Guests at the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, were probably not expecting a holiday concert when they decided to visit the institution on Tuesday, Dec. 2 – but that is exactly what they got. USA Today reported that the Air Force band surprised visitors with a flash mob.
According to an Air Force release, this was not the first flash mob this talented group of musicians lent their skills to. Last year, the group surprised spectators at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. A video taken of their performance quickly went viral, racking up over 3 million views on YouTube.
The same arranger from 2013, retired Senior Master Sgt. Bob Thurston, helped once again to prepare the seasonal music, which included "Greensleeves" and "Carol of the Bells." The release noted that while it was difficult to get the rights to these selections, they eventually did, allowing them to not only perform them during the flash mob, but record them as well.
Each musician was responsible for learning their own music, and four practices with all the instrumentalists and vocalists took place. The last one was at the performance venue the night before the big day. In addition to spectator videos, official film was taken of the performance by Air Force audio technicians.
Ultimately, the musical show was put on to bring an extra burst of holiday cheer to the live audience, as well as to people viewing the video at home.
"Airmen musicians performing holiday classics at an iconic museum in the nation's capital was a winning combination. Like many popular videos, it also had the element of surprise, and this year's video is no different. We hope everyone enjoys it as much as last year's offering," stated Chief Master Sgt. Jennifer Pagnard, the band's chief of marketing and outreach, according to Air Force Times.
Four of the living survivors who were on board the USS Arizona during the Pearl Harbor attacks reunited in Hawaii on Dec. 2. According to KITV 4, this gathering was the last official Pearl Harbor Visitor Center reunion for the men, all of whom are in their 90s.
John Anderson, Louis Conter, Lauren Bruner and Donald Stratton were the only living survivors able to travel to Hawaii during this time in their life after service. While 335 soldiers survived the attacks, only nine remain, and five were not able to make the trip.
The men arrived to a plethora of salutes and tourists looking to pay respects, in addition to music courtesy of the U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet Band. After viewing a live video of divers exploring the sunken ship the veterans once called home, they assembled for a news conference.
"It's always like yesterday when we're out here," stated former servicemember Louis Conter, 93, of Grass Valley, California, during the conference.
Sunday, Dec. 7, marks the 73rd anniversary of the attacks, which killed 2,400 servicemembers in 1941. The four veterans will spend the week leading up to Pearl Harbor Day in Hawaii, catching up with each other and remembering their fallen comrades. According to Military Times, they will be honored during a private ceremony on Sunday, where they will drink a bottle of wine given to the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association by President Gerald Ford in 1975. The wine will be served in glasses that are exact replicas of those that were on board the USS Arizona.
Some of the men, including Lauren Bruner and Louis Conter, plan to be interred at the sunken ship, reported Military Times. Currently, there are ashes of 38 survivors resting there.
While this is the last official gathering of the survivors, the men plan to continue casual meetings, since they have forged a strong friendship throughout the years.
On Monday, Nov. 24, the Department of Veterans Affairs fired Sharon Helman, director of the VA hospital in Phoenix, Arizona.
Waiting lists affected the health of many veterans
Inspectors discovered in May that some VA health care facilities were placing patients – even extremely ill ones – on lengthy wait lists. With no other medical options, many of these people experienced worsening conditions. The New York Times reported that while this number has not been confirmed, as many as 40 veterans in Phoenix alone could have perished as a result of these seemingly endless wait lists.
The Phoenix facility immediately came under fire when inspectors discovered that about 1,700 patients had been placed on the wrong wait lists – a factor that contributed to an even longer wait before treatment was available. TheTimes noted that once investigators began looking at the institution, it was clear that the hospital was understaffed for the amount of area veterans looking for care in their life after service.
Not only were wait times outrageous and often incorrect, but they were being kept secret from officials. As evidence came to light, it was obvious that hospital administration was playing a large role in neglecting to address the situation, reported The Times.
Moving forward
After allegations against the Arizona facility proved true, Helman was placed on six months leave. The public pushed for more severe action once the scandal became clearer, however. The Times reported that after months of public outrage, she has finally been "formally removed." Currently, the former head of Milwaukee's VA hospital, Glen Grippen, is leaving retirement to run the medical facility, reported AZ Central. Officials have yet to appoint a new permanent director, and Grippen could remain in the position for up to a year as VA administrators look for a qualified replacement.
Hiring increases have also begun for the institution, which was previously operating with a shortage of physicians. AZ Central noted that almost 500 positions have been filled with the organization, including 115 slots for nurses and 22 openings for doctors.
In addition to Helman, the VA secretary during the scandal, Eric K. Shinseki was also removed. He was replaced with current leader Robert A. McDonald, who has stated that the faulty practices are not in line with how veterans should be treated, and he hopes to improve medical care for former servicemembers, reported The Times.
