, traffic, forced gaiety and coolers of cold beer all contribute.
But many veterans are bothered less by the booms, Sardo said, than the deeper questions the displays raise about what it means to go to war and lose a limb, friends or a view of the world as a healthy place.
go here for more
http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/ArticleID/10556
Aside from this, it reminded me of a question I get asked a lot.
A lot of veterans have asked how to deal with the fireworks and neighbors shooting them off for hours several nights in a row. This was a big problem for my husband for a long time.
The best thing is to watch them go off. If you stay in the house and only hear them, they tend to make you very jumpy, lead you into rounds of flashbacks along with making it very unpleasant.
When you see with your own eyes where the sound is coming from, it helps take some of the stress off. Otherwise you hear the sound and it reminds you of where you were the last time you heard that kind of sound. Try to go to fireworks displays with someone close to you who is aware of your PTSD. Do not stay in the house with the shades down. You will smell gun powder and hear the sound but without seeing it, they will make their way into your memory. With your senses connected together it will be a little easier to get through these nights.
If you love someone with PTSD try watching my video Hero After War from the side bar of this blog. It will help you understand what they see and what they are going through.
Kuhl starts caucus to help veterans adjust after combat?
Kuhl starts caucus to help veterans adjust after combat
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle - Rochester,NY,USA
Justina Wang • Staff writer • July 3, 2008
Announcing the start of a bipartisan House caucus to address veterans' mental health issues, U.S. Rep. Randy Kuhl, R-Hammondsport, promised Wednesday to push for funding and legislation that would help returning soldiers adjust after combat.
During the announcement at the Canandaigua Veterans Affairs Medical Center, a few groups of veterans and Democrats challenged Kuhl's voting record on veterans' bills and the effectiveness of a caucus.
Later, in a meeting with the Democrat and Chronicle editorial board, Kuhl said he defends every vote he has cast, calling them independent and well thought-out. He said that with the current Democratic majority, he couldn't support every bill that included benefits for veterans.
But the newly formed 24-member caucus, he said, will meet with veterans and mental health experts to recommend better legislation to help returning soldiers. Though other legislative committees have worked to address veterans' issues, this caucus is the first to focus specifically on their mental health, Kuhl said.
Depression and post-traumatic stress "can affect not only the (returning) soldier, but certainly family members and loved ones," he said. "We must take action."
Rep. Thomas Reynolds, R-Clarence, also a member of the caucus who joined Kuhl for the announcement Wednesday, said veterans advocates have spoken to individual congressmen about the need, but legislators need to join together to budget funds for programs.
click above for more
Where has he been all this time? Is he doing this so that he can use it to get re-elected? They have been holding hearings for a very long time now and there is no excuse for not paying attention!
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle - Rochester,NY,USA
Justina Wang • Staff writer • July 3, 2008
Announcing the start of a bipartisan House caucus to address veterans' mental health issues, U.S. Rep. Randy Kuhl, R-Hammondsport, promised Wednesday to push for funding and legislation that would help returning soldiers adjust after combat.
During the announcement at the Canandaigua Veterans Affairs Medical Center, a few groups of veterans and Democrats challenged Kuhl's voting record on veterans' bills and the effectiveness of a caucus.
Later, in a meeting with the Democrat and Chronicle editorial board, Kuhl said he defends every vote he has cast, calling them independent and well thought-out. He said that with the current Democratic majority, he couldn't support every bill that included benefits for veterans.
But the newly formed 24-member caucus, he said, will meet with veterans and mental health experts to recommend better legislation to help returning soldiers. Though other legislative committees have worked to address veterans' issues, this caucus is the first to focus specifically on their mental health, Kuhl said.
Depression and post-traumatic stress "can affect not only the (returning) soldier, but certainly family members and loved ones," he said. "We must take action."
Rep. Thomas Reynolds, R-Clarence, also a member of the caucus who joined Kuhl for the announcement Wednesday, said veterans advocates have spoken to individual congressmen about the need, but legislators need to join together to budget funds for programs.
click above for more
Where has he been all this time? Is he doing this so that he can use it to get re-elected? They have been holding hearings for a very long time now and there is no excuse for not paying attention!
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Iraq: Islamist group threatens churches in Mosul
Iraq: Islamist group threatens churches in Mosul
Mosul, 2 July (AKI) - An Islamist group has sent threatening letters to Assyrian churches in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, asking them not to cooperate with US forces.
The letter sent by The Batallion of Just Punishment, Jihad Base in Mesopotamia, also opposes the establishment of a sectarian Assyrian-Christian police force, reported the Assyrian International News Agency on Wednesday.
"We caution and warn anyone who tries to rob us through dealings with the Americans or through the spreading of American forces and/or police to protect the Holy Shrines in the Islamic Republic of Iraq, that these shrines would remain target of the freedom fighters," the letter said.
"We remind the dhimmi people [Jews and Christians] that Iraq is for the noble Iraqis and not for how you are now."
The Islamist group also refers to Assyrian Christians as 'Dhimmi', or a non-Muslim subject of the state governed by Islamic Sharia law.
"I suspect this letter may have actually come from Ansar Al-Islam," said an unnamed Assyrian community leader, referring to the Kurdish Islamist group affiliated with al-Qaeda.
"The Kurds don't want us to have our own police force."
go here for more
http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Religion/?id=1.0.2304618903
Linked from ICasualties.org
Mosul, 2 July (AKI) - An Islamist group has sent threatening letters to Assyrian churches in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, asking them not to cooperate with US forces.
The letter sent by The Batallion of Just Punishment, Jihad Base in Mesopotamia, also opposes the establishment of a sectarian Assyrian-Christian police force, reported the Assyrian International News Agency on Wednesday.
"We caution and warn anyone who tries to rob us through dealings with the Americans or through the spreading of American forces and/or police to protect the Holy Shrines in the Islamic Republic of Iraq, that these shrines would remain target of the freedom fighters," the letter said.
"We remind the dhimmi people [Jews and Christians] that Iraq is for the noble Iraqis and not for how you are now."
The Islamist group also refers to Assyrian Christians as 'Dhimmi', or a non-Muslim subject of the state governed by Islamic Sharia law.
"I suspect this letter may have actually come from Ansar Al-Islam," said an unnamed Assyrian community leader, referring to the Kurdish Islamist group affiliated with al-Qaeda.
"The Kurds don't want us to have our own police force."
go here for more
http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Religion/?id=1.0.2304618903
Linked from ICasualties.org
Woman died when 911 call failed to find her help
3 minutes, 24 seconds of total terror
Plantation 911 failed to help woman in race for her life
By Sofia Santana and Brian Haas
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
12:09 AM EDT, July 2, 2008
PLANTATION - Despite a two-minute conversation in which a 911 caller told an operator she was racing to the police station with a gunman in pursuit, police weren't dispatched to help her until she lay dying in the station parking lot, according to records obtained Tuesday by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Olidia Kerr Day, 45, repeatedly screamed for help. But no one sent officers to try to rescue the mother of three, no one helped guide her to the police station, and no one waited for her in the parking lot, dispatch records show.
