Semper Fidelis went out to the Orlando VA Community Living Center for their annual July 4th Cookout with heroes.
Good food, great fun and awesome entertainment!
Saturday, June 30, 2012
It was a mother's ultimate sacrifice in Florida
Heather Town, Florida Mom, Dies Shielding 3-Year-Old Daughter In Tornado
(How You Can Help)
The Huffington Post
By Allie Compton
Posted: 06/28/2012
It was a mother's ultimate sacrifice.
A tornado spawned by Tropical Storm Debby ripped through the oak trees and barbed-wire fence near Heather Town's mobile home in Venus, Fla. In what must have been a moment of instinct, she grabbed her 3-year-old daughter and clutched the child in her arms, Bay News 9 reports.
Moments later, Town's home was thrown 200 feet into the woods by the powerful storm, according to Fox 13.
Two neighbors heard a child crying and tracked down the source of the sound, eventually finding Town cradling her daughter.
Once help arrived, Town was pronounced dead on the scene, according to Fox 13. The child is recovering from broken bones, including broken ribs, perhaps a result of her mother's tight, protective grip, WPTV reports.
"Anyone that can hold on to their baby like that, I mean, she was brave. To cling to her child, to keep her baby safe," Crystal Walker, Town's sister, told Bay News 9.
read more here
(How You Can Help)
The Huffington Post
By Allie Compton
Posted: 06/28/2012
It was a mother's ultimate sacrifice.
A tornado spawned by Tropical Storm Debby ripped through the oak trees and barbed-wire fence near Heather Town's mobile home in Venus, Fla. In what must have been a moment of instinct, she grabbed her 3-year-old daughter and clutched the child in her arms, Bay News 9 reports.
Moments later, Town's home was thrown 200 feet into the woods by the powerful storm, according to Fox 13.
Two neighbors heard a child crying and tracked down the source of the sound, eventually finding Town cradling her daughter.
Once help arrived, Town was pronounced dead on the scene, according to Fox 13. The child is recovering from broken bones, including broken ribs, perhaps a result of her mother's tight, protective grip, WPTV reports.
"Anyone that can hold on to their baby like that, I mean, she was brave. To cling to her child, to keep her baby safe," Crystal Walker, Town's sister, told Bay News 9.
read more here
Wounded Times wants to know what you think
So far the results are in and Wounded Times needed to change so that it loaded faster. No, that wasn't a poll question. That was from emails and my own frustration when I tried to view the blog checking on how it looks.
There are now pages to replace my older videos on YouTube and Great Americans, my Bio and poll results located on the tabs at the top. I hope it clears up the problem. If not, I'll keep trying until I get it right.
There is a new poll question to rate veterans charities. I didn't want to single any charity out because that would appear to be bias. I do really want to know what you think about the charity you have encountered so please leave a comment on this post so all of us can know what you think. Too many reports have come out stating most of the charities out there are not doing what they claim and too often really good ones don't have the money for publicity. Here's your chance to share your thoughts and stories with others.
There are now pages to replace my older videos on YouTube and Great Americans, my Bio and poll results located on the tabs at the top. I hope it clears up the problem. If not, I'll keep trying until I get it right.
There is a new poll question to rate veterans charities. I didn't want to single any charity out because that would appear to be bias. I do really want to know what you think about the charity you have encountered so please leave a comment on this post so all of us can know what you think. Too many reports have come out stating most of the charities out there are not doing what they claim and too often really good ones don't have the money for publicity. Here's your chance to share your thoughts and stories with others.
Families need help to visit wounded at Walter Reed
If you support any of the organizations out there, ask them why they aren't taking care of this? Wounded Warrior Project? Red Cross? IAVA? What about the hundreds of other groups out there taking your donations "for the troops" but these families have to go to the press so they can be able to go and see their wounded sons? This is horrible, has been horrible and will keep being horrible until we all make sure the organizations we support are actually doing what they say.
Fund established for family of wounded Seneca soldier
Ray Chandler
Special to Independent Mail
Posted June 29, 2012
SENECA — Family friends of A. J. Durham, a wounded National Guard soldier, want to make sure he has his family with him on his road to recovery.
