Sports make up a large portion of American culture, and football is one that's especially dear to the country. Knowing this, it only makes sense that sports teams would contribute to the honoring of those who have served. Many athletes have shown their support for the troops with personal visits, charitable donations and other forms of appreciation. Recently, one veteran was even awarded with a ticket to the upcoming Super Bowl.
Ticket to Phoenix
Super Bowl XLIX will be held in Phoenix, Arizona, on Sunday, Feb. 1. Dustin Butler, a Marine Corps veteran of Cherokee descent, will be in attendance to see what's sure to be an action-packed game between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots, reported the Muskogee Phoenix. The tickets were donated by Operation Enduring Respect, an organization that gives veterans the opportunity to attend professional sports events during life after service. In addition to the tickets, the group will cover the fees for transportation, food, souvenirs and lodging, and even provide Butler with the chance to attend a private NFL Hall of Fame luncheon with some of the most well-respected NFL legends.
"I've been watching the Super Bowl since I was old enough to remember, and I never expected to ever go in person," Butler told the news source. "Words don't describe how happy I am to be going and experiencing this firsthand."
It's this kind of appreciation that drives Kevin Phelps and Brian McKee, founders of the organization, to continue the good deeds they're doing for those who have served.
NFL and veterans
The NFL shows its support for veterans in its own way. The NFL website noted that its Salute to Service campaign connects football teams with those who have served and strives to give them an experience they'll never forget. Not only that, but all donations made to the campaign go directly to their military sponsors, which include well-known organizations like USO, Wounded Warrior Project and Pat Tillman Foundation.
The website explains that "through its long standing partnerships and support from our 32 teams, the NFL takes pride in supporting military personnel and remains committed to raising awareness for the sacrifices they make on our behalf." The United States Automobile Association is the official military sponsor of the program, and continues to make many valuable contributions to the troops. The company also recently ran a social media campaign that encourages users to post messages of appreciation to those who have served with the hashtag #SaluteToService.
Veterans and their families are well aware of the strain that serving can put on a relationship. It can be difficult to be apart from each other for so long, and some risk never seeing each other again. For those who have experienced the latter, one veteran decided to write a book that would help them through.
Katerina's Tears
Michael Galitello, now 80 years old, worked with ghost writer Rob Carr to write "Katerina's Tears," a romance novel that detailed the fictional life of one couple's experience with war, reported The Register Citizen. A touching story, the book was started in January 2014 and submitted to the publisher in October. Galitello wanted to write the book as a tribute to fallen soldiers who were not able to reunite with the loves of their lives.
"It's a love story for the guys that never made it back to meet their 'Katerina' and also for the 'Katerinas' who might have not met their guys who didn't make it back," Galitello told the news source.
In addition to the story, the cover of the book was inspired by real-life events. It features the silhouette of a woman, which is an actual picture that Galitello found one day. In fact, it was what inspired the story in the first place.
"I got that inspiration of love, love will find you, love is there, love is waiting," he added.
Other novels
"Katerina's Tears" is one of many books written by veterans. After that one was published, Galitello started writing his second one, a Christmas story called "The Ornament." Writing can be an effective way of expressing oneself during life after service. There are many organizations that promote the art form as a healthy form of therapy. Veterans' Voices, Warrior Writers and Veterans Writing Project are all programs that developed to help veterans find a healing hobby.
While some of these organizations teach courses and hold seminars on writing, others simply provide veterans with a group of like-minded individuals who are interested in getting together and sharing their stories. Specifically, Veterans' Voices accepts online submissions for prose and poetry and consistently posts it on the site for all to read. The Veterans Writing Project lists literary, social and therapeutic as the three main goals of the program. It brings together veterans and teaches them how to effectively express themselves through writing with the expert-led courses and mentoring program.
As baby boomers age, so does a large population of World War II, Korea and Vietnam veterans. As a result, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is assigned the task of developing programs that will keep them comfortable and healthy throughout their years.
End-of-life care
NPR recently reported on a portion of the money being put into end-of-life care for veterans. One way they are beefing up resources for older vets during life after service is their partnership with the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. Together, the two teams work to make veterans and their families as comfortable as possible as they age. What sets those who have served apart from others in hospice is what they have witnessed throughout their lives and how they have coped. Some get sporadic reminders of war later in life, and health care workers should be trained to prepare for that and learn how to ease their patients back to rest.
