During World War II, the government rationed staple foods like milk, butter, cheese and bread. Additionally, because so many men were gone to war, it was difficult to ship fresh fruits and vegetables to grocery stores. As a result, the government encouraged many homeowners to plant "victory gardens" where they could grow their own produce. According to Wessels Living History Farm, about 20 million Americans planted these gardens.
Now, 70 years after the end of WWII, a group of veterans living in the Community Living Center at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, have recreated this agricultural tradition. The residents, all aging veterans, have worked together to grow a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. It promotes cooperation and provides them with a chance to use the skills they developed in their youth. About 70 percent of the medical center's residents work in the garden.
"It's a cooperative kind of thing," Sarah David, a recreation intern at the center, told the Times Leader. "[The veterans] may not be able to do all of the work, but they have the wisdom."
So far, the garden has produced zucchini, tomatoes and many herbs. The center also uses the garden as a therapeutic counseling area.
When military servicemembers leave combat for life after service, they are faced with many different challenges. Feelings of anxiety about an uncertain future, loneliness and post-traumatic stress disorder are all potential difficulties. Fortunately, there are many organizations that are launching programs to assist veterans with the transition to civilian life. One of these organizations is On Target 4 Vets. Based out of Old Hickory, Tennessee, this nonprofit is dedicated to providing healing and bonding recreational activities for the nation's heroes.
On Target 4 Vets hosts a deep sea fishing excursion for veterans. This year, the organization raised enough money to take 35 veterans on one of these excursions.
"We just want the veterans to come and have a good time and mingle and talk to the other veterans because we all have something in common," On Target 4 Vets board member and Outreach Coordinator Joe Couch told ABC 12 News.
The veterans can escape the stresses that come from transitioning to civilian life by enjoying the calming effects of the ocean and bonding with other veterans who may be experiencing the same trouble. This year's On Target 4 Vets deep sea fishing trip will take place on Oct. 9, and veterans are encouraged to RSVP.
The Wounded Warrior Project is an organization committed to helping veterans succeed in every aspect of life after service. It understands that dealing with feelings of loneliness and isolation are a reality for many veterans. It also recognizes that a significant number of returned servicemembers may have to face post-traumatic stress disorder. For these reasons, the Wounded Warrior Project creates many activities to bring veterans together to help one another heal.
One such project is the Soldier Ride, an event where former servicemembers gather for a bike excursion. Even disabled veterans can participate, as the organization provides adaptive cycles. Most recently, a Solider Ride took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For the city's version of the ride, 53 veterans came together to bike a 12-mile loop around the city that began and ended in Lincoln Financial Field.
"These soldier rides, what they do is they motivate you to go out and complete a task, and while you are completing that task, you are not thinking about the injuries or your mental blocks that you have," John Conway, an Iraq war veteran and Philadelphia Solider Ride participant, told CBS Philly.
Active duty military personnel and first responders have some of the most stressful careers. The day-to-day demands of their jobs can sometimes cause that stress to trickle over into off-duty life. AFBA has compiled eight activities to help servicemembers and first responders relax.
1. Practice some yoga
Yoga is great for relaxation because it is low impact but it still releases pent-up energy from your body. It is an activity that forces you to focus inwardly and shut out the rest of the world. Not many yoga routines exceed a half-hour, so you can do a quick session after work to leave behind the stress from the day.
2. Read a book
Sometimes you just need to leave reality behind. Books are the perfect way to transport yourself into a different world and take a glimpse into someone else's life for a while. Aside from providing an excellent distraction, reading is scientifically proven to have a calming effect on the mind.
3. Engage with music
There are many ways in which music can help you de-stress. One of the simpler ones is to put on some headphones and crank up your favorite tunes. Focusing on the rhythm and lyrics can help you forget about any anxiety from the day. Dancing is another relaxing activity involving music. Whether you go to a club or just cut a rug in your own home, dancing helps you shake off stress and let loose. A third option for de-stressing with music is to play an instrument. Many people find that strumming a guitar or tapping on a keyboard relieves frustration and relaxes them.
4. Do some exercise
Scientists have backed physical activity as a way to relieve stress for decades. However, as military personnel or a first responder, your job can sometimes be physically demanding. You may not have the energy to go for a run after a long shift. Don't worry. A walk around the block or an easy bike ride through the park can have the same relaxing effect.
5. Play with pets
If you own a cat or dog, take some time when you get home to snuggle or play fetch. Giving attention to your furry friend can help you let go of the pressures of the day and enjoy a social interaction with no ulterior motive. Even if you live in a place where pets are not allowed, you can volunteer at your local shelter to clock some time with a cuddly critter or two.
