On July 4 this year, America turns 238. Independence day marks the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, signed in 1776 to proclaim U.S. independence from England. This document was vital in defining America as its own, separate entity, no longer subjects of the British king. The American Revolution had already been underway for the year leading up July 4, 1776. With the conflict heating up, a five-man committee decided to create a document that outlined the ideals of what would one day be the United States of America.
It was Richard Henry Lee of Virginia who first presented a proclamation of independence on June 7, 1776. He was quoted saying, "Resolved: That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved."
Following in the days after this proposed resolution, with each colony tasked with voting either for or against Lee's influential words, there was no direct solution, as some disagreed with this proclamation. In order to appease opponents, a committee was instructed to draft an official resolution document. The committee consisted of John Adams, Roger Sherman, Benjamin Franklin, Robert R. Livingston and Thomas Jefferson. They presented a statement, the Declaration of Independence, describing the case for emancipation, to Congress.
On July 1, 1776, the colonies voted again on Lee's proposed resolution, drafted into the Declaration. With nine votes for the Declaration, two against, one undecided and one abstaining from voting, the resolution was approved. Subsequent drafting occurred until July 4, when the declaration was officially approved. This act was the first united action that America took against Britain, and the first step on the road to becoming its own independent nation. What started out as a country of 2.5 million in 1776 has since grown to a nation of 311.17 million in 2014, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Population Clock.
July 4 is now a day on which those fighting to maintain the independence of the U.S. in the military or life after service should be recognized for their service to the country. The forefathers fought for the independence of America from its colonial ruler, forming a union of states under one set of ideals, and July 4 is a day to remember the early military strength of the nation.
On June 19, the Washington Nationals dedicated their game against the Houston Astros to the men and women that serve their country. The major league baseball team honored Army members and veterans at the game as part of the Army's 239th birthday celebration.
Army groups, including the United States Blues Band and the Army Drill team, performed as baseball fans took their seats. The opening ceremonies began with the National Anthem, sung by the Army Chorus. The first ball was pitched by Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Ray Odierno.
"I always love performing at big venues like Nationals Park. The support from the crowd is overwhelming and it just solidifies the fact that what we are doing is important and appreciated by so many great Americans," said Cpl. Derek Ivey, U.S. Army Drill team soloist.
The Army's 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as the Old Guard, received special recognition for their valiant service to their nation. They were invited onto the field before the game to experience the opening ceremony. Three soldiers from the Old Guard, including Staff Sgt. Jacob C. West, Headquarters Company, and Spc. Vincent A. Cottle, H-HC Regiment, were chosen to be the Washington Nationals' VIP guests, and sat in the Lexus Presidents Suite during the team's batting practice prior to the official game.
The game ball was delivered by Secretary of the Army John M. McHugh. He went onto express his appreciation to the Washington Nationals and had a message for troops overseas:
"This week particularly, the 239th birthday, we want to tell them, first of all, how much we continue to value their service, their sacrifice, and all the freedoms that lucky people like me get to enjoy. [These freedoms] were first won by and now preserved by the men and women who put on that Army uniform. God bless them for that, and Army strong."
Although the game was in honor of the Army's birthday, the Washington Nationals are known to host "branch" nights to honor both those serving and veterans living their life after service. The next branch night will be Aug. 6 and will be honoring the Coast Guard.
The Washington Nationals won their game against the Astros 6-5. They faced a setback in the fourth inning, when the Houston Astros scored four runs, but were able to make an underdog comeback in the seventh inning.
For military families, video chat technology such as FaceTime and Skype have helped them through months or even years of a loved one's tour abroad. It can be difficult for families to adjust to a family member's deployment, especially when they may have young children at home. Being able to communicate "in person" on camera and more often has improved the quality of life for servicemembers and their families back home until they retire during life after service.
Keeping in touch
For the Danneker family, FaceTime is a daily ritual that helps keep JBER Technical Sgt. Shawn in touch with the home front. A member of the Air Force, Shawn is currently serving in Qatar as a station chief and lead firefighter at Al Udeid Air Base. With two young children at home, a toddler and newborn, Shawn's wife Britney believes that her husband isn't the only one serving his country.
"Because he's in the military, I'm almost in the military too," she told KTUU news, "I know he's serving and everything but we do our part at home. We may not be in a combat zone but we are holding down the fort here."
She looks forward to the day that he returns and can once again be a part of their children's lives. Until then, the family maintains a morning routine of video chatting Shawn to keep connected and involved in each other's lives, even when apart. These modern technologies have helped keep other military families sane until they can be reunited once again after a long tour.