Plantation Police Chief Larry Massey said the 911 center, like other computerized dispatch centers, aims to alert officers within a minute of receiving an emergency call. Information is sent to all patrol officers and 911 center employees as soon as it's entered into the computer.
It took twice as long for the Plantation 911 center to enter the details of Day's call on April 25 into its computer system. Day already had spent another minute on the phone with Sunrise 911 operators before she was transferred to Plantation. Her total time on the phone with dispatchers was 3 minutes, 24 seconds.
click above for more
Plantation 911 failed to help woman in race for her life
By Sofia Santana and Brian Haas
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
12:09 AM EDT, July 2, 2008
PLANTATION - Despite a two-minute conversation in which a 911 caller told an operator she was racing to the police station with a gunman in pursuit, police weren't dispatched to help her until she lay dying in the station parking lot, according to records obtained Tuesday by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Olidia Kerr Day, 45, repeatedly screamed for help. But no one sent officers to try to rescue the mother of three, no one helped guide her to the police station, and no one waited for her in the parking lot, dispatch records show.
Plantation Police Chief Larry Massey said the 911 center, like other computerized dispatch centers, aims to alert officers within a minute of receiving an emergency call. Information is sent to all patrol officers and 911 center employees as soon as it's entered into the computer.
It took twice as long for the Plantation 911 center to enter the details of Day's call on April 25 into its computer system. Day already had spent another minute on the phone with Sunrise 911 operators before she was transferred to Plantation. Her total time on the phone with dispatchers was 3 minutes, 24 seconds.
click above for more
Review of DC summit on Female Veterans
DC national summit focuses on issues of women veterans
Clarksville Leaf Chronicle - Clarksville,TN,USA
by Stacey Hopwood • July 2, 2008
I recently spent a week in our nation's capital, Washington D.C. Along with seven other area women veterans and the Women Veterans program manager from the VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, I attended the 2008 National Summit on Women Veterans' Issues.
This three-day event is held every four years by the Department of Veterans Affairs' Center for Women Veterans and is attended by women veterans and veterans' service personnel from all over the country, as well as those in a position to formulate policies.
James Peake, the secretary of Veterans Affairs, gave the opening remarks.
"VA has made many strides and advancements in women veterans' research and services, and we are dedicated to filling in the gaps that may still exist," he said. "This summit will be beneficial in identifying those gaps and helping to shape our response to those needs."
Secretary Peake and the under secretaries for both Health and Benefits acknowledged the shortfalls in the VA system. They were up front about where the deficiencies are and what the VA is doing to address them.
As always, money is the key. The best intentions go nowhere without the funding to put them into action.There also was a screening of "Lioness," an upcoming PBS documentary on five female support soldiers sent into combat with Marine and Army units. This film was absolutely incredible, and three of the women were present at the summit.
click above for more
From what I heard, this was a rehashing of the same problems they heard about 4 years ago. Let's just hope and pray this time they also heard about what needs to be done instead of just what the problems are. The PBS special seems very interesting.
UK Veteran loses post-traumatic stress disorder claim
Ex-soldier loses post-traumatic stress disorder claim
A former soldier from Kidderminster who developed post-traumatic stress disorder after serving in Northern Ireland and Bosnia has lost his battle for damages.
Stephen Hibbert, now 40, had sued the Ministry of Defence for "substantial" compensation in a contested action at the High Court in London over an alleged failure to diagnose his condition in the early 1990s until it was too late to treat.
But on Wednesday Mr Justice Owen, the judge who heard the case, dismissed his claim and said: "One cannot but have the greatest sympathy for the claimant who loyally served his country, earning respect for his determination, enthusiasm and leadership on operational tours of duty in Northern Ireland and Bosnia.
"He is now suffering from a severely disabling psychiatric condition for which the prognosis is very poor. But sadly he is the victim of the stresses to which serving soldiers on operational tours of duty can be exposed, not to any culpable want of care on the part of the defendant (MoD). His claim must be dismissed."
A former soldier from Kidderminster who developed post-traumatic stress disorder after serving in Northern Ireland and Bosnia has lost his battle for damages.
Stephen Hibbert, now 40, had sued the Ministry of Defence for "substantial" compensation in a contested action at the High Court in London over an alleged failure to diagnose his condition in the early 1990s until it was too late to treat.
But on Wednesday Mr Justice Owen, the judge who heard the case, dismissed his claim and said: "One cannot but have the greatest sympathy for the claimant who loyally served his country, earning respect for his determination, enthusiasm and leadership on operational tours of duty in Northern Ireland and Bosnia.
"He is now suffering from a severely disabling psychiatric condition for which the prognosis is very poor. But sadly he is the victim of the stresses to which serving soldiers on operational tours of duty can be exposed, not to any culpable want of care on the part of the defendant (MoD). His claim must be dismissed."
Mr Hibbert's case was that in May 1994 an Army consultant psychiatrist failed to diagnose post-traumatic stress disorder. His condition deteriorated and became "entrenched", said Mr Mansfield, so that by the time he was diagnosed in the autumn of 1996 he was "beyond treatment".
click above for more
To shoot or not to shoot is the question
IRAQ: To shoot or not to shoot is the question
In the end, the criminal case against Marine sniper Sgt. Johnny Winnick (pictured) may boil down to the simplest but yet most confounding question facing troops in Iraq: When can a Marine or soldier use deadly force against a suspected insurgent?
It's a question not even supposed experts can agree on. During the preliminary hearing completed Wednesday, a Marine lieutenant testified that he asked two majors — one a lawyer, the other a battalion executive officer — and got contradictory explanations.
Winnick is charged with manslaughter and assault for killing two Syrians and wounding two others.
click above for more
The dilemma of a split second decision is something they all have to make at one point or another. When it is not a clear threat, they have to decide to shoot or wait. Waiting has it's own problems. What if they wait too long? What if they don't wait long enough? Deciding to shoot and then finding out they made the wrong decision cannot be undone. They carry a lot of guilt inside of them for the rest of their lives unless they find peace with it. Knowing what was in their mind at the time can either provide peace or invite the ghosts of war in. While the majority of combatants are reluctant to pull the trigger in these situations, there are some who reach a point when they no longer care about being right or wrong. Having lived through the horrors of war changes people. It makes them think differently. It causes them to become a stranger within their own body.
They have a private war raging inside of them after as events fight character. This is something we all need to understand and refrain from making judgments until all the facts are in.
Army Sgt. Omar Hernandez earns Silver Star
‘I couldn’t let anyone die out there’
By Lisa Burgess, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Thursday, July 3, 2008
ARLINGTON, Va. —Army Sgt. Omar Hernandez traveled a long, hard road on his way to earning the Silver Star.
Hernandez, 27, came to the United States from Mexico with his family when he was 6 months old.
He joined the Army Reserve at age 19 as an engineer, and went to Iraq for the first time in February 2003. He switched to the regular Army in March 2004 as an infantryman and was promptly sent back to Iraq. He earned his citizenship after his second Iraq tour.
