On Sept. 26, hundreds of volunteers from Roanoke, Virginia, came together to give back to a veteran in their community. According to WDBJ 7 News, 76-year-old Buster Mullens' house was in need of many repairs. The former servicemember once served the country and his community in the Marine Corps in 1957. Now, the community he lived in for 40 years found a way to give back to him.
Mullens told the news source that he found it difficult to upkeep his home after his kidney surgery. The volunteers worked on his house for the entire day and made repairs to the roof and did some painting.
"It's really nice that everybody comes together like this and just help out it's really a wonderful thing," Barbara, Mullens' daughter, told WDBJ 7 News.
Those who assisted with the work were part of a group called the Renovation Alliance. WSLS 10 News reported that the organization consists of over 400 volunteers from around the state who have done over $400,000 worth of repairs on local veterans homes. Those who participated told the news source that the experience was something they were grateful for and that they were thrilled at the opportunity to help their community.
Quilts of Valor is a nonprofit organization that gives handcrafted patriotic themed quilts to former servicemembers. The organization's mission is to welcome these veterans home with a gift of comfort.
The organization's website wrote, "QOV's are stitched with love, prayers and healing thoughts. Our troops who have been touched by war are awarded this tangible token of appreciation that unequivocally says, 'Thank you for your service, sacrifice and valor.'"
On Sept. 26, Quilts of Valor presented 92-year old Richard William Branch, Sr. with a quilt and an honor ceremony. Branch was stationed on the USS Honolulu in Hawaii during the attacks on Pearl Harbor. Branch survived the events and served in World War II with the Marines. During the ceremony, Branch was given a flag that flew over Pearl Harbor's USS Arizona and a picture of the USS Honolulu, as reported by The Times-Herald News.
Joining Branch at the Quilt of Valor ceremony were his family and members of Vallejo, California's Veterans of Foreign Wars Carl H. Kreh Post 1123. Though Branch is no longer able to speak, The Times-Herald News reported that his face communicated all the gratitude he felt.
The U.S. Department for Veterans Services reported that 1 in 10 veterans will experience post-traumatic stress disorder in their life. However, many veterans who are coping with PTSD find comfort in the company of a service dog. These animals are specifically trained to help their owners with their personal troubles. The Harahan Center in southeast Louisiana recently launched a program in which former servicemembers can train their own therapy dogs.
On Sept. 25, the center held the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new space where the training would occur. The program, led by two former servicemembers, is called "Companions for Life," and it gets other veterans involved with the training of their service dogs from an early stage. This creates a deeper bond between the animal and the veteran.
All of the animals involved in the program are rescues from the Jefferson Parish Animal Shelter, which makes the connect between owner and pet even stronger. Both are looking for a second chance.
The training classes will begin in October and will be held twice a week for 8 weeks. Each class has room for six veterans.
Most 8-year-olds ask for toys or games for their birthday presents. Adam Jay Perkins II of Brazil, Indiana, decided to ask for something different for his birthday. Perkins wanted to give back to the people who serve the country. According to local media affiliate FOX59, the second grader asked family and friends to donate to the Disabled American Veterans organization in place of buying him gifts.
Perkins' father is a veteran, so the boy knew right away he wanted to do something to help former servicemembers like his dad.
"My mom asked me if I wanted to do a charity and I said, 'Yes,'" Perkins told FOX59. "She said, 'Do you want to do Disabled American Veterans?' I said, 'Yes, my dad's a veteran.'"
Adam Jay Perkins, Sr., served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and is now a disabled veterans who utilizes the services of the local DAV. Perkins is hoping that more than his loved ones will donate to the organization dedicated to helping improve the quality of life for disabled veterans. He has asked that anyone who is able send a donation to the Indianapolis DAV with his name in the memo line.
The Mayo Clinic stated that post-traumatic stress disorder is caused by "a psychologically traumatic event, such as war, a natural disaster, or any situation that invokes feelings of helplessness or intense fear." Veterans and first responders both experience things in their daily lives that can lead to PTSD. It is important for friends, family members and colleagues of these heroes to be aware of the signs and symptoms of PTSD, so they are able to recognize it in their loved ones and seek the appropriate help.
1. Trouble sleeping or night terrors
Sleep is a time of vulnerability for the mind. The person experiencing PTSD may have trouble getting rest because flashbacks of the traumatic event can occur during sleep. Partners or roommates of those with PTSD should watch out for signs of frequent tossing and turning, sleep walking or talking and night sweats, as these can all be indications that your loved one is experiencing PTSD.
2. Social withdrawal
Veterans and first responders coping with PTSD may be less inclined to interact with friends and family than they were previously. They may neglect to return phone calls, refuse to participate in social activities and alienate themselves from relationships. If you noticed your loved one excluding himself or herself from social engagements he or she previously enjoyed, your loved one may be dealing with PTSD.
3. Unwarranted anger or aggression
PTSD can sometimes change the brain chemistry in a way that increases the temper and aggressive tendencies. If your loved one is coping with PTSD, he or she may lash out at you or others without reason. A tendency toward violence or an argumentative demeanor may suggest that your former servicemember or first responder is dealing with PTSD.
4. Feelings of hopelessness
While your loved one may not always communicate these feelings, they are relatively simple to spot. For example, if the veteran or first responder seems to give no thought to his or her future, seems to have little interest in the world around them and will not commit to anything ahead of time, they may be experiencing PTSD.