Frequent communication is key
According to Foster's Daily Democrat, the physical separation that is frequent with military members has to be offset by a deep emotional connection with children while a parent is abroad. When families communicate frequently, it boosts the morale of the children and also the deployed family member. With this research in mind, Foster's recommends creating a communication plan before deployment to make sure that families stay involved in each other's lives.
When Ginger Munson and her children planned to contact her husband, Chief Warrant Officer 4 George Q. Munson, this past Father's Day, she began to recall the communication methods of the past, when she had to mail audiocassette tapes just so her husband could hear her voice during Desert Storm.
Nowadays, video chatting has made the distance between family members seem a lot shorter. Though emerging video chat technologies have helped families seem closer than ever, there are certain downsides of being so connected to the war zone. Munson reflects on a time that she overheard an exploding mortar during one phone call with her husband, followed by an abrupt goodbye, leaving her uncertain and worried.
However, the Democrat believes that frequent communication can strengthen families during deployment and keep them thriving when apart. Like anything, deployment is an adjustment before, during and after, but keeping communication open and constant will help to ease families back into the routine of having their loved ones around physically instead of just on the computer.
The U.S. Army recognized Vietnam veteran Patrick A. Tiessonniere June 11, during a historical presentation put on by the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as the Twilight Tattoo. The event took place at Fort Myer in Virginia.
Tiessonniere was a Silver Star medal recipient, which is the nation's third-highest military decoration for valor. The Silver Star can be gained by engaging the enemy and fighting in support of a friendly foreign force. During the Twilight Tattoo, he recounted stories of his deployment for the audience, which was mostly made up of local schoolchildren. In one story, he remembered a time when his commander, Col. John A. Hemphill, came face to face with a member of the Viet Cong.
"[Hemphill] told me his life flashed before him. He thought he was dead. But as he was looking at him, the enemy soldier keeled over. He had been shot," Tiessonniere said, according to the Army News Service . "My platoon saved [Hemphill's] life that day."
During his life after service, Tiessonniere is currently working for the U.S. Army Military District of Washington, at Fort Lesley J. McNair. Tiessonniere has kept his memories alive and is writing a book based on his life during the Vietnam War.
This week's Twilight Tattoo was dedicated to veterans of the Vietnam War. Tiessonniere was serving as a representative of the Vietnam veterans. The event is a live-action military pageant that seeks to explore military history and highlight those who have served their country. The Twilight Tattoo is a weekly event that runs about an hour and is free to the public. It is held every Wednesday in the summer and begins at 6:45. Some performers involved include The U.S. Army Blues, vocalists from The U.S. Army Band Downrange and U.S. Army Voices, The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps and The U.S. Army Drill Team, according to the events website.
Veterans returning to civilian duties as part of life after service have numerous ways to treat psychological scars inflicted on the battlefield. According to Yahoo News, even people in ancient societies faced problems after returning from war. While the parallels are not perfect, the source noted that ancient Greek tragedies like "Ajax" can have consolatory effects on veterans returning home from the battlefield.
The power of myth in diminishing PTSD
This particular Greek tragedy features a Greek war hero who's experiences subsequent to the war reflect isolation, mental illness and violence. According to the source, Ajax kills farm animals, operating under the misconception that they're his mortal foes. The themes the tragedy displays may be familiar to contemporary reports of the mental illnesses' that have effected veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
For example, Nerd Wallet reports that more than 12,000 veterans from these wars were diagnosed with PTSD in 2013. About 5.2 million adults experience a form of PTSD each year, the source noted, so it's not merely an element of military life. However, the traumas inflicted in war increase the chance that a veteran will face some form of PTSD after leaving the battlefield.
"Everyone wants to tell their story," said Michael Meade, who runs a program called Voices for Veterans. "Even the most wounded people, given the chance, want to tell the story of that wound. A wound is like a mouth."
Nonprofit attempts to harness power of narratives
Meade's program "Voices for Veterans, Voices of War" operates under the broader auspices of the Mosaic nonprofit organization. This is a loose collection of artists, social workers and numerous other individuals who seek to transmit rich cultural resources to help people dealing with trauma. The special program dedicated to veterans gathers people from several wars to deal with their experiences by composing poems and narratives, in the hopes that the veterans can use this to deal with their past.