"People who have PTSD, maybe have not had it unmasked their whole life, but … all of a sudden they get flashbacks," Alice Beal, Ph.D., who directs VA palliative care for most of New York City, told NPR.
Paying special attention to veterans in their end-of-life care can help show respect to those who have served and make sure that they're comfortable and at peace.
Long-term care
It's not just hospice services that are available to senior veterans. The VA also helps with geriatrics and extended care services, which can provide care for those with chronic or life-limiting illnesses, as well as disability or injury. According to the VA's website, this includes:
- Nursing homes and residential settings – Community living centers, medical foster homes and assisted living communities are just some of the options offered for older veterans in need. These communities typically include many different socialization and wellness activities for like-minded residents to take advantage of. They can range from independent living communities with minimal assistance to nursing care with medical help.
- Home-based services – As the name implies, this service covers things like visiting aids, adult day care and other services that can provide support within a person's current residence. This can be beneficial for those who need light assistance, but prefer not to leave their home.
One of the most defining periods of American history, World War II was a trying time for soldiers and their families all over the world. When the U.S. armed forces went to concentration camps around Germany and freed the innocent members inside, they were performing heroic acts that would go down in history – both for the country as well as the individuals they saved.
One survivor's story
Joshua Kaufman, now 87, is living in America with his family after being freed from a concentration camp 70 years ago, reported The Huffington Post. He was forced into the camp when he was a teenager, and his mother and all three of his siblings were killed in the Holocaust. However, Kaufman's life was saved by machine gunner Daniel Gillespie, a U.S. Army veteran just a few years his senior. Together, Gillespie and his team freed 30,000 prisoners at the camp – an accomplishment for which Kaufman is forever grateful.
Gillespie spends his life after service in California, where he also has a family of his own. The pair recently reunited for a documentary, "Dachau concentration camp – The hour of the liberators," that is set to air May 31, 2015, on History Germany. When they met, they were overcome with emotion. Kaufman saluted, hugged and kissed the veteran who saved him so long ago.
"I promised one day if I will come to America, any American soldier who I will see, I will fall down on my knees and I will hug him and I will kiss him," Kaufman told CBS Los Angeles.
Other stories of gratitude
Kaufman is just one of many survivors of the Holocaust to share their gratitude for their heroes. Martin Greenfield, who entered a concentration camp when he was 15 years old and was saved by U.S. soldiers several years later, wrote a book, "Measure of a Man: From Auschwitz Survivor to Presidents' Tailor," describing the details of his escape. He wrote an opinion piece in the New York Post that highlighted his appreciation for the armed forces and drew references to today's conflicts. He explained that, while the issues the country is currently experiencing may seem overwhelming, he has faith that the U.S. soldiers will push through this the same way they did all of the other times.
"America is bigger and stronger than the vexing problems we now face," he said. "Lest one doubt this, simply look at our nation's 2.4 million Armed Forces members. There you will find the best of us."
Employers will soon need to give more thought to the part of their job applications that ask about veteran status. The Washington Post recently reported on a new rule that requires contractors to compile information on their veteran hiring practices for the year. This Labor Department regulation is intended to help solve the ongoing issue of the high percentage of unemployed veterans.
Unemployment rates
It's no secret that the veteran unemployment rate is incredibly high – specifically, the rate for post-9/11 veterans, which U.S. News & World Report explained is higher than that of the overall population. While the rate for this group has slightly improved since its peak, there's still a long road of improvement ahead.
Lida Citroën, a workforce transition course teacher at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado, told the news source that the veteran unemployment rate is significant for a number of reasons.
"Anytime you take a community that has volunteered to serve something as big and as bold and scary and important as what they did … you take somebody at that level of commitment and bring them back into a society that maybe doesn't understand them or doesn't value them, that has to be emotionally devastating," she said. "If they don't have access to the resources, if they don't feel connected to a community … it would be natural that somebody could get lost."
Measures to improve the job market
Lawmakers are hopeful that this rule will help improve the job market for veterans. While it may not be immediate and it will take some time for results to show, requiring employers to report on this statistic forces them to be more conscious of the gaps in their hiring. Not only do they need to collect this data and make the number transparent to the Labor Department, but they also need to have a plan in place to increase their veteran onboarding.
