Firefighters rarely get the recognition they deserve, but on Aug. 23, the city of Wichita, Kansas, recognized some of its first responders for their efforts. At the fifth annual Medal's Day ceremony, Lt. Rob Kanaga was given a medal of valor and named Firefighter of the Year. Kanaga was awarded for the bravery he displayed during a March fire. While his team was working on putting out the flames, Kanaga discovered there was one person left inside the building. He went into the flames to save the person's life. 

Kanaga was very humble upon receiving the award. 

"I was very excited after I was nominated [for Firefighter of the Year]," he told KWCH News. "It's a very prestigious award. Obviously when I was on scene, I wasn't the only one acting that day. To facilitate that rescue, there were around 50 other people on scene at the time that allowed me to make that rescue."

Kanaga's partner, Seth Goodin, was one of those 50 people. Goodin was also among those who received honors. Over 40 more firefighters were honored for their service to the community, their day-to-day bravery and their dedication to protecting the lives of civilians in Kansas.

Firefighters have a reputation for saving lives and serving their community. Most of the time they do this by fighting fires and risking their own safety for the safety of others. One group of firefighters recently took their commitment to service even further on Aug. 23. During the sixth annual OhioHealth Emerald City Half and Quarter Marathon in Dublin, Ohio, firefighters from Delaware City, Washington, ran in full fire gear. 

The group is part of the First Due Endurance Race Team, and the Dublin Half Marathon was their fourth race together. They tackled the distance in teams of two, splitting the race into 2-mile segments. The group competes to raise money and awareness for the charity Run for Fallen Heroes, which is part of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, an organization that provides support and assistance to families of fallen firefighters. As the final mile approached, the entire team came together to finish at the same time. 

"When you see them come across the finish line it's not a dry eye in the house," David Babner, the Emerald City Half & Quarter Marathon race director, told WISH-TV.

Women have served the country as long as men. They may not have always had the option to take up arms, but since the American Revolution women have been crucial to military success. Now, the women who have served in the military are getting new recognition with a monument in the Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Spanish Fort, Alabama. The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, a nonprofit organization for women with direct lineage to those who fought for American independence, organized the fundraising and development for the new monument.

The Daughters of the American Revolution raised and donated nearly $2,000 for the project in addition to a grant from a Mobile chapter of the organization. The monument will be dedicated to every woman who has ever served the country. It will be built in Texas and take almost eight weeks to complete before it is shipped to Alabama. The Daughters of the American Revolution have yet to release the design of the monument or when the dedication ceremony will take place. They have announced that the site will be called the Women's Veterans Memorial. 

When Oregon Boy Scout Bryce Nurding began planning his service project, he had no idea how successful it would be. Nurding started Bike for America, in which he, two fellow scouts and a local Vietnam veteran would ride their bicycles from the Peter Iredale shipwreck in Hammond, Oregon, to the Hudson River in New York City. Along the way, the group would collect money and raise awareness for Operation Comfort Warriors, a nonprofit organization that provides wounded or ill veterans with comfort supplies that the government may not supply.

Nurding and his team set an initial goal to raise $10,000 on the journey, a 3,521-mile stretch that included multiple days riding in triple-digit heat. By the time they reached NYC on Aug. 15, the group had more than doubled their goal. Nurding and the others were invited to a local American Legion post where they were thanked for their service to the country's veterans and honored by some of the highest officials in the AL.

Nurding told the American Legion that before his trip he did not know anything about the organization or all the work it did for veterans. Along the way, though, the AL was one of his greatest assets. He stated that he would not have been able to do the journey without their help along the way.

Children of active duty servicemembers and veterans experience difficulties that their peers may not have to deal with. They go through long periods without one of their parents, and this can sometimes mean they have to assume more responsibility than other children their age. AFBA has compiled a list of camps for military children where they can relax and be with other kids who understand what they are going through.

1. American Wanderer Summer Camp
Children of active duty personnel and veterans who are between the ages of 11 to 17 have a chance to camp out and explore the national parks in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. For two weeks, campers are able to enjoy the wilderness and bond with children of other military personnel.

2. Camp Corral
Founded in 2011, Camp Corral has served over 6,500 children of active and former military servicemembers. Kids aged 8 to 15 have the opportunity to spend a week engaged in outdoor activities like canoeing, hiking, fishing and horseback riding. The camp also offers counseling sessions and group therapy.

3. Military Teen Adventure Camps
These camps, which take place in a variety of locations across the nation, are designed for older children of military personnel. Military teens ages 14-18 can bond and participate in archery, rock climbing, backpacking and whitewater rafting.