Mosaic's website suggests that this form of creativity can help banish some of the demons found on the battlefield, bringing military benefits in its wake. The ancient Greeks fought in a number of visceral combats, such as the Peloponnesian War, which pitted Athens against the militaristic island of Sparta. This spawned a slew of writings that attempted to comprehend the experiences of the war, most notably, Thucydides' "History of the Peloponnesian War," a study of the conflict.
Hopefully, the study of Greek responses to war help veterans deal with residual problems from the battlefield.
For many, Memorial Day presents an excellent time for families and friends to gather together to celebrate the good fortune a long weekend brings. Many also use this time to honor veterans and the departed, with Monday formally recognized as a holiday for contemplation and reflection on the sacrifices the armed services have made for the U.S.
Life after military leads many veterans to re-adjust to civilian life, becoming absorbed in many of the same conflicts and obstacles facing new college graduates. Of course, many veterans face arduous factors, such as the traumas of war, that can bring difficult psychological issues. In this vein, a brief history of Memorial Day is in order.
Quick facts about Memorial Day
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Memorial Day began after the Civil War ended in 1868. Union soldiers wanted to consecrate a day to honor the dead, calling it "Decoration Day" and having it May 30. Since then, the source noted that the holiday has been catalyzed by numerous historical occurrences.
"If silence is ever golden, it must be beside the graves of 15,000 men, whose lives were more significant than speech, and whose death was a poem the music of which can never be sung," said President James A. Garfield, according to the Latin Time.
The source noted that Garfield was the one of the first presidents to speak about Memorial Day. His sentiments reflected the burgeoning loyalty and respect shown to veterans in the U.S. This trend continues to this day – as contemporary U.S. presidents continually speak warmly about the sacrifices veterans have made for their country.
In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson stated that Waterloo, New York, was the original site of Memorial Day celebrations in 1866. However, the source said that during the immediate post-Civil War U.S., Memorial Day had not yet become the official holiday it is today.
At this juncture in history, those who wanted to honor the dead visited graves and laid flowers, similar to contemporary Memorial Day observances. According to the source, Memorial Day officially became a holiday in 1971, at the behest of the U.S. Congress. Many see the holiday as an excellent chance to venerate the departed soldiers who served their country admirably throughout the conflicts the U.S. has become involved in.
Holiday continues to be robust
USA Today reported that the holiday still brings a significant amount of attention – leading to increased travel and leisure time for working people. There are also other positive elements besides honor on Memorial Day. Benefits for veterans include the chance to spend quality time with loved ones, especially family members. Due to hectic summer schedules and the demands civilian life places on veterans, the chance to get away for a weekend for tranquility is an aspect of the holiday appreciated by both soldiers, veterans and civilians alike. This holiday can also serve as an educational tool for families and their children, allowing parents to teach their young ones about the military history of the U.S.
The good news is that people who want to get away for Memorial Day this year will not likely face any major obstacles, at least from the climate or transportation industry.
"We're not seeing any major weather systems or anything that would disrupt travel," said AAA spokeswoman Heather Hunter. " We're not seeing any big movement (in gas prices) that would deter people from traveling or spur more travel. Prices remain relatively similar to last year."
Hunter's comments will please individuals who seek to observe the holiday by traveling to a cemetery where loved ones are buried, or those who travel to visit veterans. Life after military may position a veteran in new and unexpected crossroads of life – a time when the support of family and friends is absolutely indispensable.
Memorial Day brings a time for pondering what the sacrifices of the armed services mean, and how civil society should appropriately honor them.
Military Spouse Appreciation Day provides a way to show solidarity and support to veterans returning from life after service. The Huffington Post listed various organizations devoted to assisting the spouses of soldiers and veterans – in the process helping soldiers with life in the military and veterans adjusting to civilian life.
Ways to help build solidarity within military families
With a warm and loving family, it's possible for people to have a long and happy life. These bonds are severely tested due to the nature of military life – frequent moves around the country, soldiers being sent to war overseas and spouses spending significant time alone while soldiers are training. Thankfully, there are many organizations that seek to alleviate the burden placed on military families.
The Huffington Post offers a comprehensive list of civic organizations that seek to assist military families. For example, the National Military Family Association is an organization that helps military families obtain military benefits.
The Veterans Administration is working tirelessly to ensure that service members who served in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are given equitable army benefits. However, this does not lessen the commitments of civil society to help impart the great resources veterans' families often need.
Ways citizens can help
Citizens can help philanthropic and civic organizations devoted to assisting veterans by donating money and volunteering. Organizations like the Wounded Warrior Project and Fisher House Foundation are merely a few organizations among many that are dedicated to helping soldiers, veterans and their spouses.