Hernandez was deployed for the third time in November 2006, as part of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division out of Fort Bliss, Texas. The unit has since changed its name to 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division.
Five months into the deployment, Hernandez and other 4-1 soldiers moved from Forward Operating Base Kalsu in Iskandariyah to Baghdad, where they were assigned to Joint Security Station "Maverick" in Ghazaliya, a primarily Sunni Baghdad neighborhood.
go here for more
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=55937
By Lisa Burgess, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Thursday, July 3, 2008
ARLINGTON, Va. —Army Sgt. Omar Hernandez traveled a long, hard road on his way to earning the Silver Star.
Hernandez, 27, came to the United States from Mexico with his family when he was 6 months old.
He joined the Army Reserve at age 19 as an engineer, and went to Iraq for the first time in February 2003. He switched to the regular Army in March 2004 as an infantryman and was promptly sent back to Iraq. He earned his citizenship after his second Iraq tour.
Hernandez was deployed for the third time in November 2006, as part of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division out of Fort Bliss, Texas. The unit has since changed its name to 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division.
Five months into the deployment, Hernandez and other 4-1 soldiers moved from Forward Operating Base Kalsu in Iskandariyah to Baghdad, where they were assigned to Joint Security Station "Maverick" in Ghazaliya, a primarily Sunni Baghdad neighborhood.
go here for more
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=55937
TAMPA: Sole fire survivor ponders suicide
Sole fire survivor ponders suicide
By Robbyn Mitchell and Thomas Kaplan, Times Staff Writers
In print: Wednesday, July 2, 2008
TAMPA — Last July, Wallace Ecenia Jr. awoke to the acrid scent of smoke and hoisted himself out his bedroom window to escape his burning home. When he went to rescue his sleeping mother and sister from outside, it was too late.
The only survivor to the fire that destroyed their home, Ecenia, 48, struggled to cope, telling his family as the fire's anniversary approached that he wanted to kill himself, police say.
On Tuesday, that struggle came to an abrupt climax when an armed Ecenia barricaded himself inside a sedan near his family's north Tampa gem shop, launching a tense standoff that ended more than five hours later when police finally convinced him to leave his car.
After he spent an afternoon holed up without air conditioning outside Wally's Natural Wonders at 6007 N Armenia Ave., police lured Ecenia out of the car with the promise of water.
Relatives had been worried about him because next week marks the anniversary of the fire, said Laura McElroy, a spokeswoman for the Tampa Police Department. Juanita Ecenia, 77, and Michelle Ecenia, 53, died last July after an early-morning fire gutted their Egypt Lake area home.
Wallace Ecenia Jr. suffered only minor cuts and bruises in the fire. While his family apparently slept through the blaze, he awoke to find the door of his bedroom hot from the flames.
Firefighters found his sister dead inside the home at 8601 Twin Lakes Blvd., and his mother died at a hospital. His father, Wallace Ecenia Sr., who also lived there, was not home at the time.
go here for more
http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/article655311.ece
By Robbyn Mitchell and Thomas Kaplan, Times Staff Writers
In print: Wednesday, July 2, 2008
TAMPA — Last July, Wallace Ecenia Jr. awoke to the acrid scent of smoke and hoisted himself out his bedroom window to escape his burning home. When he went to rescue his sleeping mother and sister from outside, it was too late.
The only survivor to the fire that destroyed their home, Ecenia, 48, struggled to cope, telling his family as the fire's anniversary approached that he wanted to kill himself, police say.
On Tuesday, that struggle came to an abrupt climax when an armed Ecenia barricaded himself inside a sedan near his family's north Tampa gem shop, launching a tense standoff that ended more than five hours later when police finally convinced him to leave his car.
After he spent an afternoon holed up without air conditioning outside Wally's Natural Wonders at 6007 N Armenia Ave., police lured Ecenia out of the car with the promise of water.
Relatives had been worried about him because next week marks the anniversary of the fire, said Laura McElroy, a spokeswoman for the Tampa Police Department. Juanita Ecenia, 77, and Michelle Ecenia, 53, died last July after an early-morning fire gutted their Egypt Lake area home.
Wallace Ecenia Jr. suffered only minor cuts and bruises in the fire. While his family apparently slept through the blaze, he awoke to find the door of his bedroom hot from the flames.
Firefighters found his sister dead inside the home at 8601 Twin Lakes Blvd., and his mother died at a hospital. His father, Wallace Ecenia Sr., who also lived there, was not home at the time.
go here for more
http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/article655311.ece
IRS seeks retirees, disabled vets for rebate
IRS seeks retirees, disabled vets for rebate
By Sandra Block - USA Today
Posted : Wednesday Jul 2, 2008 14:10:51 EDT
Ordinarily, word that the IRS is looking for you would be cause for concern. But if you’re retired or a disabled veteran, the IRS is seeking you for a pleasant reason: The government wants to give you a check.
The IRS said last month that more than 5 million retirees and disabled veterans who are eligible for a piece of the $152 billion economic stimulus package have failed to take the steps necessary to get their tax-rebate checks. There’s still time to get your money. But you need to file a tax return by Oct. 15, even if you haven’t filed a tax return since gas cost less than $2 a gallon.
Under the law enacted this year, most taxpayers are eligible for rebate checks of $600, or $1,200 for married couples, plus $300 for dependent children. Most of them will receive their checks automatically, based on information from their 2007 tax return. So far, the IRS has sent out 76.5 million payments worth $63.8 billion.
go here for more
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/07/gns_vets_rebate_070208/
Bull! I worked all last year, my husband gets a pension and his VA disability and we have a daughter in college. Do you know what we got? $600. That's it. They said we didn't make enough money for more than that. We thought we'd get $1,500 like the media keeps reporting but we ended up short by $900! I mean it's bad enough I do this work for free but when I've been out of a job that pays since January and did not get unemployment because I worked for a church, that much money really hurt us. When I keep reading the IRS wants to pay out more it's like rubbing salt into the wound. If you are due money, please fill out the forms and get it.
By Sandra Block - USA Today
Posted : Wednesday Jul 2, 2008 14:10:51 EDT
Ordinarily, word that the IRS is looking for you would be cause for concern. But if you’re retired or a disabled veteran, the IRS is seeking you for a pleasant reason: The government wants to give you a check.
The IRS said last month that more than 5 million retirees and disabled veterans who are eligible for a piece of the $152 billion economic stimulus package have failed to take the steps necessary to get their tax-rebate checks. There’s still time to get your money. But you need to file a tax return by Oct. 15, even if you haven’t filed a tax return since gas cost less than $2 a gallon.
