November 11, 1918 is generally recognized at the end of the "war to end all wars." According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, that is the reason Nov. 11 is the day we now celebrate as Veterans Day. Since its beginning as Armistice Day in 1919, Nov. 11 has been a day to recognize veterans for their service and sacrifice. The town of Phillipsburg, New Jersey, has made it a point to make this date with a special commemoration every year.
This year marks the 18th annual William L. Nixon Veterans Tribute. However, this year the celebration will be even more special than the first time it was held in 1997. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs named the tribute as the region's official commemoration, as reported by Lehigh Valley Live.
Of the Phillipsburg event, the department wrote on their website, "From stirring parades and ceremonies to military exhibits and tributes to distinguished veterans, these events serve as models for other communities to follow in planning their own observances."
Not only is this year's event a nationally recognized celebration, it will also feature a special tribute to Korean War veterans, as it is the 65th anniversary of that war beginning. The news source reported that there would be a Blackhawk helicopter landing, a live streaming feed of the celebrations at the Korean War Memorial in Honolulu, Hawaii, and musical performances.
Local veterans will be honored, and some are even going to give speeches about their experiences and memories of combat. All former servicemembers from Phillipsburg and the surrounding areas are encouraged to come with their families and enjoy the event.
The 2015 William L. Nixon Veterans Tribute will take place at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 8 at Phillipsburg High School.
When veterans enter life after service, they have many options for their future. They can pursue a civilian career, volunteer their time assisting other veterans or even further their own education. Former servicemembers who want to go back to school to earn a degree may be hesitant because of the unfamiliarity of the classroom setting. However, returning to school can be a rewarding experience. There are some points veterans should consider to decide if pursuing a degree is right for them.
Evaluate your readiness
Making the decision to return to school is a big one. Most degree programs will require your full attention and most of your time. If you are not sure if you can commit to the requirements, it is best to hold off for awhile. However, if you find that you are prepared to focus your full effort on school, feel free to start researching your options. Another thing you need to consider is that you are in a good place emotionally. School can be stressful, and if you are already coping with combat-related stress, it may not be the best time to worry about academics. Make sure you are physically and mentally healthy before you tackle a degree.
Explore your financial options
You should also consider your financial readiness. Your GI Bill may cover a portion of your tuition, but some institutions will cost more than those together. Take a look at your finances to make sure that going back to school is a feasible option to avoid unwanted debt. Before you take out loans, research and apply to a variety of veteran-based scholarships. These may help cover the rest of your education costs.
Know your purpose
Nothing is worse than wasting time and money while you try to figure out what degree to pursue. Before you enroll, know what career you are interested in attempting after school. Evaluate which degree programs will be most beneficial to helping you achieve this career end goal and look into universities known for having excellent programs in this area. This step will help you direct your studies and get your on the path to a successful life after service.
Check out campus veterans programs
Many colleges and universities offer programs designed to help veterans in their transition back to school. Some may even have offices especially for student veteran services. Research which campuses have these programs and try to talk to other former servicemembers at your preferred schools to get their opinion on the institution. These facts can help you find a place where you will be comfortable and productive.
Returning to school is a big decision, and for many veterans, it is also a positive step toward reassimilation. By taking steps to carefully consider all your options and your personal goals, you can make the transition from military life to the classroom a little easier. Remember that going back to school may not be for everybody, but by going through the checklist above, you may be more sure of your final decision.
Veterans sacrifice their lives for the safety and freedom of others. This notion led Navy veteran Robert Eberlein to commit his life after service to ensuring that every veteran in his community is given a proper burial ceremony.
"This is a last way for us to honor them for their service to their country and their sacrifice," Eberlein told the South Bend Tribune.
Eberlein served in Vietnam and saw many honorable acts by fellow servicemembers. The way he and his fellow Vietnam veterans were treated when they returned from service was not how any servicemember should be treated. Eberlein wanted to make sure that the men he fought with got a proper military sendoff when they passed, so he joined a burial squad.
The veteran told the South Bend Tribune that burial squads usually include 10 individuals, which can be the chaplain, the team leader and a bugle player. Eberlein serves in his squad as the bugle player, which was a talent he acquired during his service.
Eberlein hopes his commitment to honoring fallen brothers and sisters in arms will inspire younger generations of veterans to do the same when they are his age.
On July 9, Johnnie H. Hodges Sr. of Buffalo, New York, was removed from his home when the bank foreclosed due to missing mortgage payments. Thanks to the generosity of community members and a GoFundMe campaign, Hodges will soon be able to return to his home.
After fighting in World War II, Hodges returned to Buffalo and purchased his first home. For 50 years, he and his family lived in the Humboldt Parkway residence, according to The Buffalo News. The Navy veteran began to experience money difficulties after his wife lost her battle to Alzheimer's and passed away.
After the foreclosure, Hodges family helped him set up a GoFundMe page that they hoped would help him get the house back. Their initial goal was $50,000, but people have donated over $107,000. Hodges is expected to move back into his home in November, and he has big plans for when he does.
"The first thing I'm going to do when I get home is walk through the house and make sure everything is in order," Hodges told the news source. "After that, hopefully, I'm gonna get my chair and sit on my front porch."
Hodges' daughter told The Buffalo News that any money left over after they settle with the bank would be donated to help others in need.
