It has been 10 years since Hurricane Katrina tore through the Gulf Coast, destroying homes and uprooting lives. In the aftermath of the tragedy, the military and first responders worked tirelessly to rescue those trapped in the debris and help others clean up the wreckage. Master Sgt. Michael Maroney of the U.S. Air Force was one of these dedicated individuals. Maroney and his team executed the rescue of a then 3-year-old girl during a dangerous part of the storm.
After the successful rescue, Maroney was photographed receiving a thankful embrace from the little girl. Ever since then, Maroney has been attempting to reunite with the little girl in question. The Huffington Post reported that he decided to put social media to work for him by using the hashtag #FindKatrinaGirl. The Internet pulled together and recently put Maroney in touch with the now 13-year-old LeShay Brown.
"I can't wait to meet her to tell her how important she is," Maroney told People magazine.
Maroney saidBrown's embrace was a light in the dark time that was Katrina. Her embrace reminded him why he was there. Brown and her family currently live in San Antonio, Texas, but The Huffington Post wrote that the pair have plans to reunite sometime in September.
As military members prepare to leave combat for life after service, they are faced with the prospect of finding a civilian job. While this can be an intimidating process, military servicemembers are actually equipped with a variety of skills that give them the advantage in the career world. However, they must first understand networking and how to use it to their advantage. U.S. News & World Report stated that networking is the most important basis for job hunting, so AFBA has outlined some networking advice for veterans.
1. Define your personal and career goals
Before you begin your job search, you need to consider what you want for yourself and for your career. Do you want something temporary that will allow you the flexibility to move on whenever you want or are you looking to commit to a long-term career? How much work-life balance do you want? These are all important questions that will play a vital role in which job you choose to apply for. If you clearly define your goals, you may get much more satisfying results.
2. Identify your existing network
Your time in the military most likely earned you a number of important contacts. Compile this information along with any civilian career leaders you may know, and you have created the start of your network. Keep this information readily available during your job search, as one of the individuals in your network may be able to assist you or provide a reference.
3. Create a professional online presence
When your resume and cover letter are written, edited and polished, you should turn your attention to building a brand for yourself online. The easiest way to begin is to clean up all social media accounts. This means deleting unprofessional photos and posts and establishing high privacy settings. The next step is to consider creating a professional website that displays samples of your work and lists your contact information. In today's digital world, companies prefer candidates who have a strong online presence.
4. Expand your contacts
An important part of networking is adding diversity to your contact list. While military and government associations are useful, you will want to expand your network to include individuals from a variety of industries. You can do this by making connections to others in the circles of your existing contacts. You can also attend networking events in your area. These events are also great practice for interviews.
5. Utilize military resources
The military wants you to succeed in life after service. It offers a number of resources to help you with networking and career advice. These include mentor networks, job search assistance and career planning. Many of the resources can be found on the Department of Veterans Affairs website.
Preparing for a civilian career can be intimidating, especially for someone who is used to military life. However, if you utilize the skills you developed during service, you are already ahead of most other candidates. Additionally, you should keep in mind that networking is crucial to the job search. Use AFBA's advice to help make this step in the process easier and more effective.
For the fourth year in a row, the city of Lamar, Colorado, will host the Tri-State 9/11 Tribute. The three-day event is a celebration of veterans and first responders and a time to remember those who lost their lives in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. This year's tribute is scheduled to begin on Sept. 11 at 7:30 a.m. with a flag raising ceremony at the local library. Other activities during the event include a parade, presentations from veterans and much more.
According to 911families.org, live bands will play on Sept. 12 at 7:30 p.m. The next morning, the festivities will begin with a parade that will end at the fairgrounds. The Pueblo Chieftain reported that the previous year's parade lasted for an hour and was so large that the Colorado Department of Transportation asked the event leaders to move it from Main Street to the state highway. There, firefighters, veterans, active duty military personnel, police officers and other first responders are invited to enjoy a free barbecue. At 1:00 p.m., there will be a flag retiring ceremony before the 9/11 Memorial ceremony begins an hour later.
The events will conclude with a patriotic concert on the evening of Sept. 13.
At the end of a tough day, the best thing to do is leave the job behind and unwind. Taking at least a half-hour to decompress and release stress can help you reset for the next day. According to The Huffington Post, it can also prevent you from developing heart disease, improve your immunity and may help prevent depression. There are plenty of ways for military servicemembers and first responders to relax at the end of the day, and one of the most effective methods is listening to music. Below are 10 songs to help you shake off the stress of the day.