“We want them to have the piece of mind to be able to go see him,” said Clemson businessman Rusty Senn, one of the organizers of a fund to ensure some travel expenses and other costs of family members going to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.
“His mother works at Milliken and his father is a truck driver,” said Senn. “This is going to be a long haul and means are limited.”
Specialist Durham, a combat medic, was one of eight South Carolina National Guardsmen of the 133rd Military Police Company who were casualties of a June 20 ambush by suicide bombers in Khowst, Afghanistan. Three were killed and five seriously wounded.
Gov. Nikki Haley has ordered that flags be flown at half-staff in honor of Sgt. 1st. Class Brad Thomas of Easley, 1st. Lt. Ryan Davis Rawl of Lexington and Sgt. John David Meador II of Columbia.
Durham suffered a broken femur and shrapnel wounds. After field treatment he was flown to Germany for further treatment and on Wednesday flown to the Walter Reed hospital.
read more here
Family of Injured Soldier in Need of Financial Assistance
WTMA
WALLACE, S.C.
Sgt Devin Davis, a Military Policeman from the 133 Military Police Company of Timmonsville is fighting for his life after being injured in a suicide attack in Afghanistan. His family is hoping to raise enough money so they can visit him at Walter Reed Army Hospital, ABC affiliate WCIV Charleston reports.
They have set up a fund to solicit donations to cover those travel expenses. read more here
Fund established for family of wounded Seneca soldier
Ray Chandler
Special to Independent Mail
Posted June 29, 2012
SENECA — Family friends of A. J. Durham, a wounded National Guard soldier, want to make sure he has his family with him on his road to recovery.
“We want them to have the piece of mind to be able to go see him,” said Clemson businessman Rusty Senn, one of the organizers of a fund to ensure some travel expenses and other costs of family members going to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.
“His mother works at Milliken and his father is a truck driver,” said Senn. “This is going to be a long haul and means are limited.”
Specialist Durham, a combat medic, was one of eight South Carolina National Guardsmen of the 133rd Military Police Company who were casualties of a June 20 ambush by suicide bombers in Khowst, Afghanistan. Three were killed and five seriously wounded.
Gov. Nikki Haley has ordered that flags be flown at half-staff in honor of Sgt. 1st. Class Brad Thomas of Easley, 1st. Lt. Ryan Davis Rawl of Lexington and Sgt. John David Meador II of Columbia.
Durham suffered a broken femur and shrapnel wounds. After field treatment he was flown to Germany for further treatment and on Wednesday flown to the Walter Reed hospital.
read more here
President Obama visits Alabama soldier in hospital
President Obama visits AL soldier in hospital
Posted: June 29, 2012
WASHINGTON
President Barack Obama visited wounded Alabama soldier Josh Wetzel in the hospital where he's recovering from losing both legs in an explosion in Afghanistan.
President Obama stopped by to visit Wetzel and his wife, Paige, while making the rounds to meet wounded service members at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
Family members said at one point, the president took Wetzel's hand and they prayed together. In one photograph from the visit, President Obama is shown shaking Wetzel's hand while his wife, Paige, looks on, smiling. Wetzel wore an Auburn shirt during his meeting with the president.
read more here
Posted: June 29, 2012
President Barack Obama visited SPC Josh Wetzel, a Glencoe native and Army paratrooper, at Walter Reed hospital on Thursday. Photo released by family.
WASHINGTON
President Barack Obama visited wounded Alabama soldier Josh Wetzel in the hospital where he's recovering from losing both legs in an explosion in Afghanistan.
President Obama stopped by to visit Wetzel and his wife, Paige, while making the rounds to meet wounded service members at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
Family members said at one point, the president took Wetzel's hand and they prayed together. In one photograph from the visit, President Obama is shown shaking Wetzel's hand while his wife, Paige, looks on, smiling. Wetzel wore an Auburn shirt during his meeting with the president.
read more here
Sam's Club Operation Shoebox Supporting Our Troops
Operation Shoebox - Supporting Our Troops
2012: Operation Shoebox Supporting Our Troops
Alert:
DEAR SUPPORTERS:
Currently we are in desperate need of travel sized hygiene products for the troops. If you have any you would like to donate, please send it to us at: Operation Shoebox, 8360 E. Highway 25, Belleview FL 34420. Thank You!