Under the law enacted this year, most taxpayers are eligible for rebate checks of $600, or $1,200 for married couples, plus $300 for dependent children. Most of them will receive their checks automatically, based on information from their 2007 tax return. So far, the IRS has sent out 76.5 million payments worth $63.8 billion.
go here for more
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/07/gns_vets_rebate_070208/
Bull! I worked all last year, my husband gets a pension and his VA disability and we have a daughter in college. Do you know what we got? $600. That's it. They said we didn't make enough money for more than that. We thought we'd get $1,500 like the media keeps reporting but we ended up short by $900! I mean it's bad enough I do this work for free but when I've been out of a job that pays since January and did not get unemployment because I worked for a church, that much money really hurt us. When I keep reading the IRS wants to pay out more it's like rubbing salt into the wound. If you are due money, please fill out the forms and get it.
General physical health of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan
The General Physical Health of Iraq and Afghanistan War Veterans
Wednesday July 2, 2008
Soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are showing high rates of PTSD, alcohol use, depression and difficulties with anger. Returning soldiers may also be at a heightened risk for physical health problems.
The experience of a traumatic event has been linked to a number of physical health problems as well as unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking and alcohol use. Obviously, being deployed in a war zone, such as Iraq or Afghanistan, increases the likelihood that a person will experience a traumatic event and thus be at a greater risk for developing PTSD and potential physical health problems. Soldiers deployed to a war zone, however, also face additional risk factors for physical health problems, including sustaining a physical injury and being exposed to environmental contaminants (dangerous chemicals).
Therefore, a study by researchers at the Seattle VA Hospital examined what factors (the experience of PTSD symptoms, physical injury, exposure to environmental contaminants) may be connected to physical health problems among Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans. You can read about their interesting findings here.
Wednesday July 2, 2008
Soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are showing high rates of PTSD, alcohol use, depression and difficulties with anger. Returning soldiers may also be at a heightened risk for physical health problems.
The experience of a traumatic event has been linked to a number of physical health problems as well as unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking and alcohol use. Obviously, being deployed in a war zone, such as Iraq or Afghanistan, increases the likelihood that a person will experience a traumatic event and thus be at a greater risk for developing PTSD and potential physical health problems. Soldiers deployed to a war zone, however, also face additional risk factors for physical health problems, including sustaining a physical injury and being exposed to environmental contaminants (dangerous chemicals).
Therefore, a study by researchers at the Seattle VA Hospital examined what factors (the experience of PTSD symptoms, physical injury, exposure to environmental contaminants) may be connected to physical health problems among Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans. You can read about their interesting findings here.
Jericho Project to Prevent Homelessness Among Veterans
Preventing Homelessness in Veterans
Invisible injuries of war in Iraq and Afghanistan are showing up in returning troops, and a recent Pentagon surveys estimates that 20% will suffer from "temporary stress injuries" and 10% from "stress illnesses" that lead to pervasive social dislocations. PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injuries can lead to a cascade of problems interfering with a veteran's re-entry into society, employment and family. The Jericho Project, a 25-year old national leader in solving homelessness, is helping with its innovative Veterans Initiative including permanent supportive housing, comprehensive services and ongoing peer support. Two specially designed Veterans Residences will be in the Bronx, NY; and one is breaking ground this fall.
(PRWEB) July 2, 2008 -- Jericho Project to Prevent Homelessness Among Veterans
Invisible injuries of war in Iraq and Afghanistan are showing up in returning troops, so much so that recent Pentagon surveys estimate that 20% will suffer from "temporary stress injuries" and 10% from "stress illnesses" that lead to pervasive social dislocations. On top of that are the physical injuries like Traumatic Brain Injuries which likewise can prevent a veteran's re-entry into society, employment and family.
Stepping in to help is the Jericho Project, a 25-year old national leader in solving homelessness, whose holistic approach combines permanent supportive housing, comprehensive yet targeted counseling, and ongoing peer support and role modeling by its successful "graduates." Jericho will apply this model to the goal of preventing homelessness among our nation's veterans with its innovative Veterans Initiative.
In advance of breaking ground on the first of two Veterans Residences in the Bronx, New York, this fall, Jericho Executive Director Tori Lyon is already distilling the expertise of leading scientists, foundations and nonprofits into a comprehensive housing and counseling program specifically designed for vets.
"We are learning that there are ways to manage and mitigate the effects of mental trauma like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder so that a person can regain his or her equilibrium, confidence and life," she says. Chronic grief and fatigue can be misdiagnosed as PTSD, for example; and PTSD unacknowledged and untreated can result in substance abuse and alienation.
"Our goal is to intervene when veterans are in crisis so that we can prevent homelessness and help them back to the road of recovery," she adds.
We invite you to speak to Ms. Lyon on how the Jericho model will be applied to veterans of all wars and eras. At the Veterans Residences, veterans will receive compassionate counseling by people who understand the particular conflicts that veterans face; for example among Iraq vets, receiving a hero's welcome while overcome with grief, fatigue and trauma; or concealing symptoms of PTSD for fear of losing jobs in law enforcement or security.
Jericho has a track record of success: among the "graduates" of Jericho's five locations housing 253 residents, 96% move to stable, independent living, two-thirds are employed at an average salary of over $10.00 per hour, with the remainder using government benefits; and only 5% experience relapse. What's more, Jericho accomplishes this for $12,000 per person per year, less than half of the $25,000 for a New York City shelter bed; and roughly a quarter of the $40,000 for the city jail.
For its Veterans Initiative, Jericho calls upon the expertise of people and organizations including:
Dr. Charles Figley, one of the nation's foremost experts on combat-related trauma and its ensuing psychological stress on veterans and their families. A Fulbright Fellow and Professor, College of Social Work at Florida State University, he founded the Consortium on Veteran Studies in 1975 to study and help Vietnam veterans returning from war. This effort led to the development of the diagnosis of PTSD and a national outreach program for Vietnam veterans within the Veterans Administration.
The Bob Woodruff Family Foundation, which awarded Jericho a $100,000 grant for use in serving veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan who have sustained Traumatic Brain Injury and/or PTSD.
The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. With a mission is to end homelessness among America's veterans by shaping public policy, promoting collaboration, and increasing the capacity of service providers, NCHV is the resource and technical assistance center for a national network of community-based and government veteran assistance agencies representing 48 states and the District of Columbia.
For more information on the Jericho Project, please contact Lynthia Romney, RomneyCom L.L.C., (914) 238-2145.
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/7/prweb1066564.htm
Invisible injuries of war in Iraq and Afghanistan are showing up in returning troops, and a recent Pentagon surveys estimates that 20% will suffer from "temporary stress injuries" and 10% from "stress illnesses" that lead to pervasive social dislocations. PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injuries can lead to a cascade of problems interfering with a veteran's re-entry into society, employment and family. The Jericho Project, a 25-year old national leader in solving homelessness, is helping with its innovative Veterans Initiative including permanent supportive housing, comprehensive services and ongoing peer support. Two specially designed Veterans Residences will be in the Bronx, NY; and one is breaking ground this fall.
(PRWEB) July 2, 2008 -- Jericho Project to Prevent Homelessness Among Veterans
Invisible injuries of war in Iraq and Afghanistan are showing up in returning troops, so much so that recent Pentagon surveys estimate that 20% will suffer from "temporary stress injuries" and 10% from "stress illnesses" that lead to pervasive social dislocations. On top of that are the physical injuries like Traumatic Brain Injuries which likewise can prevent a veteran's re-entry into society, employment and family.