1. 'Sunday Morning' by Maroon 5
This soothing ballad will have you swaying as you kick back on the couch. No matter what day of the week it is, Maroon 5's 2004 hit makes it feel as relaxing as Sunday morning.
2. 'Wake Me Up' by Aloe Blacc
It does not matter if you prefer the acoustic version or the remix. This song's folksy feel will calm you down in no time.
3. 'Free Fallin'' by Tom Petty
Listening to Tom Petty is always a good decision, but cranking this song in your car during rush hour after a long day can be the perfect remedy for work-related stress. The easygoing beat and guitar strumming accompanied by Petty's cry that he's free will release you from whatever negative emotions have followed you from work.
4. 'Ho Hey' by The Lumineers
This tinny-sounding alt song has a calming effect almost as soon as the first lines are sung. The best part is that The Lumineers have made it so that it sounds fresh every time you listen. You can return to "Ho Hey" as often as you like without tiring of it.
5. 'Brown Eyed Girl' by Van Morrison
Van Morrison topped the charts with this tropical-sounding ditty back in 1967, but the song's effect has never changed. It is hard not to slip into a chilled-out mindset when you sing, "Sha la la la."
6. 'Island in the Sun' by Weezer
When the first kicks of the drum begin, you know you are about to drift away to Weezer's beachy hit. The relaxing tempo and lulling bass guitar will have you mentally sailing away to your own stress-free island in the sun.
7. 'Tiny Dancer' by Elton John
When John plays the piano, it is like a signal to the brain to shut up and listen. Turn on "Tiny Dancer" when you want to be whisked away by charming melodies and soothing piano riffs.
8. 'Knee Deep' by Zac Brown Band
This is another island escape song, but Zac Brown Band adds a little country charm. After a few moments listening to this song, you will conjure up calming images of floating worry-free on the ocean.
9. 'Let It Be' by The Beatles
For days when nothing seems to go your way, The Beatles are there for you with this unforgettable song. The almost spiritual-sounding organ and Paul McCartney's soulful voice will absolve you of your troubles. After all, if there is nothing you can do about a bad day, it is best just to let it be and move on.
10. 'Landslide' by Fleetwood Mac
Stevie Nicks' hauntingly beautiful voice is enough to steal your cares away, but the lyrics of "Landslide" speak to the most human parts of us. This song is perfect for self-reflection and meditation. The violins in the song will soothe you as the softly strumming guitar robs you of your worries.
While there are many activities great for relaxing after a tough day on the job, there is just something about kicking back with your favorite songs that takes away all your troubles. The songs above are just a few of the most relaxing songs available. The next time you have a stressful day, consider turning some of them on to see if they soothe you.
When veteran Rodger Howell returned from Vietnam after serving in the Army during the war, he became a police chief in Erin, Tennessee. Howell spent many years working to provide for his family. However, during those years, Howell was dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder from the things he experienced during his service. Not only did he experience mental difficulties, but his exposure to Agent Orange left him with many health problems. According to The Meadville Tribune, doctors gave him five weeks to live.
Nearly three years later, Howell is alive and well. He has found renewed faith in humanity and in himself, all because of a trip he decided to take. Not long after his diagnosis, Howell purchased a covered wagon and two horses. Since then, he has been traveling across the country in his old-fashioned vehicle.
Howell has been to Michigan, North Carolina and Florida with plans to visit Ohio and Niagara Falls.
"What you dream about, you have to do," Howell told the Salisbury Post.
His trip has inspired other veterans and non-servicemembers along the way to realize that life is what you make it.
7-Eleven is a corporation known for its support of veterans. In January, the company expanded its patriotism by launching the first ever corporation giveaway. The company invited veterans to apply to a contest called Operation: Take Command. The winner of the contest would be given his or her own franchise of 7-Eleven to manage without having to pay the franchise fee, which adds up to nearly $190,000. Over 1,200 veterans applied and went through an interview, leadership tests, Facebook video submissions and credit checks. Of those 1,200, the corporation narrowed it down to three finalists.
Out of the three highly qualified finalists, Navy veteran Mark Anthony Page of Gransbury, Texas, was declared the winner. Gransbury was awarded with the management of a 7-Eleven store in Burelson, Texas.