Contact Us for information on how you can help.
Send Us Your Videos!
Operation Shoebox is interested in featuring videos from the troops right here on our website! If you are a troop, or family member, and have videos you would like to share.
Please upload them onto YouTube and send us an email with a link to the video and your information and comments that you would like to share. We look forward to sharing our troops experiences. troops@operationshoebox.com
We are currently looking for softball equipment for some troops in Kuwait, they have 45 teams and only enough equipment for 2. If anyone can help us please contact us at troops@operationshoebox.com Thank you!
Sams Club Collection Points
Operation Shoebox is pleased to announce the Sams Clubs in the north FL region will be doing a collection for us the weekends of 6/30 and 7/1 and again on 7/7 and 7/8!!!
If you are in the Jacksonville, Orlando, Daytona Beach, Gainesville,Kissimmee, Ocala or Lady Lake area please stop by and say hi and help us support our troops deployed overseas! Lets show our troops we still care and support them!
4763 WEST IRLO BRONSON MEM HWY KISSIMMEE FL 34746
1101 RINEHART RD SANFORD FL 32771
755 N. HWY 27/441 LADY LAKES FL 32159
7701 E COLONIAL DR ORLANDO FL 32807
7810 W COLONIAL DR ORLANDO FL 32818
3921 SW COLLEGE RD OCALA FL 34474
6373 YOUNGERMAN CIR JACKSONVILLE FL 32244
10690 BEACH BLVD JACKSONVILLE FL 32246
1175 BEVILLE RD DAYTONA BEACH FL 32119
2801 NW 13TH ST GAINESVILLE FL 32609
355 SEMORAN BLVD FERN PARK FL 32730
300 BUSCH DR JACKSONVILLE FL 32218
9498 S ORANGE BLOSSOM TRL ORLANDO FL 32837
2012: Operation Shoebox Supporting Our Troops
Alert:
DEAR SUPPORTERS:
Currently we are in desperate need of travel sized hygiene products for the troops. If you have any you would like to donate, please send it to us at: Operation Shoebox, 8360 E. Highway 25, Belleview FL 34420. Thank You!
Contact Us for information on how you can help.
Send Us Your Videos!
Operation Shoebox is interested in featuring videos from the troops right here on our website! If you are a troop, or family member, and have videos you would like to share.
Please upload them onto YouTube and send us an email with a link to the video and your information and comments that you would like to share. We look forward to sharing our troops experiences. troops@operationshoebox.com
We are currently looking for softball equipment for some troops in Kuwait, they have 45 teams and only enough equipment for 2. If anyone can help us please contact us at troops@operationshoebox.com Thank you!
Sams Club Collection Points
Operation Shoebox is pleased to announce the Sams Clubs in the north FL region will be doing a collection for us the weekends of 6/30 and 7/1 and again on 7/7 and 7/8!!!
If you are in the Jacksonville, Orlando, Daytona Beach, Gainesville,Kissimmee, Ocala or Lady Lake area please stop by and say hi and help us support our troops deployed overseas! Lets show our troops we still care and support them!
4763 WEST IRLO BRONSON MEM HWY KISSIMMEE FL 34746
1101 RINEHART RD SANFORD FL 32771
755 N. HWY 27/441 LADY LAKES FL 32159
7701 E COLONIAL DR ORLANDO FL 32807
7810 W COLONIAL DR ORLANDO FL 32818
3921 SW COLLEGE RD OCALA FL 34474
6373 YOUNGERMAN CIR JACKSONVILLE FL 32244
10690 BEACH BLVD JACKSONVILLE FL 32246
1175 BEVILLE RD DAYTONA BEACH FL 32119
2801 NW 13TH ST GAINESVILLE FL 32609
355 SEMORAN BLVD FERN PARK FL 32730
300 BUSCH DR JACKSONVILLE FL 32218
9498 S ORANGE BLOSSOM TRL ORLANDO FL 32837
Friday, June 29, 2012
NBA draft pick three tour veteran of OEF and OIF
A 27-Year-Old Iraq War Vet Was Selected In The NBA Draft Last Night
Prior to winning an ACC Tournament at Florida State, 6'7” forward Bernard James accomplished something a little more important: three tours of duty in the Middle East with the United States Air Force.