Megan Beimer has always loved to bake, but it was only recently that she decided to do something about it.
The Alexandria, Virginia, resident was encouraged by her Marine husband and his colleagues, who have been enjoying her outstanding baked treats for ages. While she pondered entering the Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest for years, it was not until an afternoon of experimenting in her kitchen turned into something wonderful that she decided to seriously compete. According to Military Times, Beimer entered her chocolate donut poppers after accidentally creating the sweet breakfast treat.
Her delicacy was chosen from recipes sent in from all over the nation as a finalist. Beimer flew to Nashville, Tennessee, where she competed against 99 other bakers from across the country. Each competitor had 3 1/2 hours, an oven and a range of ingredients to bake their entry for the judges. Her sweet pastries dominated the "Weekend Breakfast Wows" category, reported Military Times. She is currently in the top four, matched up against foods like peanut pie clusters and unique Cuban sandwiches. Votes will be cast early in December, and shortly after Beimer will learn whether her surprise confection will land her the big money.
Terminally ill with lung cancer, former Marine Corps Sgt. Jeffrey Raymond Wheeler received his dying wish: to watch his son, Jeff, a mathematics lecturer at the University of Pittsburgh, teach a class.
One last wish
According to Military Times, the 68-year-old veteran from Wheeling, West Virginia, served as a Marine in Vietnam in the 1960s. When he returned home, he experienced what many servicemembers of the time went through – a nation not supporting the war he had just fought in. He always spoke about how difficult the transition to civilian life was while his children were growing up. During his life after service, Wheeler worked as a coal miner.
When his son accompanied him to cancer treatment at a VA facility, they learned that Wheeler would not have long to live. Doctors deemed his condition too frail for chemotherapy, and told Jeff it would not be long before his father's health deteriorated. He decided to ask his hard-working father what his last few wishes were. In addition to going home to see his wife that afternoon, the elder Wheeler said he simply wanted to see his son teach. Jeff knew he wanted to do something special to honor his father and grant him this touching request.
An afternoon to remember
Wheeler's son, a 46-year-old father of three who earned his doctorate at the University of Memphis, has been a part of the Pitt staff for six years. When he decided to have his father sit it on a class, he reached out to his family, students and colleagues, all of whom were extremely supportive, reported Stars and Stripes. Jeff's younger brother agreed to drive his parents up for the day, while the school's Veterans Service Center decided to throw Wheeler a reception after class was over. Jeff's co-workers provided refreshments for the event.
During the class, the proud father watched as his son lectured on mathematics in multiple dimensions during a class geared toward science and engineering majors. Military Times noted that while the subject matter was advanced and often confusing for those not well-versed in high-level mathematics, the former servicemember remained engaged throughout the entire thing as he watched his eldest son prepare students for exams. Stars and Stripes reported that Wheeler often whispered "he's a professor" to himself as he watched his son excel in his element.
Montana's Democratic senator John Walsh is urging the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs to extend the period of time post-9/11 veterans can receive automatic medical benefits. Having served in Iraq himself, Walsh feels strongly about getting military members the care they need in their life after service.
Currently, veterans are automatically eligible for health care at Veterans Affairs facilities for five years post-service. Walsh wants to extend this to 10 years, reported Military Times. Walsh argues that while five years of medical care is certainly helpful when it comes to soldier transitions, many issues these former servicemembers deal with as a result of combat, including mental health conditions, need more time to heal.
According to Military.com, Walsh has been working toward this goal since he returned from Iraq in 2005, where he commanded an infantry battalion. He watched one of his sergeants take his own life from post-traumatic stress disorder. Since then, he has been invested in improving the lives of veterans in Montana and across the nation.
Walsh presented his plan to the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs on Nov. 20. As government officials look to reorganize and improve VA care following this year's scandal, Walsh hopes his legislation can be part of the change.
"As the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq wind down, many American families are welcoming back sons, daughters, husbands and wives who are changed people. … We owe them the opportunity to heal, whether their wounds are seen or unseen," Walsh stated at the meeting.
Military Times reported that the chairman of the committee, Senator Bernie Sanders from Vermont, hopes to pass this new policy by the end of the year. Congress reconvenes on Dec. 1 and is expected to make decisions regarding veteran care.
Capt. Derek Herrera will receive a Bronze Star with a "V" for heroic actions on Friday, Nov. 21.
The awards ceremony will be even more meaningful to the soldier because he will walk across the stage in front of his colleagues and loved ones – an act that was impossible for him just a few short years ago, reported Military Times.
