Art is commonly recognized as a helpful form of therapy. Many veterans are encouraged to take up music or painting to help them through the emotional difficulties of transitioning from combat to life after service. For Tucson resident Engel Indo, music helped him work through his personal combat experiences. However, Indo decided to use his art to help other veterans. He recently published a book titled "Thoughts and Poetry for the Soul and out of Boredom." This work includes poetry in both English and Spanish that deals with hope, love and hate.

Indo will host a release party for his book on Tuesday, July 28. All proceeds from the party will go to a foundation called Pay It Forward Tucson, which helps local low-income families and veterans. Growing up in one of the poorest parts of Peru made the artist sensitive to the struggle of those around him. He told Tucson Weekly that he is always looking for ways to help fellow veterans and those in need. Before Indo turned to veterans' advocacy, he established From La Perla to the Stars, a program that teaches music to poverty-stricken children from his old Peruvian neighborhood.

Indo's release party will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Galeria Cuadro Arte Latino Internacional in Tucson. His book is available for purchase on Amazon. 

On July 28, the Green Bay Packers joined forces with the firefighters in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, for a fundraising event called Fill the Helmet. The goal of the campaign, which is being lead by the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin, is to raise money for the purchase of child identification kits for every kindergarten through eighth grade child in the state. These kits, which include a DNA swab, an inkless fingerprint card and a wallet-sized ID card, are meant to assist law enforcement professionals in the event of an emergency. 

The Sheboygan Fire Department, the Packers and 4,000 other firefighters from across the state hope to raise $2.4 million by the end of the fundraiser. The plan is to donate this money to Safety Blitz, an organization dedicated to national child identification, for purchase and distribution of the kits. 

Former Green Pay Packer Jerry Kramer shared his enthusiasm for the event with the Sheboygan Press, "[Child identification] is something that I think has been necessary. I'm pleased to be a part of it and think it is a wonderful program."

Wisconsin firefighters will take to the streets to collect money, but individuals interested in making a donation can stop by any firehouse. 

After deployment, most service members are eager to return home to their families and friends. However, for some, it can be a daunting prospect. Some veterans are intimidated by life after service because it is unfamiliar. There are steps newly returned service members can follow to make the transition from combat to civilian life go smoothly. 

1. Prepare for change
Civilian life is going to be monumentally different than life in combat. Free time will become more abundant and things will be much less structured than you are used to. You should also realize that your friends and family may not recognize what kind of struggles you are dealing with. Mentally prepare yourself for these changes before you arrive home so you do not get frustrated with your new lifestyle. 

2. Establish your comfort zone
Patience is key for any former service member attempting to transition to civilian life. You should figure out what you are comfortable discussing with friends and family and what you would rather keep to yourself. Do not feel obligated to share stories from combat if you do not want to or engage in social situations where you are uncomfortable. Find a group of friends who make you feel at home and set clear boundaries about what you are comfortable discussing with your family. Communication will help you avoid awkward scenarios.

3. Find a hobby
As previously stated, you will likely have amounts of free time you are unaccustomed to. While this may seem like a good thing, it can quickly lead to boredom and anxiety. Experiment with different hobbies until you find something relaxing and enjoyable. Group hobbies are an advantageous way to reach out to others in a safe, unassuming environment. Additionally, choosing an athletic hobby will also help you keep the fitness level you maintained during combat.

4. Surround yourself with support
There are thousands of veterans' support groups and organizations geared toward helping service members transition to civilian life. A simple Internet search will bring up a variety of different ones for you to choose from. Not only that, but your family and friends are most likely eager to help you feel at home again. Do not be ashamed to accept their help and support. To see a list of veterans' support groups, click here.

5. Utilize your resources
The government, the military and many nonprofit organizations offer transitional programs. Many of these can help you with financial planning, career advice and mental health support. Use these resources to make the most of your life after service. They were put in place to assist you, and there is no shame in taking advantage of the help that is offered. Click here to look at the Transition Assistance Program, which was designed to help veterans with financial, career and health issues they may experience during their transition.

Your return to civilian life should not be cause for stress. By adequately preparing yourself and using the help provided, you can make the transition without much difficulty. 

It has long been a tradition of war for soldiers to take home souvenirs from the battlefield. These items symbolize their personal strength and survival. A popular souvenir was the enemy flag, but these were often hard to capture. World War II was the first opportunity many American soldiers had to bring home a flag from the opposing army. As part of tradition, every Japanese soldier carried a hinomaru yosegaki, a silk Japanese flag signed by family and friends that was meant to bring the soldier good luck. Some soldiers even carried multiple flags with them. This meant that there were more flags available for capture during the war than in previous wars.

When the war ended about 70 years ago, thousands of hinomaru yosegaki made their way back to the U.S. in the hands of American soldiers. Now, a nonprofit organization called OBON 2015 is working to return those flags to their rightful owners and their families. For the past several years, the organization has been collecting hinomaru yosegaki from veterans around the U.S. This week, seven WWII veterans will fly to Japan to deliver those flags back to the country. In a gesture of peace and goodwill, the veterans will present the hinomaru yosegaki to Japanese dignitaries.

Compared to service members of World War II and the Vietnam War, veterans of the Korean War have received less attention. The conflict, which lasted from June 25, 1950 to July 27, 1953, is frequently referred to as the "Forgotten War" because it never struck the American public the way that other wars did. Perhaps this is because the Korean War was never officially declared a war and ended in a stalemate. In spite of that, 38,000 of the 2 million soldiers who served in Korea lost their lives during the three years of fighting.