4. Operation Purple Camp
This camp is specifically for children who have a military parent who is about to be or is currently deployed. Operation Purple Camp is designed to help children cope with the pressures and stresses of dealing with a parent's deployment in a safe, fun environment.

5. Air Force Space Camp
For 12- to 18-year-olds with an active duty military parent, the Air Force Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, is a great distraction during deployment. Campers will get the chance to participate in things like simulated Space Shuttle missions, rocket building and launches, training simulators, scientific experiments and discussions on the past, present and future of space exploration.

6. Camp C.O.P.E.
Offering therapy sessions and alternative coping methods, Camp C.O.P.E. was created to help children of active duty servicemembers, veterans and fallen military personnel find healthy outlets for their emotions. This weekend-long camp is free for military children.

7. HomeFront Equestrians, Inc.
This camp is for military children and their families. It allows them to relax and enjoy themselves while engaging in horseback riding and equestrian bonding. The camp also offers leadership courses and horsemanship classes.

8. Sisters Under Sail
Girls aged 13-18 who are members of the Daughters of U.S. Military and Canadian Forces can participate in this camp. Daughters of military personnel will learn leadership, bonding and coping as they learn to sail on the Great Lakes.

9. The First Tee
This program was created to teach teens the value of hard work and how to make healthy life choices. There is a specific camp for children of active duty military personnel and veterans where they learn to release their stress through the game of golf.

10. Camp Trotter
Located 7 miles east of Newaygo, Michigan, Camp Trotter is the VFW's program to assist children of military veterans. The calming environment along the shores of Lake Michigan is the perfect place for children to learn about things like post-traumatic stress disorder and how to deal with changes in their parents. Campers are also given the chance to be carefree while boating, swimming and hiking.

Being children of active duty military personnel or veterans can be difficult. Situations like deployment and issues like post-traumatic stress disorder can put a strain on military children. The camps above give these kids a chance to let loose and bond with other children in similar situations. For more camp options, check with your local base or VFW.

When a servicemember is deployed, his or her family members experience many different emotions. Deployment is especially difficult for children, as they will be faced with feelings they likely do not understand. AFBA has compiled five tips to assist you in helping your children cope with deployment. 

1. Establish a routine
By bringing back an established pattern into your children's lives, you can help alleviate some of the stress that they are already experiencing. Having a parent leave for service can be a confusing time. A routine will give your children some sense of control and regularity. Try to stick to the same bedtimes and wake-ups if possible. You can also give your children daily chores to keep them busy and on-task. While routines may seem tedious, they can be a lifeline for children coping with a major life change like deployment.

2. Open lines of communication
The deployment of a parent may inspire some strong emotions in your children. It is important to let them know early on that you are available to talk about these feelings. You should also share your own emotions with them, so they realize that they are not going through the experience alone. Your chats do not have to be formal or scheduled. Just check up on them from time to time or ask them how they are feeling over dinner.

3. Allow for emotional outlets
One of the worst things you can do for your children during their parent's deployment is chastise them for expressing their emotions. This does not mean you should allow them to throw tantrums to get rid of their anger. Instead, you should help them find healthy ways to deal with their reactions to missing their parent. Buy your children journals and encourage them to write or draw what they are feeling.

4. Put them in a peer group
There will be times when your children do not want to discuss things with you. Instead of getting frustrated with them, understand that this is normal. Give them the chance to communicate with their peers who may be experiencing the same thing. There are a number of summer camps and activity programs designed specifically for children of military personnel. Your children may find strength and support by surrounding themselves with other children whose parents are also deployed.

5. Work through it together
It is important to let your children know that they are not alone in missing their mother or father. Deployment is a time you should help one another through. You can make your children feel important by explaining to them that you will need extra assistance around the house now that you are without your spouse. Additionally, there are a variety of activities designed to bring you closer, even during a tough time like deployment. 

There are a wide range of emotions your children may experience during their parent's deployment. Your children may be unable to cope with all of these feelings on their own. That is why AFBA outlined some helpful ways for you to make sure your kids can work through these emotions in a healthy way. 

Being a first responder is a tough job. Firefighters, police officers and emergency medical technicians put their lives on the line to ensure the continued safety of their communities. These individuals go about their jobs without expecting praise, but one Ohio amusement park dedicates two days every year to thanking first responders. Kings Island, the largest amusement park in the Midwest, is the host of Fire and Safety days. 

This year's Fire and Safety days will take place on Aug. 29 and 30. The park will offer free admission to all active duty first responders. Firefighters, emergency medical technicians and police officers must present a valid form of identification to receive this offer. Kings Island will accept badges if they are accompanied by a photo ID. First responders will also have the option to purchase up to six admission tickets for their family and friends at almost half the original price. 