When Janette Pritchett first moved to San Luis Obispo, California, she was going through a challenging time in her life. The former servicemember had recently separated from her husband and moved her family to the small Californian community.
"When I first got here it was really hard," Pritchett told The Tribune. "I was trying to do the most I could to not look at this as a bad situation."
The 32-year-old Army veteran went to the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program, which is sponsored by the Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County, according to the news source. The group helped to find work for Pritchett and an apartment for her family, but she still had no car to get around.
That was when Oregon-native Rick Elliott stepped in. After his wife passed away in May 2014 of cancer, Elliot has a difficult time deciding who should get the Mustang she always loved. A chance meeting and a few connections later, the Mustang, title and registration included, was given to Pritchett.
Elliot told The Tribune that it is what his wife would have wanted to happen, and that he was happy to help the veteran and her children.
Of the 16 million men and women who served during World War II, only about 900,000 are still alive today, according to The National WWII Museum. Most of the WWII veterans are well into their 90s and leading quiet lives. For many of them, the war is a distant memory. Some of them may have even forgotten large part of their time in combat. However, one young man in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, wanted to make sure these veterans knew their service would never be forgotten.
Divante Nicholson, an employee of the Cape Girardeau Burger King, left his station at the back of the restaurant to come out and shake hands with a veteran in line, according to KCTV 5 News.
"I just want to shake your hand and thank you for your service and for my freedom in our beautiful country," Nicholson told the veteran, as reported by the news source.
Nicholson thank the veteran, 94-year-old Kenneth Haas, because his father served in the military and he planned to enter the Air Force after completing high school. Another customer in the restaurant, Tina Readus, witnessed the event and published a post to Facebook thanking the young man for his standup behavior.
So far, the post has been shared over 1,200 times.
Over 10,000 military medics entered life after service in 2012, according to the Daily Journal, and that number has only risen. Many of those medics have the skills and training to work in first responder jobs. One Act of Congress hopes to make it easier for these veterans to pursue careers as emergency medical technicians.
The Veteran Emergency Medical Technician Support Act of 2015 will expedite the certification process and make it easier for veterans to get jobs as EMTs.
The Bureau of Labor Statistic's Occupational Outlook reported a 23 percent growth rate of emergency medical jobs between 2012 and 2022. That is about 55,000 new jobs available for veterans. The BLS hopes that some of these positions will be filled by veterans and help reduce combat veteran unemployment.
Some major components of the Act include waivers for veterans when it comes to state requirements, giving priority to states in need of first responders and an amendment to the Public Health Service Act which would make a certification fast track for veterans.
The Act was introduced in February and is still under examination and has yet to be voted on.
Popular crowdfunding site Razoo is known for being a big help when it comes to fundraising. The site recently announced that it would participate in a veterans inspired fundraising event. According to Stars and Stripes, the event will be called Day For The Brave and will raise money for more than 100 nonprofits that benefits veterans. The event will take place on Veterans Day.
"As a typical American, you often see it as a holiday and a day off school or a day off work and a day you can buy a mattress at a deep discount," Razoo CEO Tom Matthews told Stars and Stripes. "Ultimately, over time, it's become this national holiday where people forget what this day is all about."
Matthews' site normally receives 4.9 percent of the donations made, however, he has elected to forgo that fee for the veterans events, the news source reported. He and the company hope that they can become a permanent part of Day For The Brave.
Razoo and other crowdfunding sites have made it easier for more people to give to charities and nonprofits, so the organization hopes to get its biggest turnout this year.
At the 4th annual Stand Up for Stand Down event hosted by the Atlanta VA Medical Center, hundreds of homeless veterans received the things they needed most. According to WSB-TV 2, Pilot International Clubs and Georgia Cancer Specialists, both affiliated with Northside Hospital Cancer Institute, collected the care package items over the summer.
The community brought in things like deodorant, shampoo and toothbrushes. The items collected were then packaged, given to the VA and redistributed to the veterans at the event.
"I think it's an opportunity for them to know what services are out there for them to know that the community and the Atlanta VA cares about this problem and that we want to eradicate homelessness among veterans," April Edwards, clinical director for the Healthcare for Homeless Veterans Program, told WSB-TV 2.
In addition to toiletries, the homeless veterans were given medical treatment and haircuts on the Oct. 19 event. The veterans who received the services told the news source it was nice to be recognized and treated with respect. Many said they felt invisible, but it was good to know that people care about them.
The community hopes to repeat the event next year.
While many college students are taking big trips or going out with friends, Tyler Skluzacek of Saint Paul, Minnesota, used his time to create a smart watch app to help veterans who suffer from night terrors. Skluzacek, a senior at Macalester College, entered a computer coding contest with his team and ended up creating an app that helps veterans with PTSD get a better night's sleep.
Skluzacek got the idea for the technology when he saw how his father, an Army veteran, was struggling upon his return from service. The college student told People that his father would wake up with night terrors, and he wanted to find a way to help him sleep peacefully.
Skluzacek and his team came up with myBivy, an biometrics monitoring systems that tracks veterans' while they sleep.
"After a couple weeks of tracking the soldier we can find the exact symptoms of the onset of the panic attack and try to use the watch or use the Android phone to disrupt that or take them out of the deep sleep but keep them asleep," Skluzacek told USA Today.
According to People magazine, myBivy uses sound and vibration to partially wake the veterans when it senses an oncoming night terror. The news source reported that the app would be entered into clinical trials next Spring.