6. Visit your favorite place
Everyone has that spot that immediately makes them happy. Maybe it is a secret bench in the park or a rooftop with a great view. Wherever you find peace and comfort, take an evening and spend some down time there. You are sure to unwind where you feel most at home.
7. Take a drive
As long as you do not venture out during rush hour, driving can be a relaxing activity. If the weather is nice, crank up your radio and roll down your windows. A drive through a scenic area of town could be just the thing to help you forget about your worries.
8. Cook a meal
You have to eat anyway, right? Instead of ordering take-out, spend some time experimenting in the kitchen. The novelty of preparing a meal you have never tried will encourage your creativity and may distract you from the pressures of your day. Additionally, biting into your delicious concoction will eradicate whatever stress may have followed you home.
As military personnel or a first responder, stress may be an inevitable part of the job. However, that does not mean it has to ruin your off-duty time. Find out which of the eight activities above work best for you and use them to help you unwind.
For military personnel and first responders, transfers are always possible. It can be difficult to leave behind the life you have established in one city or area. It can be even harder to say goodbye to friends and stationmates. These individuals have been through similar experiences and you have formed close bonds. However, your career is one where moving may not be an option. Making friends in a new base or station house can be difficult, but it can also make the adjustment easier. AFBA has outlined some tips to assist you in meeting new people after a transfer.
1. Take advantage of technology
There are plenty of websites dedicated to helping people meet for a romantic relationship, and this is equally true for those seeking new platonic relationships. Before you move, join a friend finding website and look for people in the same line of work as you in your new area. Who knows? You may even establish a connection at your new base or station before you make the transfer. There are also apps designed to help people meet new friends. The apps ask you to list your interests and then generate a list of activities where like-minded people will be hanging out. Technology can connect you with people in your new area long before you ever move.
2. Step out of your comfort zone
Sometimes this is easier said than done, but it is an effective way to make new friends. Join an organization that involves your interests to establish connections with people who enjoy the same things you do. You can also find classes, either fitness-oriented or hobby-based, and use them as a way to introduce yourself to a new group of people. The fear of rejection keeps most people from reaching out to those around them, but if you can overcome this feeling, you will find yourself in a position to make plenty of new friends.
3. Get old fashioned
Not many people know their neighbors anymore. When you get to your new base or station house, do not be afraid to make the rounds. Introduce yourself to your new neighbors and stationmates. You may not make friends with all of them, but at least you have established a connection and opened the lines of communication. Most people will probably appreciate your outgoingness and welcome you into your new community. Another great opportunity to make new friends is to host a housewarming cookout on base or invite your new stationmates out to dinner. A meal is an easy way for people to connect.
Relocating is stressful for most people, but it can be especially difficult for military personnel and first responders. You have built friendships around common experiences and interests, and the memories you have made with your current friends on base and stationmates are difficult to replicate. However, establishing successful friendships is an important part of adjusting to a new base or station. By following the advice listed above, you may have an easier time making friends in your new location.
More than 300,000 veterans reside in Louisiana. Many of these former soldiers struggle to find work when they enter life after service. To help combat veteran unemployment and homelessness, the state began participating in a program called Homegrown by Heroes. This program was created by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture and has spread to 43 states across the nation. Louisiana was the sixth state to launch the program. Homegrown by Heroes provides veterans with a chance to utilize their farming skills and teaches them to market their products effectively.
Mark Strain, the commissioner with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, told The News Star, "Whether they are gardening as a hobby or farming as a career, we will do what we can to help our veterans increase their ability to be successful as well as provide them tools for sustainability."
Each of the products produced under the Homegrown by Heroes initiative is branded with the program's logo. The founders hope the HbH products will encourage veterans to pursue agricultural careers in life after service. They also want the brand to promote local farming, which has earned the approval of many farmers nationwide.
If you have ever served in the military, you probably have many stories to tell about the people you met and the things you experienced. Military stories make some of the most memorable and inspiring narratives. Take a look at AFBA's top five military novels that epitomize what it means to be a soldier and most accurately recount war.
1. 'Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10'
This nonfiction story follows Operation Redwing leader Marcus Luttrell and his unit. This elite team was tasked with taking down a known al-Qaeda leader on the Pakistani border in 2005. By the end of their mission, only Luttrell remained alive. Operation Redwing saw the largest loss of Navy SEAL life in history, but it also recounts Luttrell's unrelenting will to live as he crawled, wounded and alone, 7 miles through enemy territory in the Pakistani mountains. This amazing story follows the leader's account of his survival and recovery, and it is a must-read for anyone who has ever known the loss of a unit member.