In June 2012, Herrera was serving in Afghanistan, leading members of the Marine Corps Special Operations Command. He was bringing a group of U.S. and Afghan soldiers toward the Helmand River in an effort to cut off insurgents known to be heading to the area. His team was attacked with grenades and machine guns, according to Military Times. Herrera sprang into action, finding a rooftop where he could command his colleagues and give emergency medical care to one of his troops who was struck in the neck with a bullet. Even though Herrera was gravely injured from the gunfire himself, he set aside his pain and continued to delegate orders and fire back at enemy forces.
Herrera is now paralyzed from the waist down, but has not let that slow him down in his life after service. The source noted that he regularly participates in triathlons and races and went back to school for a business degree. He uses an innovative exoskeleton prosthetic device, known as ReWalk, which allows him to walk, sit and stand.
The Bronze Star is given to soldiers in any branch of the service who distinguish themselves while serving on the ground against an opposing force. The "V" annotation accompanying Herrera's award stands for valor, since he displayed outstanding courage, heroism and sacrifice for his nation.
Former Marine Capt. Phil Klay received a National Book Award for his fictional war book, "Redeployment," on Nov. 19.
The piece, which is a collection of short essays, shows the life of a soldier from a number of points of view. While it is fictional, it was inspired by Klay's 13-month tour in Iraq and his subsequent adjustment to life after service. The Associated Press reported that Klay, at age 31, is one of the youngest winners in the prestigious award's history. It is the first win for an Iraq veteran and the first time a book of essays has received the honor in almost 20 years.
The author and soldier, who finished his service in 2009, has degrees from Dartmouth College and Hunter College. This is his first piece of literature, and it already earned him a National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 Award.
According to Military Times, Klay hopes his stories will help civilians better understand military life. The book is also for soldiers struggling to cope with the difficulties of combat and transition, to let them know they are not alone in what they are experiencing.
"What do you do when you're struggling to find the words to explain to the father of a fallen Marine exactly what that Marine meant to you? What do you do when one of your best Marines calls you to tell you that he's been drinking too much, that he feels isolated at college, surrounded by 18-year-olds he can't make sense of and who can't make sense of him? I don't actually have the answers to those questions, but the book was the only way I knew how to start really thinking them through," he stated in his National Book Award acceptance speech.
Soldiers stationed in Senegal, Liberia, Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan will be receiving traditional Thanksgiving dinners this year, reported Military Times. Because some of these missions were not planned to keep troops overseas through the holidays or are fairly new, it was unclear for a while whether turkey dinners would make it to the hardworking servicemembers. The source noted that holiday meals are usually ordered in the spring, but officials were able to secure extra food.
Iraq will be receiving significantly less food this year, since the military presence in the nation has been greatly reduced. Military Times reported that in 2009, nearly 500,000 pounds of turkey were shipped to troops stationed in this country, while this year 78,000 pounds is enough to feed the remaining soldiers. The Thanksgiving package for Iraq, in addition to Kuwait and Jordan, will also include pies, beef, shrimp, eggnog and ham.
This taste of home will be especially welcome by troops working to eradicate Ebola in West Africa. Military Times reported that dining facilities have yet to be constructed for these servicemembers, and they have been mostly eating rations occasionally paired with fresh produce. Liberia alone will receive 2,000 pounds of turkey, 300 pounds of cranberry sauce and 500 pies, some flavors including sweet potato, cherry, pumpkin, pecan and apple.
Soldiers who have recently returned from these infected regions, while they will be in the U.S. for the holiday, will not be able to spend it with loved ones. Military policy currently requires servicemembers to undergo a 21-day quarantine when they come back from West Africa. According to CBS, officials are trying to do everything they can for these soldiers who will spend Thanksgiving in isolation. Turkey dinners will be served, and troops will be assigned "personal shoppers" to bring them food or items they missed when they were overseas.
"We want it to be as positive of an experience as it can be," Col. John Allen told WTKR-TV.
The Army's athletic mascot could be changing as soon as the spring, reported Military Times.
The teams are currently called the "Black Knights," a name that became official in 1999 but has a legacy that extends back to the 1920s. Army athletics were technically called the "Cadets" until the turn of the millennium, but sports journalists had been referring to the organization as the "Black Knight of the Hudson" for about 80 years, referring to the Army academy's location near the Hudson River in West Point, New York.
There had been rumors that the program would return to being called "Cadets," but officials say they would rather start fresh with a new, all-encompassing representative. While many people like the Knights moniker because it implies strength and leadership, others gravitate toward the cadet mascot for its military connotation. The goal in selecting a new athletics symbol will be to bring these elements together.
"We really want to make sure we have something that identifies regionally, nationally and internationally," West Point's athletic director, Boo Corrigan, told the Times-Herald Record.
Military Times reported that the institution hopes to finalize a change in March or April of next year.