This effort is just one of several initiatives to lower the veteran unemployment rate. In 2011, the 100,000 Jobs Mission was started to increase job opportunities for this group of people. Close to 180 private sector companies worked together to create positions for veterans, and U.S. News & World Report explained that the group was set to exceed their goal by the end of 2014. The initiative, coupled with the new rule for veteran hiring data, is making an impact in the community and helping to improve life after service.
Those in the military are no strangers to moving multiple times throughout their lives. Often, they receive little notice and are forced to pack their belongings, pick up their families and relocate to an entirely different area. In fact, those in active duty are expected to move every two to four years, reported Miltary.com. As you move more and more, you will likely develop a set of your own tips and tricks for streamlining the process. Until then, make the following considerations when packing up for a military move.
1. Purge old items
You are probably already aware that the government will pay for your moving fees, provided that your belongings fall under a certain weight. Therefore, it's important to purge all broken or unnecessary items before your move so you're not wasting valuable space in the moving truck on things you don't need. Your new home should only contain furniture and household supplies that you'll actually use. Anything else can rack up the cost to move, and you could be forced to pay out of pocket for everything that falls outside of the reimbursed amount.
2. Consider a DIY move
Also known as a personally procured move (PPM), a move that requires you to move your own belongings can provide certain benefits. For starters, you'll be in control of what you pack and how you store it, reducing the chance of broken or lost items. You essentially have more autonomy, and the move can be done in baby steps on your own timeline. When you're not being asked to move immediately, this can be a great choice for families who want to take their time putting together their belongings.
3. Stay away from the peak move times
It's no secret that the summer months are popular for moving. The weather, combined with school vacations and more availability, makes them the ideal time to uproot your life. That's why, if you're able to make the move outside of the busy season, you'll be better off. You'll have better access to moving trucks and you could save some money in the process.
4. Know your housing options
Military families are offered the opportunity to live on a base or rent or buy a home nearby. It may be beneficial to take advantage of living on a base to improve life after service for veterans and bring together similar families to help one another get settled. Whatever you choose, make sure you perform substantial research beforehand so you make the best decision for your new living arrangement.
5. Anticipate your next move
While you should settle into your place and encourage your whole household to do the same, it's also important to keep your eye on the bigger picture.
"Anticipating your next move is important because when your orders finally arrive, you may have only a few weeks before you hit the road," The United States Army website reported, as in the military families money and mobility brochure that is distributed during first-term PCS Money and Moving classes.
This means keeping moving boxes, a list of items to pack, medical records and all other materials that are required when you're relocating. If you don't wish to keep them in your home, look to a storage company that can keep all of these necessary items for when you need them.
6. Get insurance
When you let the government move your belongings, all of your items are automatically insured. However, if you opt for PPM, it's up to you to either get them insured or hope for the best. In this case, it's important to be as prepared as possible. Ask your moving company for more information regarding their insurance policies, and consider taking advantage of them. There's nothing worse than having your valuables lost or broken without any compensation.
Currently, 2,000 veterans in Missouri are on waiting lists for rooms at nursing homes. Gov. Jay Nixon is hoping to begin construction on a new veterans' home in order to reduce wait times for aging soldiers in their life after service.
The Joplin Globe reported that the government official is hoping to use new bond revenues to pay for this plan, but he must first gain the support of legislators, who are reviewing a number of project proposals as well. Nixon's housing program would cost an estimated $50 million and would provide 150 beds to vets in need. According to The Associated Press, the state currently has seven veterans' nursing homes that house a total of 1,350 former servicemembers. The governor also proposed a $14.5 million initiative that would use bond revenue to pay for renovations and updates to these existing facilities.
While there are a number of other significant projects vying for the funds, veterans advocates believe that this proposal is the most important investment option. Many veterans currently face a wait time of between six months and one year for a nursing home bed, and many cannot afford to wait this long for the specialized care these institutions provide, explained the Joplin Globe. Many vets end up entering a private care facility, which can cost their families a significant amount of money despite Medicaid benefits.
The Joplin Globe added that some of the maintenance projects proposed for the current homes include necessary updates to ventilation systems and nurses' stations.
"These men and women did their duty to God and country so that our lives might be better. Now we need to be there for them. Let's work together to get this built," Nixon said during his State of the State address, which took place on Wednesday, Jan. 22.
When dealing with emotional footage from combat, one should use extreme sensitivity. However, film directors at Paramount Pictures failed to practice that when developing a visual effects scene for the upcoming film "Project Almanac," reported Military Times. While the movie is about time travel and has no connection to war, a devastating scene from a 1994 B-52 plane crash at Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington was used.