"Mark Anthony represents what we look for in a franchisee," Greg Franks, vice president of 7-Eleven Franchise Systems, told Military.com. "He's smart, hard-working and a servant leader. Mark Anthony also is one of many highly qualified, retired military veterans that are joining the 7-Eleven Franchisee ranks this year."
The 2015 Operation: Take Command contest was the first of its kind, and the corporation has plans to hold more in the future.
Upper Arlington, Ohio, native Pete Cline never served in the military, but he has served at the racetrack his whole life. Cline was involved with motorcycle racing for over 10 years before he started a nonprofit called VETMotorsports. The organization's goal is to empower veterans who were disabled in combat by giving them the opportunity to be involved in professional motorsports. Through VETMotorsports, former servicemembers have the opportunity to get behind the wheel in amateur car races or work in the pit crew at a professional race.
The Columbus Dispatch reported that Cline got the idea for his nonprofit while watching an episode of "Top Gear" that involved veterans. From then on, he wanted to include the former servicemembers in the high-adrenaline world of racing to help them feel useful and included again.
"[The experience] gives you a sense of purpose," Josh Henderson, an Army veteran from the area, told The Columbus Dispatch. "It gives you that team environment. And it's a lot more controlled than being in a combat zone."
To date, VETMotorsports has given over 100 veterans the chance to participate in races and events around the country. Cline also won $5,000 for the organization when he was given 2014's Direct Energy Volunteer Citizen of the Year Award for Columbus because of his efforts.
Many veterans experience post-traumatic stress disorder during life after service. While there are a number of treatments available, many of them are relatively new and sometimes ineffective. However, a neuropsychologist in North Carolina may have found the newest, most effective treatment yet. George Lindenfeld, based out of Asheville, is experimenting with treatments involving a Bio-Acoustical Utilization Device.
According to the product's website, the BAUD utilizes different frequencies to distract the brain from stress. Each frequency is meant to activate a binaural beat in your brain, which may alter your brain waves and eliminate PTSD.
"A triggering event has an effect on how memory is stored and restored, over and over and over again," Lindenfeld told Wavy.com. "But if we can disrupt the reconsolidation of that memory, then we can wipe out the emotional attachment to it."
Wavy.com describes the device as being roughly the size of a palm pilot with noise-cancelling headphones and four frequency settings. The BAUD currently retails for over $450, but Lindenfeld hopes that after more testings and proof of success the price will become more market friendly. Lindenfeld has seen improvement in most of his trials with veterans and hopes the BAUD will continue to help former servicemembers.
When he left the Army, John Emswiler searched for a way to continue giving back to the community. After becoming the police chief of Denison, Iowa, he met Ron Hernandez, the founder of Moving Veterans Forward. The nonprofit program works closely with the Omaha Veterans Affairs office, and Emswiler jumped at the opportunity to assist fellow veterans. While the VA helps find housing for veterans in the Nebraska/Iowa area, Emswiler and Moving Veterans Forward work together to help move the vets in and provide furnishings for their new homes.
According to the organization's website, Moving Veterans Forward relies entirely on supporter donations to complete its mission. Any household items donated go directly to veterans in need. Emswiler told KTIV 4 News that the most difficult items to acquire were dressers. Any money the group receives is applied to the cost of storage units used to hold donated items until they can be given to veterans and the transportation costs accumulated during the move-in processes.
To date, Emswiler and Moving Veterans Forward have assisted over 500 veterans with moving into and furnishing their new homes. One of these veterans was a former records clerk who Emswiler served with in Iraq.
The Military Aviation Preservation Society's Air Museum is a unique collection of historical war machines. The museum features displays from America's military past. Such displays include a vintage collection of Rosie the Riveter and a variety of B-17 and B-24 bombers. On Oct. 24, the MAPS museum will expand its offerings by adding an event called "Welcome Home Veterans." This two-hour ceremony will honor veterans who served between 1950 and 1975.
Because this year is the 40th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War and the 65th anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War, MAPS decided it was an opportune time to thank the servicemembers who fought in these conflicts.
"We want to bring together these veterans and honor their service to our country," Valerie Kinney, a chairperson for the event, told The Suburbanite. "Those who served during this time period were not given the appropriate recognition due to them as U.S. servicemen and servicewomen. We want them to know that the American people care. It is long overdue."
"Welcome Home Veterans" will begin at 1 p.m. with a parade from Jackson High School to the MAPS museum. At the event, there will be food, vendors and a ceremony for the veterans. Participants are encouraged to register by Sept. 25.