Appreciation Day is on Friday, May 9. The day of veneration has the firm approval of the President of the U.S., issuing a Department of Defense letter officially denoting May 9 as Military Spouse Appreciation Day. The letter suggested that the Obama administration will try to help veterans obtain education and career opportunities – making the chances that a veteran will have a successful time in life after military.
The president also conveyed the sentiments of many who fear that the opportunities for veterans after they leave the military are insufficient to provide a flourishing life. The letter spoke about the Joined Forces initiative pioneered by first lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, which seeks to bolster services for veterans and their families. Hopefully the many public and private institutions that are pushing for a greater focus on the families of veterans and soldiers produces tangible results that significantly help veterans.
Serving in the military is an often lauded career choice in the U.S. If you have been wondering how best to honor a veteran close to you, May is the perfect month to do so, as it is National Military Appreciation Month (NMAM), a time for veneration and celebration. Life after service presents interesting new opportunities for veterans – but it never hurts to have a special month dedicated to solidarity and support of the military community in the U.S.
Origins of National Military Appreciation Month
NMAM gained traction in 1999, when it was first championed as a serious cause. According to NMAM's official website, Sen. John McCain of Arizona and Sen. Duncan Hunter of Arizona helped foster legislation that eventuated in May being reserved for showing honor to veterans. The source noted that this cause has gained bi-partisan support – both houses of congress passed a measure officially making May National Military Appreciation Month.
"There is no inopportune time to thank a military member or veteran for their service and sacrifice," said Joe Davis, spokesman for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, according to Army Times.
Many facets of NMAM
The month in no way seeks to detract from habitual warm treatment of veterans – which helps to assist in the transition from life after military. Instead, the holiday designated for May seeks to deliver a firm reminder of the sacrifice of men and women overseas. NMAM.org noted that this also helps to serve as an educational reminder of the role of the military in the U.S. throughout the years.
The source suggested that learning about the role of the Continental Army in the American Revolution and other military events can help catalyze interest and respect for the military – a respect that the source believes has diminished over the years. In this vein, the source noted that encouraging educators to teach more military-related history is one of the goals of the appreciation month.
The site also noted more recent military references – such as the 38th Parallel and Normandy. Perhaps accounts of Allied troops storming Nazi-occupied France and General Douglas MacArthur's savvy military maneuver at the Inchon landing in the Korean War will whet the appetite of a generation of students who are unaware of these events.
Various ways to show support to veterans during celebration
The Huffington Post noted that there are numerous ways to show a veteran support – excellent news for individuals eager to participate in National Military Appreciation Month. The source suggested that an arduous aspect of soldiers lives is their spouses' experience in encountering the job market, which has not been the greatest since the 2008 recession.This is further exacerbated due to the fear among employers that military families may move swiftly, making a hire look unfeasible to employers.
"It's the inevitable question from potential employers: 'How did you end up in Hawaii?' I'm never quite comfortable answering this question, for one I feel it's a screening question to find out if I am a military spouse," said Melissa, a military spouse, according to The Huffington Post, "While my instinct is to be direct with a potential employer, there's a fear that being found out as a military spouse could hurt my chances of getting a job."
Therefore, a way to help soldiers and veterans during the May celebration may be to ensure that wives and husbands are able to obtain gainful employment. This, of course, will be hard to deliver, but the month will bring many opportunities. NMAM. org followed this sentiment, exhibiting the onus put on employees and employers when troops head to overseas locations. Regardless, consider doing something special for a veteran during NMAM.
Life after service opens up a bevy of options for returning veterans. Many soldiers are passionate about pursuing education in their years after the army, as this represents a great chance to gain an edge in a competitive job market. Understanding the education standards corresponding to veterans will help make post-service opportunities easily navigable, helping veterans flourish. Former servicemembers currently inhabit a small portion of undergraduate students, consisting of only 3 percent of students on campus. Therefore, many are eager to see army veterans seize the opportunities they are entitled to under the GI Bill, especially as the unemployment rate of veterans currently hovers around 9 percent. Pursuing education opportunities can help rectify this relatively high rate – and knowing options can dispel fears of what veterans may think the civilian world holds for them.
Veterans on campus- an eclectic variety of persons
According to the National Education Association, veterans on campus are an eclectic and diverse bunch, making uniform statements on veterans experience on campus difficult. Furthermore, 47 percent of veterans are married upon entering college, ensuring that their experience will differ vastly from a typical callow undergraduate. The source noted that fellow students should avoid asking offensive questions related to the war, as a civilian may think the battlefield is an acceptable topic for conversation, while a typical veteran will probably not want to dredge up the recent past. The source noted that this same principle applies to political statements related to the military, as they may prick the feelings of a nearby veteran. As thousands of soldiers have used the GI Bill to pursue an education, this a great point to keep in mind.