Stepping in to help is the Jericho Project, a 25-year old national leader in solving homelessness, whose holistic approach combines permanent supportive housing, comprehensive yet targeted counseling, and ongoing peer support and role modeling by its successful "graduates." Jericho will apply this model to the goal of preventing homelessness among our nation's veterans with its innovative Veterans Initiative.
In advance of breaking ground on the first of two Veterans Residences in the Bronx, New York, this fall, Jericho Executive Director Tori Lyon is already distilling the expertise of leading scientists, foundations and nonprofits into a comprehensive housing and counseling program specifically designed for vets.
"We are learning that there are ways to manage and mitigate the effects of mental trauma like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder so that a person can regain his or her equilibrium, confidence and life," she says. Chronic grief and fatigue can be misdiagnosed as PTSD, for example; and PTSD unacknowledged and untreated can result in substance abuse and alienation.
"Our goal is to intervene when veterans are in crisis so that we can prevent homelessness and help them back to the road of recovery," she adds.
We invite you to speak to Ms. Lyon on how the Jericho model will be applied to veterans of all wars and eras. At the Veterans Residences, veterans will receive compassionate counseling by people who understand the particular conflicts that veterans face; for example among Iraq vets, receiving a hero's welcome while overcome with grief, fatigue and trauma; or concealing symptoms of PTSD for fear of losing jobs in law enforcement or security.
Jericho has a track record of success: among the "graduates" of Jericho's five locations housing 253 residents, 96% move to stable, independent living, two-thirds are employed at an average salary of over $10.00 per hour, with the remainder using government benefits; and only 5% experience relapse. What's more, Jericho accomplishes this for $12,000 per person per year, less than half of the $25,000 for a New York City shelter bed; and roughly a quarter of the $40,000 for the city jail.
For its Veterans Initiative, Jericho calls upon the expertise of people and organizations including:
Dr. Charles Figley, one of the nation's foremost experts on combat-related trauma and its ensuing psychological stress on veterans and their families. A Fulbright Fellow and Professor, College of Social Work at Florida State University, he founded the Consortium on Veteran Studies in 1975 to study and help Vietnam veterans returning from war. This effort led to the development of the diagnosis of PTSD and a national outreach program for Vietnam veterans within the Veterans Administration.
The Bob Woodruff Family Foundation, which awarded Jericho a $100,000 grant for use in serving veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan who have sustained Traumatic Brain Injury and/or PTSD.
The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. With a mission is to end homelessness among America's veterans by shaping public policy, promoting collaboration, and increasing the capacity of service providers, NCHV is the resource and technical assistance center for a national network of community-based and government veteran assistance agencies representing 48 states and the District of Columbia.
For more information on the Jericho Project, please contact Lynthia Romney, RomneyCom L.L.C., (914) 238-2145.
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/7/prweb1066564.htm
The price of hunger in America
June 29, 2008
The price of hunger
ANP: Hunger is a growing crisis in US, stagnant economy and rising fuel price cause cost of food to soar
American News Project: Hunger is a growing crisis in America. With a stagnant economy and rising fuel prices the cost of food is soaring. Congress is reacting, but will their efforts be enough? ANP spends a week with Brian Duss who agrees to take the Food Stamp Challenge and live off a dollar per meal for 7 days.
The Price of Hunger
By Garland McLaurin
JAMES P. MCGOVERN, CONGRESSMAN (D-MA): Hunger is a political condition. That is absolutely the best way to characterize it. We have the resources, we have the infrastructure, we have everything to end hunger except the political will.
VOICEOVER: Hunger is growing in America, and food banks are scrambling to keep up with the need. Higher oil prices mean higher food prices, and the stagnant economy means more unemployment. It's estimated that a record 28 million Americans will be using food stamps in 2009. Millions more depend on community food banks like Bread for the City in Washington, DC, to provide free food from time to time.
JEANETTE CHANCE, NORTHWEST FOOD COORDINATOR: You know, we never can predict a time and an amount of people, but they're coming, and probably between about 100 to 150 people per day. The first two weeks of the month, it's really 200-plus families every month.
VOICEOVER: The elderly living on fixed incomes are among those who need the most help with food donations. For many, the food stamps they receive are just not enough.
CHANCE: A person who picks up from us every month—I don't know if I should say his name—but he'll be 110 years old this year, and he's the talk of Bread for the City, and stronger than two people, two normal people. But he comes faithfully and picks his food up every month.
DONNA HENDRICKS, SENIOR IN NEED OF FOOD ASSISTANCE: I have to go wherever I can go to get groceries, because the cost of living has gone up so high. It's like a vicious cycle. It reminds me of a hamster running on its wheel, just going around and around and around. And I feel overwhelmed right now. I live on a single income, and it's true I do get food stamps, but all I get is $70 a month, and that doesn't stretch for one month. So I come here and I get food once a month, and that helps tremendously.
click post title for more
When do we get about doing what Christ told us to do? If anyone wants to claim the title of being a Christian think of this.
How can anyone dismiss this and still claim how important faith is to them? Is it was faith can do only for them, their needs, wants and desires? Or is it what faith is supposed to transform within them? Do they think it's ok to face Christ and say what they bought for themselves instead of what they did for others? Do they think it's ok that they claimed they fought for Christ to stop abortions or gay marriages when they failed to take care of the least among us? If they think what someone else does in their own personal life is what Christ was talking about fighting against, they missed the entire reason He came at all. Read the Red Letters of the New Testament and find me the time when Christ said we were to hate or judge anyone. Find me the part where He talked about making sure we got what we wanted first and leave everyone else on their own. Sure you can point to Leviticus and how the sins were worthy of death like eating shell fish, or maybe even go to the Acts and the speeches given by Paul, but you can't show me where Christ said anything about any of this or where God said anything written in Leviticus in the Ten Commandments. We twist what is right around because we just don't want to do it His way. Take a look at the words above and then tell me how allowing people to go hungry in this country is suppose to be a thing to ignore.
Senior Chaplain Kathie Costos
Namguardianangel@aol.com
www.Namguardianangel.org
www.Woundedtimes.blogspot.com
"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of early wars were treated and appreciated by our nation."
- George Washington
The price of hunger
ANP: Hunger is a growing crisis in US, stagnant economy and rising fuel price cause cost of food to soar
American News Project: Hunger is a growing crisis in America. With a stagnant economy and rising fuel prices the cost of food is soaring. Congress is reacting, but will their efforts be enough? ANP spends a week with Brian Duss who agrees to take the Food Stamp Challenge and live off a dollar per meal for 7 days.
The Price of Hunger
By Garland McLaurin
JAMES P. MCGOVERN, CONGRESSMAN (D-MA): Hunger is a political condition. That is absolutely the best way to characterize it. We have the resources, we have the infrastructure, we have everything to end hunger except the political will.