Kevin Lincoln
BuzzFeed
The NBA Draft often plays host to the stories of surprising professional athletes, but Thursday's 2012 version saw the capping of a particularly unlikely narrative. 27-year-old Bernard James was selected by the Dallas Mavericks with the 33rd pick of the draft, having just spent four years with the Florida State Seminoles.
James' age would make him special enough — he's the oldest player to get picked in the last 20 years.
But the real story behind James is his previous job: he served six years in the Air Force, starting at age 17. His stint included three tours of duty in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Qatar, serving as military law enforcement. Even though he only started playing at 14 or 15, he says, FSU coach Leonard Hamilton spotted him at an Armed Forces tournament in Las Vegas and gave him a scholarship.
read more here
Prior to winning an ACC Tournament at Florida State, 6'7” forward Bernard James accomplished something a little more important: three tours of duty in the Middle East with the United States Air Force.
Kevin Lincoln
BuzzFeed
The NBA Draft often plays host to the stories of surprising professional athletes, but Thursday's 2012 version saw the capping of a particularly unlikely narrative. 27-year-old Bernard James was selected by the Dallas Mavericks with the 33rd pick of the draft, having just spent four years with the Florida State Seminoles.
James' age would make him special enough — he's the oldest player to get picked in the last 20 years.
But the real story behind James is his previous job: he served six years in the Air Force, starting at age 17. His stint included three tours of duty in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Qatar, serving as military law enforcement. Even though he only started playing at 14 or 15, he says, FSU coach Leonard Hamilton spotted him at an Armed Forces tournament in Las Vegas and gave him a scholarship.
read more here
VA Selects Site for the New Louisville Replacement Hospital
UPDATE
This morning something crazy happened attached to this press release from the VA. I had two requests to remove them from my subscriber list but they were not my subscribers. The email attached to it was to the VA site. Not sure what is going on, if the VA press office was hacked or not, but I received another email stating they are working on the problem. If you get an email with this released attached to it, I suggest you do not click a link or do anything more than just delete it. I'll let you know if this gets cleared up.
Press Release
VA Selects Site for the New Louisville Replacement Hospital
WASHINGTON (June 29, 2012) - The Department of Veterans Affairs has selected a site to serve as the location of a 21st century medical center in Louisville, Ky., replacing an existing 60-year-old facility.
“This new hospital will provide state-of-the-art health care for the Veterans of Louisville and the surrounding 35-county region,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “At VA, we’re committed to upgrading our facilities, programs and technologies to ensure our patients receive the best care anywhere.”
The site for the new VA medical center is located in Jefferson County, adjacent to the Brownsboro Road and I-264 interchange. That location is close to the current Robley Rex VA Medical Center and the downtown University of Louisville Hospital.
Now that the site has been selected, VA will undertake master planning and design. The facility is expected to cost about $883 million and open in late 2017 or early 2018.
The new medical center will have 110 inpatient beds and clinics specializing in primary care, surgery, and mental health. The new facility will also have a geriatric and extended care program, a home-based primary care program, and a substance abuse residential rehabilitation treatment program.
VA operates one of the nation’s largest integrated health care systems in the country. With a health care budget of about $50 billion, VA expects to provide care to 6.3 million patients during 920,000 hospitalizations and nearly 90 million outpatient visits this year. VA’s health care network includes 152 major medical centers and more than 800 community-based outpatient clinics.
Last year, VA spent more than $1.9 billion on behalf of Kentucky’s 331,000 Veterans.
