Sometimes small gestures can make big impacts. That's just what Maine's State and Local Government Committee had in mind on Wednesday when they unanimously supported a bill that would, from now on, establish Nov. 1 as Veterans in the Arts and Humanities Day.
According to the Maine Sun Journal, the legislative committee was totally united on the bill, which moved from a public hearing to a work session vote in less than a half hour. If it is approved by the full Legislature, Maine will become the first state to officially designate a day to recognizing and supporting veteran artists.
Rep. Bob Duchesne, who sponsored the bill, didn't have to work hard to convince his fellow lawmakers that many times veterans find exploring different art forms therapeutic, making the transition into their life after service just a little bit easier. Duchesne pointed to the high suicide rate among returning veterans as evidence that something had to be done immediately.
"Bubbling under the surface is a whole range of psychological and social challenges that await our returning veterans," Duchesne told his colleagues, according to the Sun Journal. "As a nation, we've been rather slow to recognize how difficult reintegration is after the tremendous highs and lows of service and the regimentation of deployment and all that goes with it. Life back home is a whole lot different."
Rather than fall back on pills and counseling as an end-all, be-all treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, Maine legislators would give their veterans opportunities through writing, painting, sculpture or some other medium to find relief.
Ars Bellum Foundation, based in St. Paul, Minnesota, in conjunction with the Adler Graduate School in Richfield, have taken a similar approach, according to the Star Tribune. They have created a clinical art therapy program for Minnesota veterans that is based closely on the one seeing so much success at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
"It's a nonthreatening environment where you can put your hands on it; where you don't have to find a word to express a feeling or emotion," said Matthew Vater, a colonel in the National Guard and Ars Bellum – meaning "arts of war" – Board Member. "It helps to reach a part that might not have been reached traditionally."
Even among the heroes of the Pacific campaign in World War II, the Navajo Code Talkers stand out. With the passing of two of their number, family, friends and the Navajo Nation have taken the opportunity to remember their sacrifice and dedication to their country.
On Tuesday, Ernest Yazhe, 92, passed away in suburban Salt Lake City, The Associated Press reported. Born in Naschitti, New Mexico, Yazhe joined the Marine Corps when he was 19 years old. It wasn't long before he was thrown into pitched battle in Guam and Okinawa with a radio, transmitting messages in Navajo that absolutely stumped the Japanese code breakers.
"The Navajo language was the secret weapon that brought victory to the Allied Forces and ended the war in the Pacific," said Jonathan Nez, vice president of the Navajo Nation.
While in the field, Yazhe overheard Japanese soldiers talking about his language. They were frustrated and upset that, despite their best efforts, they could not understand him or his comrades.
Originally just a small group of less than 30, the Code Talkers eventually grew to number at least 440. Yazhe's older brother Harrison, who died in 2004, was also a Code Talker, and he had a younger brother who was killed in action in Italy in 1944. Fewer than 20 Code Talkers are still alive.
The passing of Alfred James Peaches last Saturday, announced by tribal officials on Wednesday, makes that figure even smaller. Peaches, born in Shonto, Arizona, served as a Code Talker in the 6th Marine Division from 1943 to 1946, according to a separate article by The Associated Press.
Ninety at the time of his death, Peaches is survived by his wife, four children and five grandchildren.
Flags across Navajo Nation will be flown at half-staff in remembrance of the men.
Issues important to Iowa veterans – like housing, healthcare and other military benefits – were the center of attention for the annual Veterans Day at the Capital in Des Moines on Wednesday. State lawmakers were joined by 20 organizations that set up shop in the rotunda to inform veterans about the many services on offer.
Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds gave a progress report on the state's Home Base Iowa program, an initiative that pairs veterans with careers that utilize their skills and experience, 13 WHO, the local news station, reported. Since 2013, Home Base Iowa has assisted about 1,700 veterans in finding long-term employment. There's still a long way to go if the goal of 7,500 is to be reached, however.
Despite the progress made in the last few years, Ronnie Murray, an Air Force veteran, says it isn't good enough. Murray has taken it upon himself to do something for his fellow veterans by launching the Empowerment Center, a project offering services no hospital or doctor's office can match.
"I don't think we can depend on the hospital for everything," Murray told 13 WHO. "I believe the veterans that have been blessed to navigate their way through the darkness have a responsibility to reach back and help other veterans."
The Empowerment Center will be a one-stop-shop for counseling, support and resources run by veterans for veterans.