VOICEOVER: Hunger is growing in America, and food banks are scrambling to keep up with the need. Higher oil prices mean higher food prices, and the stagnant economy means more unemployment. It's estimated that a record 28 million Americans will be using food stamps in 2009. Millions more depend on community food banks like Bread for the City in Washington, DC, to provide free food from time to time.
JEANETTE CHANCE, NORTHWEST FOOD COORDINATOR: You know, we never can predict a time and an amount of people, but they're coming, and probably between about 100 to 150 people per day. The first two weeks of the month, it's really 200-plus families every month.
VOICEOVER: The elderly living on fixed incomes are among those who need the most help with food donations. For many, the food stamps they receive are just not enough.
CHANCE: A person who picks up from us every month—I don't know if I should say his name—but he'll be 110 years old this year, and he's the talk of Bread for the City, and stronger than two people, two normal people. But he comes faithfully and picks his food up every month.
DONNA HENDRICKS, SENIOR IN NEED OF FOOD ASSISTANCE: I have to go wherever I can go to get groceries, because the cost of living has gone up so high. It's like a vicious cycle. It reminds me of a hamster running on its wheel, just going around and around and around. And I feel overwhelmed right now. I live on a single income, and it's true I do get food stamps, but all I get is $70 a month, and that doesn't stretch for one month. So I come here and I get food once a month, and that helps tremendously.
click post title for more
When do we get about doing what Christ told us to do? If anyone wants to claim the title of being a Christian think of this.
Galatians 6:2 (New International Version)You can find many more times when Christ Himself talked about how to treat others in the Red letters of the New Testament.
2 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+6:2
How can anyone dismiss this and still claim how important faith is to them? Is it was faith can do only for them, their needs, wants and desires? Or is it what faith is supposed to transform within them? Do they think it's ok to face Christ and say what they bought for themselves instead of what they did for others? Do they think it's ok that they claimed they fought for Christ to stop abortions or gay marriages when they failed to take care of the least among us? If they think what someone else does in their own personal life is what Christ was talking about fighting against, they missed the entire reason He came at all. Read the Red Letters of the New Testament and find me the time when Christ said we were to hate or judge anyone. Find me the part where He talked about making sure we got what we wanted first and leave everyone else on their own. Sure you can point to Leviticus and how the sins were worthy of death like eating shell fish, or maybe even go to the Acts and the speeches given by Paul, but you can't show me where Christ said anything about any of this or where God said anything written in Leviticus in the Ten Commandments. We twist what is right around because we just don't want to do it His way. Take a look at the words above and then tell me how allowing people to go hungry in this country is suppose to be a thing to ignore.
Senior Chaplain Kathie Costos
Namguardianangel@aol.com
www.Namguardianangel.org
www.Woundedtimes.blogspot.com
"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of early wars were treated and appreciated by our nation."
- George Washington
Orlando People Power Hour radio program guest is me?
I was invited to participate in the show by John Hamilton, producer of the People Power Hour radio program heard Saturdays from 11am until noon on WAMT 1190AM in Orlando. I'll be on this Saturday along with Barry Stanley and Fanita Jackson-Norman of the Orlando VA Hospital discussing their Seamless Transition Program among other things. PTSD will be the focus of this program, that is for sure. We have a lot of issues here in Florida and over 400,000 veterans in this state. Not sure how much time I'll have but you won't be able to miss my Bostonian accent.
In the Orlando area, we have 1,200 homeless veterans and very little help for them. What we have managed to do is wonderful but only a fraction of the veterans needing help are getting it. The Orlando VA clinic, the size of a hospital, is always full of veterans waiting for their appointments. This gets really crazy in the winter when the "snow birds" arrive and it becomes a freak of luck and timing if you can get a parking space without having to park on the grass section with the dirt road leading into the real parking lot. They do have golf carts to retrieve people who cannot walk that great of a distance and take them back to their cars, which is a blessing for the older veterans, usually accompanied by an equally elderly wife.
The Dom facility for homeless veterans is run by Dr. Shay with great rooms and services but they can only take in 60 homeless veterans at a time. Then there is the nursing home with a great staff. I've been there several times with friends playing Bingo with the residents and they are a great bunch.
The other thing done for them is the DAV invites them to the monthly meetings because dinner is served before the meetings and they get treated like honored guests accompanied by caring nurses. After dinner they are escorted to the van before the meeting begins. It gives them a chance to get out. The DAV also goes to the nursing home to play Bingo once a month. I belong to the DAV Auxiliary.
There is a Veteran's Council at City Hall with a dedicated group of people working very hard for the sake of our veterans. I met several of them the beginning of June when I did a presentation on PTSD with one of my videos, Hero After War. During the meeting I was fascinated learning how much is going on in this area for veterans. I was invited to the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Veteran's Clinic in Orange, which is also a much needed resource for the veterans who had to travel to Orlando before the clinic was opened.
NAMI, another organization I belong to, is gearing up to put more resources into Florida. We had our convention here in June and it was well attended. Again even more was learned about what we were getting right but raised more awareness on how much more needs to be done.
If we are going to really take care of our veterans it will take all the communities to get involved. Every service organization needs to step up as well as all the local clergy. Citizens of Florida have stepped up and that's great but too many are still not involved at all. There are things they can do but they don't ask. First suggestion is to call the Dom and find out what the needs of the homeless veterans are. Try to fill that need or at least make a donation to them. When the Vietnam Veterans of America call to tell you they will have a truck in your area, think of what you don't need in your house and tell them to pick it up. They make it easy on you to donate to them. Get involved and remember the veterans got involved for you. That's how they became veterans.
Senior Chaplain Kathie Costos
Namguardianangel@aol.com
www.Namguardianangel.org
www.Woundedtimes.blogspot.com
"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of early wars were treated and appreciated by our nation." - George Washington
In the Orlando area, we have 1,200 homeless veterans and very little help for them. What we have managed to do is wonderful but only a fraction of the veterans needing help are getting it. The Orlando VA clinic, the size of a hospital, is always full of veterans waiting for their appointments. This gets really crazy in the winter when the "snow birds" arrive and it becomes a freak of luck and timing if you can get a parking space without having to park on the grass section with the dirt road leading into the real parking lot. They do have golf carts to retrieve people who cannot walk that great of a distance and take them back to their cars, which is a blessing for the older veterans, usually accompanied by an equally elderly wife.
The Dom facility for homeless veterans is run by Dr. Shay with great rooms and services but they can only take in 60 homeless veterans at a time. Then there is the nursing home with a great staff. I've been there several times with friends playing Bingo with the residents and they are a great bunch.
The other thing done for them is the DAV invites them to the monthly meetings because dinner is served before the meetings and they get treated like honored guests accompanied by caring nurses. After dinner they are escorted to the van before the meeting begins. It gives them a chance to get out. The DAV also goes to the nursing home to play Bingo once a month. I belong to the DAV Auxiliary.
