Despite rainy weather, the Smyrna Rotary Club of Smyrna, Tennessee, held its 13th annual Wings of Freedom Fish Fry on Sept. 12. According to Daily Journal News, the proceeds from the event were donated to local chapters of the Boys and Girls Club, Habitat for Humanity and Meals on Wheels. With over 1,500 attendees, the Smyrna Rotary Club surpassed its fundraising goals.
"It gets larger every year, we raised $100,000 last year, and this year our goal was $110,000," Mike Waller, head organizer for the Smyrna Rotary Club's annual fish fry, told Daily Journal News. "And the best part of it is, we turn around and give it back to the community."
Since the first Wings of Freedom Fish Fry was held the day after 9/11, the event has always had a patriotic theme. This year's fish fry was focused on Vietnam veterans. April marked the 40th anniversary of the Vietnam War's end, so it was only fitting to honor veterans of that war. The veterans who attended the event told the news source that they felt excluded when they returned from combat, and they were grateful to finally have their service recognized.
The Smyrna Rotary Club plans to hold the Wings of Freedom Fish Fry again next year but has not released a date.
Most people use their days off for relaxation, but one man in Lutz, Florida, uses his day off to clean the headstones of veterans. Andrew Lumish, a Lutz native, spends the one day a week he has off from his carpet cleaning job to give back to the former servicemembers in his community. Lumish's job gives him access to plenty of cleaning supplies that he uses to remove the dirt and grime from granite, marble and other headstone materials. He has even researched methods that will prevent damage to the stones.
"It's something that I feel I should do to give them the proper respect for fighting for our country," Lumish told ABC Action News. "And they may not [have] any family still living. These aren't just stones sitting in a cemetery in Florida. These are real people. I think about their lives."
As a self-proclaimed history buff, Lumish admits that he sometimes does research on the names of veterans who fought in the Civil War to find out more about the people whose stones he is cleaning.
Lumish has been doing the cleaning anonymously for two-and-a-half years, according to ABC Action News, and he plans to continue as long as cemeteries will allow him.
Last year on Sept. 10, the opening ceremonies for Prince Harry's inaugural Invictus Games were taking place. The games, which got their name from William Ernest Henley's poem about overcoming adversity, were the first of their kind. The prince, who has also served in the military, invited veterans from countries around the world to participate in a four-day sporting competition. According to the event's website, over 400 disabled athletes from 13 countries traveled to London to prove their unconquered spirit.
Many of the veterans who participated in the games had positive things to say.
"Being in the military is like being a professional athlete," Sgt. Major (Retired) Christopher Self told People magazine. "Through competitions like the Warrior Games or Invictus, it gives a chance to show, 'Yes, I've been injured, but I'm still able to do these things physically and compete on a level playing field.'"
Self and the other competitors showed their skills in events including swimming, volleyball and weightlifting. A year later, the impact of Prince Harry's games is still strong with many of its competitors and spectators. In fact, the 2014 games were so successful that the prince announced that the games would return for a second event in 2016. The 2016 Invictus Games are scheduled for May 8-12 in Orlando, Florida.
When you are in the military, you dedicate a large portion of your time to maintaining physical fitness and staying active. Your fitness can sometimes be your greatest survival tool, so you spend weeks training to reach the peak of your physical abilities. When your service is over, it can be difficult to stick to such a rigorous training schedule. However, entering life after service does not mean you have to give up physical activity. There are a variety of nationwide sporting events and competitions for veterans. Check out a few examples below.
1. National Veterans TEE Tournament
For the second year in a row, this event will be a nationwide competition. Veterans, including those who are disabled or legally blind, are encouraged to come participate in adaptive sporting events such as horseback riding, kayaking and the TEE Golf Tournament. The National Veterans TEE Tournament was created to encourage camaraderie and sportsmanship between former servicemembers. This year's event will take place Sept. 7-10 in Iowa City, Iowa.
2. National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic
Veterans who were injured or disabled during their service can participate in events like sailing, surfing, track and field events, kayaking and cycling at the National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic. This week-long event is a great opportunity for veterans to participate in sports and physical activities. Held in San Diego, California, the 2015 National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic will begin on Sept. 13 and continue through Sept. 18.
3. CanAm Veterans Challenge
The first CanAm Veterans Challenge took place in 2014. Veterans from Canada and America joined up for an 800-mile bike ride from Washington, D.C., to Ottawa, Canada. Injured and disabled veterans interested in working toward an active lifestyle where they are not held back by their disabilities should consider participating in the 16-day journey. On the trip, veterans are pushed to challenge themselves and reignite their passion for life. The next ride is scheduled to take place in June 2016.