Murray's reason for opening the center is a personal one. Entering his life after service proved difficult, and he fought against post-traumatic stress disorder and depression for a number of years. Talking to fellow veterans and heeding their counsel proved the solution. He hopes that the center will alleviate the pressure put on Iowa VA hospitals.
"The veterans who put their life on the line … they need the community to help make them well in any way possible," said Murray.
Current plans call for the center to be open by August.
When veterans need a hand up for one reason or another, there are often many organizations – both public and private – that can help them out. However, many of these former servicemembers might not always know where they should turn, and a new hotline has been set up in Florida for that reason.
In Florida, residents can dial 2-1-1 to contact professionals who can help them in some way, and that line has been receiving calls from veterans in distress for years, according to a report from the Tampa Tribune. To that end, the new Florida Veterans Support Line – at 1-844-MYFLVET – has been set up to specifically help connect veterans to people who can help them. It's open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays.
"About two and a half years ago we were experiencing a significant call volume from vets," Clara Reynolds, president and CEO of the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, told the newspaper. "Many times (they) would ask, 'Are you a vet? Do you know what I'm going through?'"
The more veterans can do to connect with people who are trying to assist them, the better off they're likely to be as they try to navigate the often difficult transition back to civilian life.
Across the country, many organizations now exist to tackle the problem of veteran homelessness. However, one group in Texas seems to go above and beyond the call of duty in comparison even with many of the nation's most successful efforts.
Family Endeavors is based in Texas but has operations in various parts of the country, all focused on getting homeless vets off the streets, according to a report from the Raleigh (North Carolina) News & Observer. Indeed, during the 2015 fiscal year alone, the organization put 280 homeless veterans living near Fort Bragg in North Carolina into permanent housing.
However, while that is obviously a great first step, experts say more needs to be done, the report said. There are still more than 1,000 homeless veterans throughout North Carolina, and even the organizations which exist to help them aren't necessarily able to do as much as they or many others might like.
Fortunately, any efforts here are likely to go a long way for all involved, so the more that can be done to support organizations such as these, the better off both these groups and the veterans they serve will be.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott recognized 364 Florida veterans – men and women who had served in conflicts from World War II to Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan – with the Governor's Veterans Service Award at the DeLand National Guard Armory on Tuesday. This is the second awards ceremony for servicemembers in January, ABC 7 reported.
"Last week, we recognized National Guard Day at the Florida Capitol to honor the men and women who are currently serving our state and defending freedom around the world," said Scott at the ceremony. "It is exciting today to award more than 360 Florida veterans for their courage and countless sacrifices in defense of our country. We are incredibly grateful for their service and must take every possible opportunity to thank our American heroes."
Local legislators turned out to show their personal gratitude with handshakes and thanks as veterans moved down the reception line. Volusia County councilwoman Deb Denys was among them.
"It was so wonderful," Denys told The Daytona Beach News-Journal. "After two hours shaking hands, I'd cried all my makeup off."
Sgt. Howard Ray Metzger Jr. was one of the veterans honored by the governor, ABC 7 reported. After joining the Army in 1991, Metzger served in Korea and Texas – where he earned two Army Commendation Medals – and later in Afghanistan, from 2004 to 2005, where he received a third commendation medal for assisting in the country's first democratic election.
Mike White was also in attendance. A veteran of two combat tours in Vietnam, where he served as both a helicopter crew chief and a military policeman, White received a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, and four hard-earned Purple Hearts. In his life after service, he entered a career in law enforcement while constantly advocating for his fellow veterans.
One of the unfortunate realities for U.S. veterans returning from active duty is that their physical, emotional and financial status has almost always been affected by their service. In addition to any disabilities, there is always the risk that they will have to confront discrimination based on their chosen profession.
According to The McAllen Monitor, nearly half of returning veterans sought care at the VA using veterans benefits, many of them for mental illness. Texas is home to the second-largest population of veterans in the country, which means that there is plenty of need for affordable legal services to navigate the complicated legalese of civilian life. Thankfully, a program to do just that now exists.
The Texas Civil Rights Project recently announced a new Veterans' Rights Program aimed at assisting the 40,000 or so veterans living in the Rio Grande Valley.
"Veterans not only have the challenge of re-acclimating to civilian life – seeking health, education and other benefits to which they are entitled – but also often have the added challenge of navigating that process with physical or mental disabilities that they acquired during service," said Emma Hilbert, the program's attorney, in a statement to Equal Voice.
"Added to these challenges, some veterans face discrimination because of such a disability or their status as a veteran," Hilbert continued.