2. 'All Quiet on the Western Front'
Erich Maria Remarque's classic 1928 novel has often been referred to as the greatest war novel of all time. Remarque tells the story of Paul Bäumer, a young man who follows his friends into enlistment with the German army. Bäumer quickly becomes disenchanted with the war and rejects the senseless hatred that drives men into battle. The young soldier witnesses many horrors and makes a vow to combat the prejudices that turn men against one another if he can survive the war.
3. 'Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest'
This novel follows the U.S. Army's 506th Airborne Division. The real men who fought in this unit were notorious for getting some of World War II's toughest assignments. Stephen Ambrose's nonfiction novel recounts their mission to parachute into Berchtesgaden in France on the morning of D-Day to the capture of Hitler's Eagle's Nest. This mission resulted in a 150 percent fatality rate. The novel demonstrates the unfailing courage of the American soldier to complete assigned missions and the brotherhood that is forged along the way.
4. 'The Killer Angels'
Michael Shaara's historical fiction is one of the most interesting accounts ever written about the Battle of Gettysburg. The novel gives unique insight into the thoughts and emotions commanders from each side may have experienced. More than that, it defines what the American Civil War was all about. More than brother vs. brother, the war pitted two different ideologies against each other. Starving, exhausted men fought with everything they had left to preserve the country they believed in. Shaara's dramatic recount captures all of this in an unforgettable way.
5. 'Black Hawk Down'
Set in Somalia in October 1993, Mark Bowden's nonfiction novel tells the story of the 100 Americans who were airdropped into a Mogadishu marketplace. Their mission to capture two lieutenants to a major Somalian warlord was supposed to be a quick one. Instead, it became one of the toughest missions in American history. The Americans had to spend an entire night fending off thousands of armed Somalians. The novel documents their bravery in the face of adversity, and it demonstrated the strength it takes to survive in the face of certain doom.
There are many novels that convey the bravery of soldiers and equally as many that tell of the strength it takes to overcome the horrors of war. However, the five novels outlined above stand out from the rest. They take the reader on a journey through the lives of soldiers and show what it takes to be a hero.
The Monmouth County 200 Club, an organization dedicated to providing financial assistance to the children of full-time first responders, awarded the 2015 recipients on Aug. 6. The club hosted the event that has become known as "the Scholarship Social" at Bar Anticipation in Lake Como, New Jersey. This year, the 200 Club raised over $100,000 that children of first responders can use for books, living or tuition in college.
"I think it means so much to the recipients and their families when this type of an award goes to the children of first responders," Claire French, former Monmouth County Clerk, told NewJersey.com. "It also means a lot to the community, because our first responders are there for all of us."
Over 320 people attended the event, and French said that the group of individuals who received this year's scholarships were some of the most talented and goal-oriented in the award's history. The Monmouth 200 Club has been participating in the scholarship event for four years, but the national chapter has been involved for much longer. Since 1985, when the club began the event, it has provided over $2 million in scholarships to the children of local police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and other first responders.
Army officials have announced that over the next two years, they plan to cut their forces down by 40,000 soldiers. This means a lot of military servicemembers will be reentering the civilian world and looking for the next step in their life after service. On Aug. 10, the office of Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam announced the winners of the 2015 Veteran Reconnect Grants. These grants were made possible by $1 million in state funding and were established to encourage more veterans to come to the state for higher education.
Of the 11 institutions that received part of the grant money, most said they would use the funds to increase staff training on assisting veterans who have returned to school. This was a deciding factor for state officials who understand that the transition from military to civilian life can be difficult, especially for students.
"You go from a very structured military environment to a higher education environment that actually values a lack of structure," Mike Krause, an executive director for one of the state's education programs, told Military Times. "It's very disorienting."
A few of the universities that received funding were Middle Tennessee State University, East Tennessee State University, Maryville College, Northeast State Community College and the University of Memphis.
Firefighters in Midwest City, Oklahoma, recently installed fire alarms for the hearing impaired in about 25 homes across the region. The fire alarms, specifically designed to alert individuals with hearing impairments, were part of a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. One of the recipients of these life-saving devices was 10-year-old Jazmin Williams. Jazmin's hearing and vision are impaired because of a rare genetic disorder she was born with. When she was 5, there was a fire in her family's home and she did not hear the alarm. Luckily, Jazmin's family was able to get her out of the house without any injury, but the experience left her with a fear of fire.
What makes the special smoke detectors different from regular ones is that they flash a strobe light and vibrate when smoke is detected. This way, people like Jazmin will be alerted to danger even if they cannot hear the alarm.
"So now when I know that I have a fire, I know that I'm going to be safe," Jazmin told KFOR News.
Jazmin also said that the firefighters who were working to install these devices in the homes of the hearing impaired were her heroes.