4. Invictus Games
At the inaugural games in London in 2014, Prince Harry and the British royal family welcomed over 400 competitors from 13 countries around the world to participate in an adaptive sporting event. All of these competitors were veterans of their countries' military who sustained a physical or mental injury in their service. The games are meant to encourage veterans to maintain their warrior spirits despite their disabilities. Recently, Prince Harry announced that the Invictus Games would return in 2016 to Orlando, Florida.
5. National Veterans Wheelchair Games
Veterans from across the country who sustained injuries during service and now use a wheelchair can compete in activities like archery, quad rugby and table tennis. The competition is meant to inspire healing of the mind, body and spirit as well as allow disabled veterans to demonstrate their athletic abilities. This year's National Veterans Wheelchair Games were held from June 21-26 in Dallas, Texas, while the 2016 event will take place June 27-July 2 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
6. Valor Games
These Paralympic games bring veterans together for three days of friendly sporting competition. The Valor Games promote a healthy lifestyle and reintegration while giving disabled veterans an opportunity to display their athletic prowess. To find a Valor Games competition in your region, click here.
Even though veterans are sometimes left with physical or mental disabilities from their service, they can still enjoy the active lifestyle they grew accustomed to. The sporting events above are just a few examples of competitions for veterans and disabled former servicemembers. Many of these events can help veterans with healing and establishing bonds with others who have experienced similar situations.
First responders are some of the bravest individuals in the workforce. What makes them even more special is that they go to work for their communities every day without expecting recognition. The anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks is the perfect time to show your local first responders some gratitude for their service. AFBA has listed six ways you can thank the first responders in your community.
1. Cook a meal
First responders are busy people. They may not always get the chance to enjoy a home-cooked meal. If you have the time, put together a lunch or dinner and take it to your local police or fire station. The first responders will likely be grateful for the food, and you will have the opportunity to thank them in person. It is a good idea to plan a simple meal that can easily be taken to go should the first responders be called away.
2. Donate
You can show your support of your local first responders by donating to stations or supporting one of their charity events, such as Fill the Boot. There are also a number of organizations whose purpose it is to support first responders and their families. You might consider donating to one of these as well.
3. Write a letter
Sometimes a simple letter can have the biggest impact. If you want to thank a first responder, scribe a sincere and specific letter and deliver it to a local station. If you want to make an even bigger impression, you could gather a large amount of letters from various people in the area and deliver them in person.
4. Gift basket
These items are an excellent way to show your gratitude. Find out what your local first responders need most and put these items in a gift basket with a thank you card. You could also include gift cards for restaurants so that the first responders could enjoy a nice meal.
5. Spread the word
One of the easiest ways to show your appreciation for first responders is simply spreading a good word about them. Whether it be a friendly post on social media or telling a neighbor how great first responders are, positive word-of-mouth is an excellent way to say thank you.
6. Just say it
Thanking a first responder can be as simple as saying, "Thank you for your service," when you pass a police officer or firefighter. There is a good chance you will make this individual's day, and you can feel good knowing that you have shown appreciation for a person who serves your community.
The first responders who serve their communities on a daily basis often do so without expecting gratitude. On the 14th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, you could take the opportunity to thank the first responders in your area. There are plenty of ways to do this, but the six above are some of the most effective.
Thousands of veterans leave the service for civilian careers every year. While veteran unemployment rates have been steadily decreasing, many former servicemembers are struggling to find jobs. Fortunately, a number of startups have recently announced that they are interested in hiring veterans.
Among these companies is DoorDash, one of the fastest-growing tech companies in the Silicon Valley area, according to WeAreTheMighty.com.
"Former military members make the best Dashers – they are reliable, disciplined, timely and professional," Chris Clark, the operations manager for DoorDash, told the website. "I would love to fill my entire fleet with veteran Dashers. They know the meaning of hard work, don't complain, and get the mission done."
Personal car services like Uber and Lyft have also announced their plans to hire at least 5,000 new veterans in the next year. Uber even has a military outreach program to encourage veteran participation. Many of the companies participating in the veteran hiring initiative allow for flexible schedules without the need for a formal resume or interview process. This combination can eliminate some of the stress that veterans experience when entering life after service and transitioning from a strict military workload to a civilian career.
For more information on companies looking to hire veterans, click here.
According to the Cribs for Kids website, more than 3,500 infants die in their sleep because of sudden infant death syndrome, which is often caused by suffocation and asphyxia among other things. The organization, which was founded in 1998, has been working to lower this number. Recently, first responders in Washington paired with Cribs for Kids to help. The first responders are calling their initiative "Cops n Cribs" for law enforcement officials and "Code Red" for firefighters.