Former servicemembers living in the Rio Grande Valley already have the support of hundreds of organizations and groups, but Felix Rodriguez, Hidalgo County's veterans service officer, said that the legal rights office would offer the kind of protection many veterans are missing.
Any veterans or family members of veterans having trouble gaining access to public resources or residences will find themselves heard and represented at TCRP.
"I have veterans with legal matters who don't know where to go and it's a good thing we have this program now so we can send them here and they can get the relief they are seeking," Rodriguez told The Monitor.
One of the big issues that many veterans may feel these days when it comes to how they're treated politically is that they do not have much of a voice with lawmakers despite their service to this country. However, more legislative bodies are moving to increase their interactions with veterans so that these problems don't continue to present themselves in the future.
For instance, Illinois State Rep. Natalie Manley recently held a meeting of what she refers to as her "Veterans Citizens Advisory Committee," an event which allowed veterans, veteran advocates, and other concerned citizens to speak with an elected official about the realities facing former servicemembers, according to a report from the Joliet News-Herald. The first such event attracted more than two dozen people, and a number of important veterans issues were discussed.
Perhaps foremost among them was the challenges veterans face when it comes to receiving quality health care for their various medical needs, and how they can access the many benefits that ought to be available to them, the report said. In addition, many talked about how they felt as though they didn't have as much support in their daily lives as they might need.
"Let's bring people together," Kevin Leverence, a veteran of the Iraq War who suffers from post-traumatic stress, told the newspaper. "One of the best things we can do is find the best things that are already there. We don't need to reinvent the wheel. [Resources for veterans] need more energy. Putting energy, resources and time into those things. … That's where we're going to get bang for your buck."
The more that lawmakers can do to help veterans the better off those former servicemembers will obviously be. However, it might also be wise for veterans to reach out when they feel the need, because assistance might be as close as a phone call away.
One of the big issues that many veterans across the country face when they come home from service is that they often find it difficult to get full-time employment in just about any field, let alone one that lets them use the skills they picked up while serving. However, many companies are now trying to do a bit more to lend a hand in this regard.
Later this month, more than 80 companies will be in attendance at Quicken Loans Arena, home of the Cleveland Cavaliers, for the Hiring Our Heroes Hiring Expo event, according to a report from the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Not only will attendees get the chance to speak with companies that are specifically looking to hire veterans, but they will also be able to receive training that should help them in their job search as well.
That includes an employment workshop with tips on how to craft a great-looking resume, how to search for the best jobs available, and how to nail an interview, the report said. The job fair begins soon after that.
In addition, veterans who are able to pre-register for the event, with proof of their service, will also get two free tickets to the Cavaliers game later that night, the report said. A number of organizations have come together to sponsor the event, including the VA, NBC News, the American Legion, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the Ohio Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.
This kind of assistance may be vital to the veterans who are able to attend this job fair. However, many similar events are likely taking place with regularity across the country, so any unemployed or underemployed servicemembers who are looking for work may simply need to seek them out.
One of the largest and most popular schools in the country for military tuition assistance has regained the favor of the Department of Defense. The Wall Street Journal reported that, following alleged recruiting violations, the University of Phoenix was put on probationary status by the DOD in October 2015, which meant that it could no longer recruit on military bases or enroll veterans using the tuition-assistance program.
Though the school is no longer on probation, it will be under closer scrutiny moving forward. The DOD has also retained the right to end the school's status in the tuition-assistance program should any non-compliance issues resurface.
"Our commitment to compliance, transparency and continuous improvement remains constant," said University of Phoenix President Timothy P. Slottow in a statement. "We are grateful to leaders at the Department of Defense and in Congress for supporting a clear process and high standards from all educational institutions, and for ensuring military students are able to use their educational benefits for career-relevant programs at University of Phoenix."
An internal review was conducted by the DOD to determine how the for-profit college responded to the probation. Over the last several months, it was established that the department's concerns – none of which were made public – had been adequately met.
The Military Times, however, obtained a letter which addressed the complaints. They included the university's efforts to gain access to military bases without prior approval from the chain of command, as well as the misuse of military seals and trademarks.
According to data from the DOD, the University of Phoenix enrolled more than 9,000 tuition-assistance students in 2014, who altogether took about 28,000 classes at the cost of upwards of $20 million. It is even more popular with veterans, the Military Times reported. More than 49,000 students used the Post-9/11 GI Bill there in 2014 – more than any other school in the country.