Ways veterans can integrate into campus life
According to Military.com, there are various ways a veteran on campus can get involved in campus activities, meeting friends and professors who share similar interests. The majority of veterans, about 47 percent, obtain a bachelor's degree, but smaller segments of veterans also pursue associate's and master's degrees. A veterans level of involvement will probably depend on time spent on campus, with the smallest level of involvement available through events like one day service trips, according to the source. If the veteran is satisfied with this, a move up to a semester-long commitment may be in order. An example of this could be joining a pep band if a veteran is a passionate instrumentalist, while an artistically inclined veteran can seek out local art galleries and attempt to make a mark. The source noted the innumerable ways to get involved – with Greek Life being another viable option.
Typical majors veterans pursue
CNN suggested a variety of jobs that are excellent for using the rigorous skills a veteran learned in the Military. Unsurprisingly, the source noted that law-enforcement is a common avenue that is pursued by soldiers in life after military. CNN noted that a security manager is suited to the particular set of skills needed to succeed in the military – such as hierarchy and coordination. Another option for military men and women is the lucrative field of analytics. According the source, a senior policy analyst helps craft policies that affect an entire company. For a veteran, who may have commanded entire army battalions during time in the military, this could present an easy shift. Making fast decisions can bring the fast paced and forthright life of a military policy maker to the equally competitive and ruthless business world, creating a civilian role that a veteran can flourish in.
This information can be a helpful primer for a returning veteran, allowing insightful decisions to be made regarding what to pursue in post-military-life.
A veteran represents one of the most venerated individuals in society. With many soldiers contending with life after service, it is obvious that the military is changing in vast and revolutionary ways. A relatively recent aspect of military life is the introduction of woman into the ranks. This historical event has lead women to perform admirably and heroically in the armed services. A brief summary of women veterans and their role in military life is thus in order, especially given that March was women's history month.
Early history of women in military
According to The Huffington Post, the number of women in the U.S. armed services has reached an "unprecedented" level. The source noted that women were involved in military preparation during the American Revolutionary War, serving as nurses and other non-combative roles. However, despite the prohibition on women in combat until relatively recently, many women found a way to the front lines. This may have been indicative of the eagerness that women have shown throughout U.S. history to enter the ranks of the military, although this was only reflected legally in recent decades. Deborah Sampson, a woman of the revolutionary generation, disguised herself as a man to serve in George Washington's army for a year in 1781, according to History.org. Another prominent woman during the American Revolution was Mary Ludwig, who helped bring water to patriot troops in the Battle of Monmouth.
Seminal influence of "Molly Pitcher"
Monmouth is located in central New Jersey, playing a significant role in the tide turning to the patriot side in the war. Ludwig earned the moniker "Molly Pitcher" for her life-saving efforts to bring sustenance to troops, even taking up the mantle as a cannon gunner when her husband was incapacitated during the battle. Her memory lives on today in the Molly Pitcher Inn in Red Bank, New Jersey, a posh restaurant and hotel that overlooks the placid Navesink River.
The U.S. has filled the venerable legacy of Molly Pitcher, having a significant number of women in the army, not to mention female soldiers who will receive veterans insurance. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has a special section on their website called the Center for Women Veterans providing information on health, resources, community engagement and public service. This can be an excellent resource if returning veterans are unsure of the benefits they are entitled to. Likewise, the Veterans Affairs website offers information for the family and spouses of returning veterans, a valuable resource for loved ones eagerly awaiting a solider from overseas.
Influential moments in the history of women's role in the armed services
According to History. Org, women were officially allowed in the armed services in 1973, when the draft was ended. This lead to the creation of an all-volunteer-army, helping to exponentially increase the number of women in the ranks.
Another prominent turning point occurred when women began to be permitted at military service academies, such as West Point. The glass ceiling has continued to crack, with thousands of women serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia and other hotspots.
The source noted that 41,000 women were deployed during the Persian Gulf War, a testament to the quick ascension women have made in the army in the relatively short time they have been authorized to serve.
For some, the gains may seem slow and incremental. The source also suggests this, displaying the progress throughout the years that women have made in the armed services. For example, a woman commanded a warship for the first time in 2000, while the first time a woman commanded a fight squadron only occurred in 2004.