Three California-based Marine veterans, John Preston, Shane Roberts and Justin Heisey, released a four-track album entitled "Your War is Over" on Veterans Day, Tuesday, Nov. 11.
According to Marine Corps Times, the album, which was inspired by the troubles soldiers face overseas and at home, aims to raise awareness about the difficulty of military transitions. The band, which operates under Preston's name, released the first single on Oct. 20. The song, entitled "This is War," also featured a music video that highlighted current issues faced by Marines.
Bound by a passion for music and service
Warrior reported that Preston and Heisey started playing music together in 2001. Inspired by the challenges facing the nation and his own family, Preston penned a song called "No Matter Where I Am," which he shared with his colleague and fellow musician. The two soldiers got the opportunity to record the tune, which was eventually played by local radio stations in Kentucky, Preston's home state. Hearing his music on the radio was emotional for the servicemember.
"This was only my second dream ever to have been accomplished. The first was being a Marine," he told Warrior.
In 2003, Preston and Roberts created a band named Hwy 42. The two played together until 2007, when Preston relocated to California and became a full-time firefighter. When he sustained an injury during work, however, he took it as a sign to return to his musical roots. He called upon his two friends and the three veterans were signed by Pacific Records.
Raising awareness through song
The album is intended to be a tribute to all veterans and let them know they are not alone in how they feel. Marine Corps Times reported that 30 percent of the proceeds from the album will go to the Boot Campaign, an organization dedicated to helping former soldiers find jobs, housing and stability in their life after service. The musicians were motivated to give to veteran services after their own difficult transition experiences, in addition to watching a number of their friends struggle to adapt to civilian life.
According to Warrior, the group witnessed some of their close friends experience post-traumatic stress disorder, drug addiction and even jail time as a result of feeling lost upon returning home. They hope this album, which draws from a variety of rock and country influences, will help veterans feel less alone and show civilians the true sacrifices servicemembers make.
"Our goal is to get people to see what's going on. We have 22 of us a day who commit suicide. Per day. We can't allow this. We need to help in any way we can," Preston told Warrior.
The star-studded Concert of Valor, held on Washington, D.C.'s National Mall, drew hundreds of thousands of civilians and servicemembers celebrating Veterans Day.
The performance was sponsored by HBO, Starbucks and Chase Corp. with the goal of raising awareness of the problems faced by post-9/11 veterans, noted Military Times. Tickets to the event were free, but donations to benefit the cause were strongly encouraged.
According to ABC 7, a variety of talented performers participated to make the concert a truly special experience. Some of the headlining acts included Metallica, Dave Grohl, The Black Keys, Carrie Underwood, Bruce Springsteen and The Zac Brown Band. Interspersed between the music were video messages to soldiers from big-name celebrities like Steven Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey.
The concert was broadcast by HBO, which made the channel available to non-subscribers for the special occasion. For people watching at home, it was certainly an incredible experience, but for those lucky enough to be in attendance, the event was undeniably moving.
"This is the first time since I've been back that I've felt honored to be back home, and I'm 65 years old. They treated us like criminals when we came back home. They didn't give us a parade," Bobby Monk, a disabled Vietnam veteran from Washington, told ABC 7 as he reflected on his life after service.
A funeral service was held on Tuesday, Nov. 11, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, for Army Staff Sgt. and Vietnam prisoner of war James VanBendegom.
According to Military Times, the soldier was only 18 years old when he deployed to Vietnam for his first tour of duty in 1967. After just three weeks overseas, VanBendegom disappeared after being seriously injured during combat near the Cambodian border. He was taken by North Vietnamese forces.
Three days after he was taken, VanBendegom's mother received a knock at the door. She was greeted by Army officials alerting her that her son was missing in action, reported Military Times. The family held out some hope, however, when they got word that POWs would be released and sent home in 1973. Upon learning that their beloved soldier would not be returning with this group of servicemembers, they held a small remembrance ceremony. They later learned from other captured troops that VanBendegom's injuries had been so severe he had perished shortly after being taken.
As the tight-knit clan tried to move past the grief of their loss, VanBendegom's remains were also being moved. In 1986, a woman in Vietnam found human bones and delivered them to American officials at a refugee camp in Thailand. The bones remained in storage in the U.S. until a genetic match was found. On Oct. 17, they were confirmed as belonging to VanBendegom. His family was alerted and the remains were flown back to his hometown after almost 50 years, reported Military Times.
According to WISN, many strangers came out for the funeral to support the family, who appreciated the overwhelming show of love. "Unless you experience it first-hand, you just can't grasp the enormity of it. It's hard to put into words," the soldier's brother, Gary VanBendegom, told the source.
VanBendegom was buried next to his father, a World War II veteran.