Now, over 60 years after the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement, Korean veterans in Grand Rapids, Michigan, are getting the recognition they deserve. On July 28, the community gathered to honor 69 veterans of the Korean war. During the event, the veterans shared their war experiences and expressed their gratitude for the community's appreciation for their service.

William Wright, one of the veterans, told WZZM News, "It makes a man feel proud of himself. It makes you feel good to know that some people respect you."

The deputy consul general of the Korean Consulate General in Chicago, Jae-woong Lee, was also invited to the ceremony. Lee presented 22 of the veterans with the Korean Ambassador for Peace medal. 

On Tuesday, a 10-year-old Maryland boy got the birthday surprise of a lifetime. As an infant, Jordin Bishop was diagnosed with Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, a genetic disorder that causes an excess of uric access in his body, as reported by the Lesch-Nyhan Organization. The disorder causes Bishop to have difficulties with speech and to rely on a wheelchair for mobility. Bishop's family put out a request on Facebook for birthday cards for the boy, and the response astounded them.

More than 700 cards came flooding in from all around the world. Bishop received birthday wishes from people in France, Israel and Canada. However, what touched the family the most was the outpouring of support. Local fire fighters, police officers and emergency medical technicians collectively sent Bishop over 150 birthday cards. To make the day even more special for the boy, the fire department brought a truck to his Hagerstown home and let Bishop explore it. 

"When we can do something special like this for Jordin, that makes what we do just that much better," Officer Gerard Kendle of the Hagerstown Police Department told Your4State News.

Bishop received even more cards from friends and others in his community. 

First responders in Council Bluffs, Iowa, are some of the first to employ the use of new hovercraft technology in emergency situations. The new machine is lightweight and has strong horsepower. It can handle almost any temperature and fly in nearly any condition. However, the best feature of this new technology is its potential to save both civilian and first responder lives. Chief Justin James told KETV News that the hovercraft can fly about 25 miles per hour and can maneuver through spaces that a rescuer may not be able to.

The hovercraft is especially advantageous during poor weather conditions when first responders may be slowed down. Because it flies about 9 inches off the ground, the vehicle is ideal for ice and water rescues where cracking or debris may a safety hazard or slow down the rescue.

"It takes a long time to deploy a boat in the winter because of the ice flow, but the ice floe wouldn't affect [the hovercraft]," James said. "You can drive right over the ice."

In the future, it is possible that hovercrafts will become normal tools for first responders. Their effectiveness in making rescues safer and more effective are just a few things that make them a worthy investment for rescue workers.

The men and women who serve in the nation's military face many challenges when coming home. Their lives after service should be full of enjoyment and rediscovery, but sometimes they are plagued with anxiety. Physical injury and emotional damage like post-traumatic stress disorder are fairly common struggles for veterans. However, financial uncertainties and housing instability are also issues for returning service members. 

We Honor Veterans reported that about 58,000 veterans are homeless on any given night, and there are currently more homeless Vietnam-era veterans than there were American deaths in the actual war. But are these numbers decreasing under the Obama administration? On July 21, during his interview with Jon Stewart on "The Daily Show", the president said his administration decreased veteran homelessness by a third. Based on the the Department of Housing and Urban Development "point in time" counts, the number of homeless veterans was, in fact, down by 33 percent from the last year. Obama and his team also increased the budget for veteran homelessness from $400 million to $1.5 billion since 2009. 

Some experts argue that the numbers surrounding veteran homelessness are difficult to track, but according to the Tampa Bay Times, most agree that the figures Obama shared are accurate.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Rookie Club has been working hard to contribute to the team's initiative to become more involved in outreach programs. The Buccaneers are especially determined to get their younger players interested in giving back to the community. This year's rookie members, including Jameis Winston, Donovan Smith and Ali Marpet, have already visited a veterans' hospital and greeted local service members at an air base. 

Their next event will take place on Tuesday, July 28, when the Buccaneers Rookie Club will meet 24 firefighters, many of whom are also rookies, from Tampa Fire Rescue. The group will spend the afternoon talking and knocking down pins at a downtown Tampa bowling alley called Pin Chasers. Over the last several years, the NFL team has been committed to developing a philanthropic relationship with the city of Tampa and the fans who support them. One of the team's lineman, Kevin Pamphile, started his own charitable program in which he raised money for school supplies for disadvantaged students in the Haitian town where his parents grew up.

"Me, personally, I'm blessed to be able to play football in this league," Pamphile said on the team's website. "I feel that it's my responsibility to give back to somebody in need."

On July 26, 140 participants gathered to compete in Burr Ridge's 2nd Annual Run for Veterans 5K and Push-Up Challenge. The event was started in 2013 by Paulina Ozols​, who had worked with local veterans and heard about the struggles they face when returning to civilian life after service. Ozols partnered with Burr Ridge Mayor Mickey Straub to organize the race and push-up contest. They designed it so that all entry fees, donations, and sponsorships go directly to the veterans' organization they chose that year. The 2014 event raised $14,000, and Mayor Straub hopes that number continues to increase. 

At the event's opening, the mayor called to mind the Gettysburg address, "Remember some of the core principles on God, liberty, community, patriotism, and remember that, 'We here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain.' The more we can do to really honor our vets the more we will be supporting that mission."

This year's organization was the Lone Survivor Foundation, which is dedicated to helping veterans experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder through therapy and support. Ozol and Straub hope that the event continues to grow and encourage the support of the nation's veterans.