Often, SIDS is the result of improper sleeping arrangements for infants. This may be because families do not have a crib or have it set up incorrectly, which can present a potential danger to a sleeping infant.
"Firefighters are going in, they're re-doing cribs. For low-income families who don't have a crib or the ability to buy a crib, they're getting portable pack 'n plays," Deborah Robinson, infant death investigation specialist, told NBC.
The first responders have also been trained to do checks on families with infants and inspect the sleeping quarters. The Washington Department of Health and Cribs for Kids hope this initiative will lower infant mortality in the region and encourage families to arrange safer sleeping areas for babies.
It has been 14 years since the 9/11 attacks, but comedian and former "Daily Show" host Jon Stewart is still lobbying for the first responders who were in action that day. Many of those brave individuals developed health problems related to their vicinity to the attacks, such as cancer, lung problems and physical disabilities.
According to Time magazine, Stewart is scheduled to lobby Congress for a bill that will preserve a health program for 9/11 first responders. Stewart's involvement was announced recently by New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand on her Twitter account.
"Today, I spoke about the need for Congress to #renew911health programs, 1 of which is set to expire on Sept 30 if we fail to take action," Gillibrand tweeted on Sept. 8. "Honored Jon Stewart will join 9/11 heroes next week, but fact is, they shouldn't have to walk the halls of Congress at all. #renew911health"
Gillibrand and Stewart want to bring about an extension for The World Trade Center Health Program, which, according to Time provides health services for over 30,000 police officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians. The pair will argue to make the program permanent, allowing the first responders to receive continual medical care for their 9/11-related illnesses and injuries.
The next Republican debate is scheduled to air on Sept. 16 on CNN, and party frontrunner Donald Trump recently wrote the network's president, Jeff Zucker, with a unique request. Trump, who is self-funding his campaign, asked Zucker to donate the profits from the debate to a variety of veterans organizations.
"I had always felt that we have to be helping our veterans far more than we do," Trump wrote in his letter to Zucker. "That is why my campaign is so focused on these great people who have done so much for us. This large contribution of many millions of dollars would be a truly wonderful thing for CNN to do."
Military Times reported that Trump went on to claim that the 4,000 percent rise in advertising revenue was directly because of him, and he hopes the network will listen to his request to translate that revenue into charitable donations.
Trump's request for CNN to use the debate as an opportunity for public service comes a few days prior to a speaking engagement in Los Angeles where he will speak with veterans and address military issues.
CNN has yet to release a public response to Trump's letter.
With classes beginning just around the corner, it is time to start preparing for the new school year. As a military family, there is a chance you moved and your children will be starting the new year in an unfamiliar school. AFBA has compiled some ways you can help them adjust to their new educational environment.
Prepare a routine
Most children thrive on some level of predictability. Before the school year begins, establish a route to the bus stop or school and walk it several times to familiarize them with it. This may help eliminate some of the stress they may experience during their first day. It is also a good idea to get into the practice of getting them to sleep and waking them up like they would on a school day a week or more before the year begins to give them adequate time to adjust.
Orientation is a great resource
If your children's new school holds orientation, you should make a point to attend. This event is an excellent opportunity for your kids to meet the staff of their new school as well as their teachers and some of their classmates. By interacting with these individuals in a more individualized setting, they can connect with them before the hectic first day. It also allows your children to explore the hallways of their new environment and get a visual as to what their school days might look like.
Try to get involved
You are a busy person, but if you can find the time to get involved as a classroom parent or bus monitor, you may help your kids adjust easier. They can look forward to seeing you at some point in the day, and this knowledge may relax them enough to help them find their niche in the new school.
Get to know people in the neighborhood
Make an effort to get to know other families in your neighborhood. Some of the children may be attending the same school as your children, and they might even end up in the same class. By giving your kids a chance to get to know neighbors ahead of time, you may set them up to have friends before their first day. It will also give you peace of mind in knowing that your children will be waiting at the bus stop or walking to school with other kids.
Be ready to listen
During the first couple of weeks, be open to listening to your children's thoughts and opinions regarding their new school. Though you may be tempted to encourage them toward a positive opinion, allow them a few complaints. You can work out a solution for these feelings together after they have settled in. If your children seem to be adapting to the new school without problems, talk with them about their favorite things and inquire about new friendships.
Though transferring schools is difficult for children, it does not have to be a completely miserable experience for them. There are steps you can take to help make the adjustment a little easier and less intimidating. Just remember to remain sensitive to the emotions your children may experience during this transitional phase in their lives.