Tuesday, Nov. 11, is Veterans Day, or the day when U.S. citizens express their gratitude to the many servicemembers who have served the nation. According to U.S. News & World Report, there are 21.8 million veterans in the country today. Check out the ways in which you can show your respect and appreciation today and every day.
Attend an event
There are a number of parades and gatherings taking place across the U.S. on Veterans Day. In Washington, D.C., you can attend the annual ceremony held at Arlington National Cemetery. A wreath is placed at the Tomb of the Unknowns and a parade of colors is put on by different veterans' groups inside the Memorial Amphitheater. New York City holds the largest Veterans Day Parade in the country. According to Newsweek, this year's theme is "Land of the Free, Home of the Brave." The event is sponsored by the United War Veterans Council and runs from 26th Street to 52nd Street along Fifth Avenue.
Invest in their futures
According to CNN, one of the best ways you can pay your respects to those who have served the U.S. is by supporting their employment. About 77 percent of veterans have a hard time finding a job after they leave the military. Unemployment rates are also significantly higher among the veteran population, noted the source. This is especially true for veterans of recent wars – soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan face unemployment rates around 10 percent, compared to the national average of 5.9. Consider hiring veterans or supporting local veteran-owned businesses to display your gratitude for their sacrifices.
Volunteer
Whatever your talents and resources are, there is a way for you to put them to work by volunteering for a veterans' group. Health professionals, especially those focusing on mental health, are always in high demand for the veteran population. Organizations like Give an Hour allow health care providers to volunteer their time to diagnose, treat and talk to veterans, who are not charged for the appointment. CNN noted that there are a variety of programs that involve connecting servicemembers transitioning to civilian life with people in their community who can help ease the often overwhelming change.
There are many opportunities to help the families of veterans as well, since many times they also need assistance coping with the realities of war. Groups like the Code of Support Foundation help military families navigate life after service and assists them in choosing the most beneficial resources.
Lt. John Pritchard was recently inducted into the Hall of Heroes at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. The World War II pilot, who perished in 1942, graduated from the institution in 1938.
According to Military Times, Pritchard served the Coast Guard on assignments in Greenland. He was doing war-time patrols on a cutter of the coast of the nation when a U.S. Air Force B-17 crashed on an icy tundra. The crew lived but were stranded. Pritchard successfully found the group and rescued two passengers, bringing them back to his ship. The following day, he and a colleague volunteered to return for the remaining stranded soldiers. It was during this second trip that the aircraft exploded shortly after takeoff, killing all three men inside.
A week before this fatal journey, Pritchard had successfully saved members of the Royal Canadian Air Force from an icy death during a dangerous mission. The award ceremony on Friday, Nov. 7, primarily focused on this outstanding accomplishment, noted Military Times. The late servicemember's sister attended the tribute, which included Pritchard's name being added to a wall of honorable Coast Guard members.
According to Fox News, this recognition of Pritchard's heroism came about after an initiative was launched to recover the aircraft he died in, which is currently in a glacier. In 2010, the Coast Guard, in collaboration with a private contractor, picked up signals on radar of what they thought was the plane wreck and were able to take pictures through ice to confirm the location of the aircraft. When crews returned to the glacier this summer, however, they were not able to find any signs of the plane. Officials, while discouraged, have not given up on someday bringing the remains home.
"It's safe to say the case is not closed," Cmdr. Brian Glander, the chief of the Office of Aviation Forces at Coast Guard headquarters, told Fox News.
Three servicemembers from 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, New York, received a medal on Oct. 31 recognizing their outstanding actions during the rescue of a boater in April. The men were honored with the Soldier's Medal, an award given to those who display heroism and leadership in situations not involving enemies, reported Military Times.
Spc. Christopher L. Grant and Pvt. Trenton M. Brown were fishing in the Black River when they saw a canoe flip, sending a man and a woman crying out for help as they attempted to navigate the cold, rough waters. The two men tried to use a rope from their truck to pull the boaters in, but it fell short and they could see that the man was struggling to stay afloat, according to an Army report.
The servicemembers received backup when former lifeguard Pfc. Matthew M. Phillips arrived to help them. The Army reported that together, the three soldiers were able to secure a line strong enough to hold them as they all ventured into the almost-freezing waters. Phillips was able to secure the female victim and attach her to the line. The soldiers pulled her to the shore, got her warm clothes and waited for her to get proper medical attention. Unfortunately they were not able to save the male passenger, who perished in the accident.
"If I could have gotten to the man, I would have, but I just couldn't get to him," Phillips told the Army.
Grant currently works as a paralegal specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, while Brown is a hydraulic repair specialist with B Company, 277th Aviation Support Battalion, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, and Phillips is a cavalry Scout formerly assigned to 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team.
When Amy Wolfe, artistic director of the Manassas Ballet Theater in Virginia, lost her son Colin in Iraq in 2006, she knew she wanted to create a lasting tribute to him. This weekend, her full-length ballet, "Colin," opened at Hylton Performing Arts Center.