In addition to the Louisville facility, VA operates a two-campus medical center in Lexington, nearly two dozen community-based outpatient clinics across the state, Vet Centers in Louisville and Lexington, and seven national cemeteries.
Chiarelli seeks clarity in PTSD treatment?
This is one of the worst ideas that is being pushed.
I used to belong to NAMI but when I figured out they were not willing to listen, or for that matter, get ahead of all of this, I stopped supporting them.
Frankly, it has to be understood that changing PTSD to anything other than Post Traumatic Stress Disorder will not help at best, but it could end up hurting more. Stress is something you get over. An injury is something that heals. Both go away. A disorder is a profound change that does not go away and you can't get over it. While you can heal it, can find ways of coping with what remains, it changes you forever. One other thing is, stress is not a lifetime disability any more than an injury is.
I've been around long enough to have seen a lot of things go on that turn out to be all about money. In this case, it very well could be about ending payments to Combat PTSD veterans.
Chiarelli seeks clarity in PTSD treatment Speaking Thursday at the Seattle convention of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Chiarelli described how his frustrations with the current state of mental-health medicine led to his new role as chief executive of One Mind for Research, a nonprofit with an office in Seattle.(You can click the link to read the rest.)
One Mind was founded by former congressman Patrick Kennedy and Garen Staglin, a winemaker, investor and philanthropist whose son was diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Chiarelli hopes One Mind can be a catalyst for finding new treatments and join the fight against stigmas that surround mental illness.
Chiarelli already is adamant on one point. He wants post-traumatic-stress disorder to be shortened to post-traumatic stress. Labeling it a disorder, he says, discourages people from seeking help.
I used to belong to NAMI but when I figured out they were not willing to listen, or for that matter, get ahead of all of this, I stopped supporting them.
Frankly, it has to be understood that changing PTSD to anything other than Post Traumatic Stress Disorder will not help at best, but it could end up hurting more. Stress is something you get over. An injury is something that heals. Both go away. A disorder is a profound change that does not go away and you can't get over it. While you can heal it, can find ways of coping with what remains, it changes you forever. One other thing is, stress is not a lifetime disability any more than an injury is.
I've been around long enough to have seen a lot of things go on that turn out to be all about money. In this case, it very well could be about ending payments to Combat PTSD veterans.
VA records found in private home called "grievous injustice to veterans"
Ohio VA hospital records found at private home
Friday, June 29, 2012
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — The Dayton Veterans Affairs Medical Center is notifying 16 people that medical records containing their personal information were found at the former home of a now-deceased employee, drawing more attention to a hospital recently scrutinized amid allegations of poor hygiene at a dental clinic and improper conduct by an anesthesia unit employee.
The home's current owner found the boxed records in an attic and contacted police about two months ago, the Dayton Daily News (http://bit.ly/L6huGY ) reported. The police report indicated no one at the hospital knew why or how someone removed the records, which included birth dates and Social Security numbers.
Former Marine Angelo Arnold of Centerville said he learned about the problem this week in a letter from medical center Director Glenn Costie.
"This is a grievous injustice to veterans," the 51-year-old Arnold told the newspaper.
"Someone has to be accountable at the Dayton VA. This sends a message that certain VA staffers are very careless and reckless with our files."
read more here
Friday, June 29, 2012
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — The Dayton Veterans Affairs Medical Center is notifying 16 people that medical records containing their personal information were found at the former home of a now-deceased employee, drawing more attention to a hospital recently scrutinized amid allegations of poor hygiene at a dental clinic and improper conduct by an anesthesia unit employee.
The home's current owner found the boxed records in an attic and contacted police about two months ago, the Dayton Daily News (http://bit.ly/L6huGY ) reported. The police report indicated no one at the hospital knew why or how someone removed the records, which included birth dates and Social Security numbers.
Former Marine Angelo Arnold of Centerville said he learned about the problem this week in a letter from medical center Director Glenn Costie.
"This is a grievous injustice to veterans," the 51-year-old Arnold told the newspaper.
"Someone has to be accountable at the Dayton VA. This sends a message that certain VA staffers are very careless and reckless with our files."
read more here
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)