There is a Veteran's Council at City Hall with a dedicated group of people working very hard for the sake of our veterans. I met several of them the beginning of June when I did a presentation on PTSD with one of my videos, Hero After War. During the meeting I was fascinated learning how much is going on in this area for veterans. I was invited to the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Veteran's Clinic in Orange, which is also a much needed resource for the veterans who had to travel to Orlando before the clinic was opened.
NAMI, another organization I belong to, is gearing up to put more resources into Florida. We had our convention here in June and it was well attended. Again even more was learned about what we were getting right but raised more awareness on how much more needs to be done.
If we are going to really take care of our veterans it will take all the communities to get involved. Every service organization needs to step up as well as all the local clergy. Citizens of Florida have stepped up and that's great but too many are still not involved at all. There are things they can do but they don't ask. First suggestion is to call the Dom and find out what the needs of the homeless veterans are. Try to fill that need or at least make a donation to them. When the Vietnam Veterans of America call to tell you they will have a truck in your area, think of what you don't need in your house and tell them to pick it up. They make it easy on you to donate to them. Get involved and remember the veterans got involved for you. That's how they became veterans.
Senior Chaplain Kathie Costos
Namguardianangel@aol.com
www.Namguardianangel.org
www.Woundedtimes.blogspot.com
"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of early wars were treated and appreciated by our nation." - George Washington
NAMI fighting to stop stigma of mental illness
In this issue...
What’s In a Name? A Letter from the ADS Center
Online Resources
Research
Models, Programs, and Technical Assistance Tools… NAMI’S In Our Own Voice
In My Experience…Learning From a Troubled Genius by: Miriam Davis
What’s In a Name?
Nearly two months ago, we announced a change to the ADS Center’s name, from SAMHSA's Resource Center to Address Discrimination and Stigma to SAMHSA's Resource Center to Promote Acceptance, Dignity and, Social Inclusion Associated with Mental Health. The change demonstrates a new perspective for The ADS Center. We’re focusing on recovery, wellness, and the power of individuals with mental illnesses to chart their own recovery courses, based on their strengths and goals. These elements have always been part of our work, but now they’re at the forefront.
Many of you have shared your comments and feedback about the new change, and we thank you for taking the time to write. While we had a few emails questioning the new name, the majority expressed view like these:
Fabulous! Language structures experience and intention. I love your name change and applaud the awareness and consciousness out of which it grew.
I really like the positive and “do it” attitude that the new name presents!!!!!
The new name reflects a shift in society's view of mental illness from exclusion to inclusion.
The name change is powerful. Thank you very much for your foresight and thoughtfulness in doing this. It will make a difference.
I like the way the new name stresses the positive strengths and attributes as opposed to a negative focus.
We also received emails that challenged us to go further with the name change, like this one: The name change is great. But I note that the website still is called Stopstigma and also this email. It seems a little redundant.
We agree. From now on, we have a new Web site:
http://promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov/ and a
new email address: mailto:promoteacceptance@samhsa.hhs.gov
Please bookmark the site and use that new email address to stay in touch. Thank you for helping us Promote Acceptance, Dignity and, Social Inclusion Associated with Mental Health.
Sincerely, The ADS Center
Online Resources
Guidance of Transformational Language
Transformation in services and supports for adults, and children and youth with mental health problems, requires a complementary transformation in the language we use to describe the people we serve. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration developed this guide to provide examples of transformational, people-first language.
Guidelines for non-handicapping language in APA journals:
Committee on disabilities issues in psychology This fact sheet provides guidelines for the use of appropriate language regarding people with disabilities.
Mind your language: Media guidelines for mental health issues
This booklet, part of the 'see me' mental health public education campaign of Scotland, provides guidelines when addressing mental illness in the media.
Module Two: Defining the Illnesses
This is a teaching module on the proper uses of psychiatric terminology. Learners understand how inaccurate portrayals and stereotypes of mental illnesses create barriers to medical treatment. This brochure is also available in its entirety from the American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc.
Stigma and discrimination: Aspects of stigma
Prejduice and discrimination towards people with schizophrenia and other mental illnesses, and even towards their families, is a huge problem. This Web site contains ideas put together from conferences and other academic discussions about language.
This fact sheet about labels and stereotyping demonstrates the ways in which words can hurt and the ways in which they can affirm people with mental illnesses. By juxtaposing the ways that 'words can be poison' and the ways that 'words can heal,' the document sets ups do's and don't for the appropriate use of language.
A fact sheet created by On Our Own of Maryland outlining appropriate and nonstigmatizing language to use when speaking about people who have mental illnesses. The fact sheet is available at onourownmd.org
This fact sheet provides examples of appropriate and inappropriate language when discussing mental illness.
Research
Corrigan, P. Language and Stigma. Psychiatric Services. August 2006; 57:1218.
Covell, N.H., McCorkle, B.H., Weissman, E.M., Summerfelt, T. and S.M. Essock. What's in a Name? Terms preferred by service recipients. Administration and Policy in Mental Health. September 2007; 34(5):443-7. Epub 2007 Apr 27.
Folsom et al. A Longitudinal Study of the Use of Mental Health Services by Persons With Serious Mental Illness: Do Spanish-Speaking Latinos Differ From English-Speaking Latinos and Caucasians? The American Journal of Psychiatry. 2007; 164: 1173-1180
Hamilton, B. and E. Manias. 'She's manipulative and he's right off': A critical analysis of psychiatric nurses' oral and written language in the acute inpatient setting. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing. June 2006; 15(2):84-92.
Levav, I., Shemesh, A.A., Kohn, R., Baidani-Auerbach, A., Boni, O., Borenstein, Y., Dudai, R., Lachman, M., and A. Grinshpoon. What is in a name? Professionals and service users' opinions of the Hebrew terms used to name psychiatric disorders and disability. The Israel Journal of Psychiatry and Related Sciences. 2005; 42(4):242-7.
Rose, D., Thornicroft, G. Pinfold, V., and A. Kassam. 250 labels used to stigmatise people with mental illness. BMC Health Services Research. 2007; 7: 97.
Sharma, V., Whitney, D., Kazarian, S.S., and R. Manchanda. Preferred terms for users of mental health services among service providers and recipients. Psychiatric Services. February 2000; 51(2):203-9.
Simmoons, T., Novins, D.K., and J. Allen. Words have power: (Re)-defining serious emotional disturbance for American Indian and Alaska Native children and their families. American Indian and Alaska Native Mental Health Research, The Journal of the National Center. 2004 11(2): 59-64.
Models, Programs, and Technical Assistance Tools
Listening Well for Mental Health
Paula Comunelli a 2008 SAMHSA Voice Award Winner for Consumer Leadership is the founder and CEO of Listening Well, an organization that provides personal and professional development for individuals, organizations, and communities using the power of storytelling. Her diverse background includes social change advocate, entrepreneur, corporate manager, government contractor, and transformational leader. A mental health consumer in recovery, Paula works to remove prejudice and discrimination that comes from ignorance and brings different cultures and ethnicities regardless of age and gender together.