During Fire and Safety days, park guests will have the opportunity to learn CPR, explore emergency vehicles and learn safety tips. In addition to those activities, the first 1,000 kids to enter the park will be given a fire hat of their own. 

When your spouse is deployed, it is not only tough on you, but it is also a difficult time for your children. They will be missing their mother or father, and they sometimes counteract these feelings by pushing away the parent at home with them. By doing activities together, you help them realize that you are all in the same situation but you are going to face it together. These experiences may even bring you closer and help your children learn coping skills that will benefit them later in life.

Visit a museum
Your bonding activities can also be a great time for your children to learn. Take the family to an art museum and discuss which pieces you liked best. This will teach your kids to form their own opinions. You could also take them to a war museum, so they can learn the history of their mother's or father's military career. 

Scavenger hunts
This activity is fun for both you and your children, and because you can do it indoors and outside, it is perfect for any season. Create a series of clues and watch as your children look for the prize. This will help them develop problem-solving skills, and it will distract them from missing their deployed parent for a few hours. If your children do chores, you could make the reward a free pass from them for a day.

Go to a park
Whether it be an amusement park, a water park or a playground, getting outdoors is an excellent activity to bond with your kids. The fun and carefree atmosphere can be a relief from the stress of deployment and gives your children a chance to be young. 

Keep a reading log
Reading is a tried-and-true form of distraction. Sit down with your children and create a list of books you want to read together every month. Try to stick to a reading schedule. For example, set goals like a chapter a week and log them together. Not only is keeping a reading log a great way to keep your children from worrying about their deployed parent, but it also teaches them to set attainable goals. 

Have a 'date' night
This is an easy way to make your children feel special and alleviate some of their loneliness. Make them the center of attention and spend an evening having a nice dinner out and follow it up with a funny movie. Keep it casual and lighthearted so that everyone can enjoy a stress-free evening. 

Do arts and crafts
During your spouse's deployment, your children will likely be dealing with many emotions. Arts and crafts are a good activity to help them communicate those emotions. PBS has some excellent projects for children that are designed to help them work out their thoughts and feelings.

Take a trip
Pack up the kids and the car for a small weekend trip. A change of scenery can give your children a small reprieve from missing their deployed parent. Road trips are also an amazing opportunity to bond with your children. 

Make a video
For an activity that will benefit everyone in the family, consider recording a video together for your family's deployed servicemember. The kids will get a kick out of making a video for their mom or dad, and your spouse will appreciate getting to see them. 

Deployment will come with challenges, but there are many activities you and your children can do together to help you get through it. More than a few of these will help your children express the difficult emotions they may be experiencing and teach them important life skills. Additionally, the activities you do together during your spouse's deployment can bring you closer to your children. 

For many veterans, the most daunting aspect of life after service is the unknown. Where will they work? Will anyone understand what they have been through? What many veterans do not realize is that their military service equipped them with the skills to be highly successful in almost any industry. Boots to Business, an entrepreneurial education and training program, wants to help former servicemembers recognize those skills and apply them to civilian life. It is part of the U.S. Small Business Administration and Department of Defense's Transition Assistance Program.

Boots to Business programs are available in 165 military installations across the country and offer programs like Introduction to Entrepreneurship and the Foundations of Entrepreneurship. It has educated veterans with ideas ranging from running their own organic farm to opening a nano-brewery to growing medicinal marijuana in Colorado. The program is designed to make veterans feel comfortable applying the skills they learned during their service to civilian jobs and teaching them to market those skills.To date, Boots to Business has educated roughly 25,000 troops and helped strengthen the American workforce, which includes 2.5 million veteran-run businesses. 

On Aug. 20, two female servicemembers will join the ranks of the Army elite as they become the first women to graduate Army Ranger school. In January, the Pentagon made the decision to include women in the training program. Since 1950, when the Army Ranger school was created, only men had been allowed to participate. It is a grueling program where participants are allowed one meal a day and only a few hours of sleep. Despite all that, they must endure some of the most strenuous combat training drills in the world.

The Pentagon was initially withholding the names of the female graduates. As of Aug. 19, their names have been released to the public. The women who have made military history are 26-year-old Kristen Griest and 25-year-old Shaye Haver. Both women, graduates of the prestigious West Point, will return to their units after their graduation at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Only 40 percent of participants finish the program. Of the 18 women who started the program in April, Griest and Haver were the only two who completed it. Because of their accomplishment, the Pentagon is considering allowing women to become a part of the Army Ranger school permanently.