Scene under scrutiny
In the context of the film, the scene does not have much relevance. The news source explained that the footage is used in a part of the movie that shows the characters watching TV reports of a plane crash. This part of the film was used in a trailer promoting the movie, and families of the victims recognized what they saw. Four Air Force officers, including Col. Robert Wolff and Lt. Col. Mark McGeehan, were killed in the plane crash, and two of their families spoke out about the scene. Michael Bay, the film's producer, got word of the outrage and issued a sincere apology to the families involved.
"I let film directors make their movies at Platinum Dunes [Bay's production company] and give them tremendous responsibilities," Bay said in a statement. "Well, unfortunately a very bad choice was made to use a real crash instead of creating a VFX [visual effects] shot, without realizing the impact it could have on the families."
Understanding boundaries
The news source reported that the families are grateful for Bay's understanding and timely removal of the scene. However, this provokes a necessary question for filmmakers: Where do ethics come into play when creating a film? While it may be difficult to accurately depict an action-packed scene with interesting visual effects, using actual footage could show severe insensitivity to families of those involved. Spending the extra time to create a theatrical scene – rather than using real images – could spare families emotional distress.
The news source reported that the production company insisted the footage was from a different plane crash, but that it would be edited regardless, and the film will still be debuted at the end of the month. The scene's removal was deeply appreciated by the families, who have since made their statements.
"Mr. Bay, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your apology and your quick response to this," Whitney Wolff Thompson, a daughter of one of the crash victims, said in an email that Military Times reported on. "I appreciate your willingness to admit that this was indeed a real plane crash, and that a mistake was made in choosing to use it."
When Mary Claire Caine parked her car in a spot reserved for veterans, she wasn't doing anything unlawful, reported Military Times. However, when she returned back to the spot, she was greeted with a note that implied otherwise. Although Caine served from 1996 to 2000 as an avionics technician at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico the person who wrote the note did not believe she had the credentials to park in the spot. This highlights the common assumption that women do not frequently serve their country.
By the numbers
A 2013 demographics report from the U.S. Department of Defense showed that women make up 14.6 percent (202,876) of the Department of Defense active-duty force and 18.2 percent (154,346) of the selected reserve force. Altogether, that number totals more than 350,000 women.
With this many women serving the country, it can be difficult to understand why someone would automatically dismiss the possibility that a female could be a veteran. In fact, the number of female veterans is growing, according to a 2013 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. The large number of female veterans in the Gulf War era population shows the increasing number of women serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.
How to change the misconception
Some may be shocked to learn that the person who wrote the note was a veteran himself. Military Times published the note, which read "Maybe [you] can't read the sign you parked in front of … This space is reserved for those who fought for America … not you. Thanks, wounded vet."
Caine responded by making her story heard and turning to news sources to report on what happened that day. She hopes that shining a light on the incident opens people's eyes to the fact that veterans come in all shapes and sizes – and genders. Following the airing of one news report, Caine received notes of support explaining that she is not alone – other females reassured her that they were also subject to the sexist assumption that they had not served.
"I've [also] had some Vietnam veterans send me some positive messages, saying 'good for you for sticking up for yourself and for serving our country,'" Caine told the source.
Veterans should feel respected and safe during life after service. Spreading awareness on the different faces of veterans can help them feel more welcome and proud to have served their country.
Construction recently began on what will be the U.S. Coast Guard's seventh national security cutter.
According to UPI, the vessel is being crafted by Huntington Ingalls Industries. The steel has already been cut at their plant in Mississippi that specializes in shipbuilding, explained the source. The structure, which has been dubbed the Kimball (WMSL 756), will be completed in about three years.
The Kimball is one of the ships the Coast Guard commissioned to replace Hamilton-class high-endurance cutters, the model that had been used by the organization since the 1960s. While the old designs were 378 feet long, the new cutters each boast a length of 418 feet. The Kimball, and others like it, will have a 54-foot beam, a top speed of 28 knots and a range of 12,000 miles. It will be able to hold a crew of 120 servicemembers and will have an endurance of 60 days, according to a press release.
Security needs are the top priority for these new vessels, explained the release. Each ship will have an aft launch and a "recovery area" that will be able to hold two inflatable boats. Additionally, every cutter will have a flight deck that will support rotary-winged aircraft.