Listening Well uses a recovery philosophy to both empower consumers of mental health services, family members, and service providers, and reduce negative public perceptions of people with mental disorders through unique community storytelling retreats and mental health monologue events.
Listening Well’s goals include:
Facilitating consumers of mental health services to step further into their personal power and potential by taking them on a retreat to go through a process of helping them uncover and prepare to present the essence of their story of recovery and
Promoting transformation in members of the public or mental health system who witness these stories (at a monologue event) by impacting perceptions about the recovery capacity of people regardless of where they lie on the continuum of mental health and by reducing negative attitudes surrounding mental health issues.
Listening Well accomplishes its goals through programs that include:
The Listening Well Experience (LWE)This personal exploration is designed to deepen self-knowledge, enhance leadership capacity, and further the human experience. This workshop is for those committed to their inner and outer journey and who seek balance and wholeness in their lives. Because storytelling is a universal language, the Listening Well Experience can be delivered in any language, to any age group, and with any population. Of particular interest is developing bi-lingual, bicultural facilitators to serve monolingual populations. Along with a wellness and recovery story, some key outcomes are reclaimed lives, the realization that one is not alone, and increased personal empowerment.
Inspired Leadership This program focuses on strengths (Appreciative Inquiry) and has been successfully used with corporations, not-for-profits, government systems, groups, and individuals. Some key outcomes are discovered strengths, enhanced relationships, clarified intentions, and defined next steps to create the work, life, and world desired.
LWE Group Facilitator Certification (Train-the-Trainer)This program develops the ability to facilitate the Listening Well Experience in a group format. Participants learn the basics of modeling leadership, using self as an instrument of change, and applying cross-cultural teachings and Appreciative Inquiry. Some key outcomes are a developed and sustained learning environment, improved language and story development, and enhanced co-facilitation and feedback skills. LWE Group Facilitator Certification is provided at the close of the workshop based upon successful demonstration of core competencies.
For more information on Listening Well contact the organization at 831-421-9393 or contact@listeningwell.net You may also access the Listening Well Web site at http://www.listeningwell.net/
In My Experience… Learning From a Troubled Genius
Originally published in The Washington Post on Tuesday, December 18, 2001When 25 Years Ago the Author Met John Nash, the Nobel-Winning Schizophrenic, She Behaved Badly. She's Beginning to Understand Why.1By Miriam DavisHis shorts were a bright plaid, glaringly different from the pattern on his shirt. On his feet he wore red sneakers. On the self-consciously earth-toned Princeton campus of 1976, he stood out. "Who's that?" I asked my friends in the math department about the odd-looking figure who hung around the math area, which faced the biology lab where I'd begun working on my doctorate."Oh, that's Nash," came the reply."Who's he?" I persevered."He's crazy, but he won't hurt you." End of discussion.That was my introduction to math genius John Nash -- years before he was awarded his Nobel prize in economics, years before his recovery from schizophrenia, years before the release of the film version of his biography, "A Beautiful Mind," which is scheduled to arrive in theaters in January. And years before I began to care about the stigma of mental illness.
I didn't question my friends' dismissiveness. Nash's illness reduced him to insignificance for me, as it did for so many others.
Like them, I grew accustomed to seeing "The Ghost of Fine Hall," as he was known, in and around the math department where he had been a fixture for years -- a department in which he no longer had any formal affiliation but where all knew of his former glory. Outside Princeton, many academics assumed he was dead.The trouble was that I saw this dead man walking everywhere on campus. He could hardly be missed. Hunch-shouldered, arms hanging, he wandered the grounds wearing a vacant expression and the same mismatched plaids in all weather, regardless of season. He muttered to himself and made no eye contact. His appearance was so unsettling that I never said hello or bothered with a half-smile. I never wondered who he really was beneath the off-putting exterior, why he was there, whether he had a family, what his background was. I simply tried to steer clear.
It took me 20 years to realize that in writing him off as almost subhuman, I'd fallen into the smug ignorance of most Americans. Sixty percent of them, according to one comprehensive national survey, want to distance themselves from people with schizophrenia.
As a grad student in the 1970s, I was, as they say, part of the problem.
Keep reading Miriam Davis’ story by clicking here.
1 The author used the term “schizophrenic” in the original publication but the ADS Center advocates for use of the phrase “person with schizophrenia.” Person-first language helps us to look at an individual, not his illness.
Subscribe to receive this update by visiting the ADS Center Web Site or by calling an ADS Center representative at 800-540-0320.
Chicago Police Officer Richard Francis killed outside police station
Woman Kills 27-year Veteran Cop With His Own Gun
Chicago Tribune via YellowBrix
July 02, 2008
CHICAGO, IL – A 27-year veteran Chicago police officer was shot and killed by a woman who grabbed his gun during a struggle outside a police headquarters on the North Side early Wednesday morning, Supt. Jody Weis said.
Officers who responded to the scene at Belmont and Western Avenues around 2 a.m., then shot the woman several times, critically wounding her, authorities said.
Belmont District Officer Richard Francis, 60, was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center and pronounced dead just before 3 a.m., the Cook County medical examiner’s office said. The unidentified woman was at the same hospital being treated early this morning.
“Our focus right now is on his family. It’s a tragic loss for his family, it’s a terrible loss for the Chicago Police Department,” Weis said in a brief statement outside the hospital. “It’s a stark reminder of what the dangers that the officers of this department face everyday.”
go here for more
http://www.policelink.com/news/35905-woman-kills-27-year-veteran-cop-with-his-own-gun
Chicago Tribune via YellowBrix
July 02, 2008
CHICAGO, IL – A 27-year veteran Chicago police officer was shot and killed by a woman who grabbed his gun during a struggle outside a police headquarters on the North Side early Wednesday morning, Supt. Jody Weis said.
Officers who responded to the scene at Belmont and Western Avenues around 2 a.m., then shot the woman several times, critically wounding her, authorities said.
Belmont District Officer Richard Francis, 60, was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center and pronounced dead just before 3 a.m., the Cook County medical examiner’s office said. The unidentified woman was at the same hospital being treated early this morning.
“Our focus right now is on his family. It’s a tragic loss for his family, it’s a terrible loss for the Chicago Police Department,” Weis said in a brief statement outside the hospital. “It’s a stark reminder of what the dangers that the officers of this department face everyday.”
go here for more
http://www.policelink.com/news/35905-woman-kills-27-year-veteran-cop-with-his-own-gun
Homeless veterans worth less than 2 minutes to CNN
Veterans Living on the Street: CNN Reports
By homelessalliance CNN did a short story on Homeless Veterans in Washington, DC, highlighting that post traumatic stress disorder is a contributing factor to homelessness and almost 2000 Iraq War veterans around the country are homeless (according to the ...The Homeless Alliance of WNY - http://homelessalliance.wordpress.com
The video report was 1:59. 2,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans already living on the streets across America joining the older veterans who found no place to call home and all CNN could do was devote less than two minutes to this important issue. At least they did report on that much anyway.
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