Lance Cpl. Colin Wolfe was killed at the age of 18, when a roadside bomb exploded next to him in Habbaniyah, Iraq. According to Military Times, he had been a dancer prior to joining the service. His mother knew that creating an artistic memorial in his honor would be the best way to handle her loss and recognize his immense sacrifice.
The creative process
Wolfe started by creating a 30-minute performance in collaboration with a composer friend. The project drew so much attention that she decided to extend it into a full-length piece. According to Military Times, the emotional ballet shows all aspects of Colin's relationship with the service, from Sept. 11, 2001, when, at the age of 14, he decided he would enlist when he got older, to the moment right before the bomb took his life.
The source noted that Wolfe conducted interviews with his friends and colleagues to construct a realistic yet creative portrayal of her son's experience. It was through these interviews she learned that Colin had been talking about his family and his girlfriend in the moment before his death, a comforting fact for the grieving mother.
Casting the show
CBS News reported that 27-year-old Joshua Burnham is dancing the role of Colin – Wolfe chose him for his resemblance to her son, as well as the fact that he is the exact same age Colin would be if he were alive today. When casting herself, Wolfe knew that no matter how mentally and physically difficult it would be, she would need to be the one to dance the part. Although she had not danced in four years, Wolfe realized that nobody else would be able to lend such vivid emotional realness to the character.
According to CBS News, real active-duty Marines help open the show, which starts with the night Wolfe was told about her son's passing. The source also noted that members of the Marine Corps attend every performance to pay their respects to Colin and his family.
While the process has been a difficult one for Wolfe, she hopes it will help other servicemembers and their families deal with the often devastating challenges of military life.
"Every death helps those of us who are left behind to come together, to reach out to each other, to love each other better. It is sad that sometimes we have to grieve in order to love better, but it is true," Wolfe told CBS News.
Soldiers from the U.S. Army's 4th Infantry Division's combat aviation brigade are set to receive Humanitarian Service Medals. They will be given their awards during a ceremony on Friday, Nov. 7, at Fort Carson, Colorado.
According to Military Times, the 100 servicemembers receiving the award are being honored for their actions during the 2013 Colorado floods. The natural disaster killed eight people and completely destroyed over 2,000 Colorado homes. Ultimately, it caused major damage to an area of almost 2,000 square miles. The CAB soldiers are being recognized for their actions between Sept.13-20, a week when their actions were extremely valuable to the devastated state.
During the floods, members of the CAB were an incredible help to the community, reported Military Times. They helped do the country's largest airlift since Hurricane Katrina, getting many citizens to safety. The source noted that these outstanding servicemembers also gave over 500 hours of their time volunteering to help local families affected by the disaster.
According to the USS Berkeley, the Humanitarian Service Medal is given to soldiers who distinguish themselves while contributing significantly to missions of a humanitarian nature.
"Stand Up For Heroes" is an event to raise money for the Bob Woodruff Foundation, an organization that aims to help injured servicemembers and their families. The star-studded fundraiser, which started in 2007, celebrated its annual night of music and comedy Wednesday, Oct. 5.
According to Newsday, the benefit took place at Madison Square Garden in New York City as a part of the New York Comedy Festival. Some of the big-name performers included comedians Louis C.K., Jon Stewart, Jim Gaffigan and musician Bruce Springsteen. Marketwatch reported that Springsteen auctioned off a private guitar lesson, lasagna dinner and motorcycle ride at his home, a package that raised $600,000 for the charity.
Overall, the sold-out event gathered over $6 million for the foundation, which was created in 2006 after news anchor Bob Woodruff was injured by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan while reporting. The organization has raised over $22 million in services and education for more than 2 million servicemembers and their families nationwide.
"We've always been so proud of Stand Up for Heroes and know what can happen when a movement of generosity inspires thousands more to act," Woodruff told Marketwatch.
Although the overall number of politicians and lawmakers with military experience is on the decline, Congress will be getting an increase in Afghanistan and Iraq veterans in 2015.
According to Military Times, at least 22 veterans of these wars have officially won their races and will be part of the new class. The six democrats and 16 republicans will join the existing 17 Iraq and Afghanistan vets currently in office.
Right now, there are 106 veterans in total serving in Congress. This number will drop next year but is still expected to remain above 100 as of now. Military Times noted that since the 1950s there have not been fewer than 100 former servicemembers in Congress at any given time.
According to St. Louis Today, many veterans are hoping this downward trend will not go on and that more young vets will continue to run. The source noted that many veterans feel as though military experience is a valuable resource that should be decently present in the government.
"Whether or not a member of Congress is a veteran doesn't affect their desire to address a problem, but their intimate knowledge of experience with deploying is really a key factor," Nick McCormick, legislative associate at the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, told St. Louis Today.