5. Physical and emotional numbness
If your loved one's smile no longer lights up a room and they seem unattached to their daily lives, he or she may be dealing with depression from PTSD. Another sign to look out for is a lack of motivation for physical activity or care of physical appearance.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs reported that 11 to 20 percent of veterans will experience PTSD and a similar percentage of first responders will also be faced with this mental disability. PTSD can lead to more serious issues like substance abuse, self harm and depression. However, PTSD is not unbeatable. With the proper treatment and support, veterans and first responders stand a good chance to overcome their trauma and return to their normal lives. Family members, friends and co-workers of these brave individuals must stay educated on PTSD. Remaining vigilant for signs of the mental disorder in their loved ones ensures they can get them help if they need it.
Alliant Healthcare Products, a company based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is a maker of medical supplies. According to Mlive.com Alliant sells its medical devices "primarily to Veterans Administration hospitals and Department of Defense military treatment facilities." The company is owned by veterans, and close to 25 percent of the employees are veterans.
The veteran-owned business will soon begin its five-year contract with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The pair are calling the deal the Patriot Promise.
"The key focus of the Patriot Promise is to make sure our war fighters get the best treatment possible whether it's with state-of-the-art diagnostic tools or the most advanced mental care for Post Traumatic Stress," Bob Taylor, Alliant's founder and chief executive officer, told Mlive.com
The DVA gave the company $10.9 million to complete a large order of high-tech endoscopes used in surgical procedures for veterans. These devices will be distributed to veterans hospitals across the Midwestern region of the U.S. The DVA has requested that the medical device maker have the first order complete by Oct. 1, and there are plans to extend the contract if both parties are satisfied with the end result.
According to The Washington Times, this is the biggest contract Alliant has won in its 13 years of business.
When veterans leave the military for life after service, many may experience a sense of confusion. They may be unsure what to do with themselves in civilian life, and many may still have the urge to serve their communities. New York governor Andrew Cuomo may have found a solution for these former servicemembers.
According to Fox News Latino, on Sept. 23, the governor announced a plan to launch a program where veterans help immigrants learn English in preparation for their citizenship exams.
"This initiative will provide a valuable opportunity for veterans to help immigrants, while also honing their own skills as they re-integrate into society," Steven Choi, executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition, told Fox News Latino.
Cuomo plans to team up with New York's Division of Veterans Affairs to recruit about 100 veterans to participate in the teaching program. The governor hopes the program will increase the success of immigrants in the civic portion of their citizenship tests while giving veterans a chance to interact with members of their community.
Veterans will help the immigrants through language drills, conversation practices and mock exams. Cuomo plans to launch the initiative as soon as he has enough veteran volunteers.
According to VeteransInc.org, 1 in 10 veterans will be disabled in combat. Some of these former servicemembers must adjust to life with a prosthetic limb. Fortunately, advancing technologies have improved the quality of these devices.
One such technology is the 3-D printer. The James A. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa, Florida, recently acquired one of these printers and has been using it to aid in veteran rehabilitation. Not only is the 3-D printer capable of making a more efficient and reliable prosthetic, it can also make items that make life for these disabled servicemembers a little more enjoyable.
One of the hospitals patients, Quan Taylor, lost the use of his legs in an accident while serving in the Navy. According to Bay News 9, the hospital's 3-D printer helped him with more than just physical recovery. It helped him reach a healthier mental state.
"[The printer] makes you want to create things," Taylor told Bay News 9. "It makes you want to use your mind. Often times being injured you shut down, and you don't want to use your mind. You want to ball up and curl up. This makes you want to explore different opportunities."
Taylor has used the 3-D printer to make a cell phone holder for his wheelchair and has plans to attempt an adaptive game controller for fellow veterans who have lost the use of their hands.
The University of Illinois recently opened what its campus newspaper is calling a "one-stop shop" for veterans resources. The campus is home to over 350 former servicemembers, and faculty wanted to offer more support for the veteran students, especially those who are disabled. The university opened the Center for Wounded Veterans in Higher Education and is having the first open house on Sept. 24.
"Our goal is to help student veterans with a disability to stay enrolled, perform academically well and to graduate and go into meaningful work," Nicholas Osborne, interim director for the center, told The Daily Illini.
To do this, the university opened the Center for Wounded Veterans in Higher Education and is having the first open house on Sept. 24. Campus veterans were invited to visit the center and explore the resources. One of those resources was a two-hour credit program that helps former servicemembers with the transition into civilian life.
Many veterans at the University of Illinois expressed their excitement at having additional resources to guide them. Garrett Anderson, a student and former servicemember, told The Daily Illini that entering life after service was overwhelming and he was appreciative of the university's added assistance in making his higher education easier.
The community of Bastrop, Louisiana, recently began fundraising for repairs on the Fort Hero Veterans Barracks. This building provides safe and comfortable living quarters for former servicemembers and their families as they work to get back on their feet. The 26,500-square-foot facility, which was funded by the Northeast Louisiana Veterans Association, was built in 2013, but officials say it could use some updates. The News Star reported that AT&T made a $5,000 donation to help the community with the repairs.
"Our nation's military men and women make sacrifices to protect our country and our freedoms," David Aubrey, Louisiana state director of external affairs for AT&T, told The News Star. "I'm proud of my company's support of this program and others."
Those in charge of the Fort Hero Veterans Barracks plan to use the donation to complete such repairs as an interior and exterior paint job and a new sign for the facility. While the telecommunications company's donation helped the organization reach its fundraising goal, they could still use volunteers to help them complete the labor.
To find out more about the Fort Hero Veterans Barracks and its mission, click here.