Veterans have to overcome many struggles when they begin their life after service. Some potential issues they face include homelessness, financial instability and emotional distress. Their experiences in dealing with these matters make them excellent candidates to help at-risk youth, many of whom go through the same difficulties in their own lives. Recognizing these similarities, the city of New Haven, Connecticut, in partnership with the local Veterans Affairs office, launched a new program called Veterans Empowering Teens through Support.

VETTS was designed to pair gang-affiliated or at-risk youth with veterans who may be able to help set them on the right path. The program matches troubled children and teens with a veteran who will spend at least 10 hours a week doing recreational activities, working on homework or learning positive behaviors. VETTS works on two levels: it helps veterans reconnect with their communities and it gives the youth participants connections to positive role models. 

"This work is not for all veterans. It's definitely a higher calling because the kids we work with are tough. But I need veterans – people who are dedicated, motivated and up to the challenge of making a difference," the program's coordinator, Frank Galley, told WTNH News.

The town of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, is known for its patriotism. Every year, the Patriot Festival is held there. However, Pigeon Forge recently took its patriotism to a new level. The little Tennessee getaway with just over 6,000 residents will be celebrating veterans and, for the first time, first responders in various ways for the entire month of August. The town is calling its month-long celebration and display of gratitude Celebrate Freedom. To kick things off, local businesses are offering discounts to veterans, active military personnel, firefighters, emergency responders and police officers.

The activities during the month include a Welcome Home parade, an exhibit featuring a replica of the Vietnam War Memorial, artillery demonstrations and various military performances. Musical guests include The Alabama Boys, Unreconstructed, Marty Raybon and T. Graham Brown. Active and former military personnel and first responders from around the country are invited to the Celebrate Freedom events. Admission is free for servicemembers and first responders. Interested parties can get tickets by calling 800-309-0816. Some of the money from ticket sales will benefit the Sevier County Fire Chiefs Association.

Click here for a complete schedule of events.

Minnesota-native John Enstrom never served in the military, but he appreciates the sacrifices made by veterans. Because his father fought in World War II, military pride was instilled in Enstrom at a very young age. He also grew up in the Vietnam-era, and while he was lucky enough to avoid the draft, many of his friends were not. Many of those same friends never returned home. To honor the Minnesotans that died in the Vietnam War and subsequent wars, Enstrom developed a memorial and a lake on his own property where veterans could come and relax. Veteran's Lake, as Enstrom named the area, was designed to provide veterans with an escape from the traumas and stresses they may experience during life after service.

Enstrom invested thousands of dollars of his own money to develop Veteran's Lake, but to him, it was worth every penny. He made the entire area handicap accessible and hopes that veterans from all across the state will come and enjoy his gift to them. Veteran's Lake will play host to many veterans' events. The most recent will be a fishing tournament scheduled to take place on Aug. 5. Enstrom and his sponsors will provide participants with a meal and fishing equipment at no charge. 

Military dogs are trained with the skills to save lives and help prevent disaster. They form a deep, sometimes life-long bond with the military personnel who train them. On July 27, these highly skilled dogs and their owners got to show off their abilities at a 5-day competition at Bellows Air Force Station in Waimanalo, Hawaii. The Working Dog Challenge gives military service animals the chance to compete in events like drug sniffing, explosives detection, hardest-hitting dog, obedience and endurance.

Capt. Troy Cline, one of the officers in command of the event, told KITV News, "This competition is designed to get all military working dogs together so they can learn each other's tactics and techniques, because military working dogs are one of the few pieces of Army equipment that has a mind of its own." 

Military dogs go through extensive training, not unlike their handlers. They are taught to leap from helicopters, sniff out contraband cell phones in military prisons, and remain focused on the task at hand when there is a lot of surrounding chaos. Many military lives depend on the skill and reliability of these canine heroes, and the Working Dog Challenge is an excellent display of these elite animals' abilities. 

All summer, the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs has hosted several events called the Innovation Creation Series. The program was meant to encourage innovators to develop new technologies which may help improve the quality of life for veterans. The conference has four main goals: to improve the quality of life and care for veterans, to create an open space for shared technology and designs, to encourage the rapid development of prototypes, and to spread awareness for veterans' assistive technologies. The series reached a pinnacle at the Make-a-thon competition. On July 28th and 29th, inventors and engineers from around the country gathered at the VA Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia, for a 2-day competition. 

Participants listened to speakers discuss the areas of opportunity for improving veterans' quality of life before breaking off and getting to work. Each innovator pitched an idea and was subsequently placed on a team based on his or her idea. From there, the teams got to work creating an idea that encompassed their pitches. The VA Hospital provided the materials and technical guidance needed for the teams to build a prototype of their designs. Late in the afternoon on the 29th, each team demonstrated their prototypes to the judges. Some of the ideas pitched included a pill and insulin module complete with an alert system and a variety of advanced prosthetics. The winner of the contest will receive $20,000 and their creation will be entered into the NIH 3D systems catalogue, where people all across the world can access it.

The veterans who attended the event were grateful that so many people wanted to help them out.

Eric Young, a former Marine who lost his arm in combat, told WRIC News, "For me, I don't think that there's a better thank you you could give me." 

Michigan resident Rick Briggs is no stranger to serving his community. His spirit of volunteerism was something he passed onto his son, who served the military in Iraq. When Briggs' son returned from service, he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. This lead Briggs to his next philanthropic venture. He and his partners built a campsite in Brooklyn, Michigan, where veterans could come and heal from their time in combat. Briggs is calling the 137-acre retreat Camp Liberty. 

The camp has hunting blinds, a chapel, plenty of wildlife and greenery and houses in which veterans and their families can stay. Camp-goers will soon be able to take part in rehabilitation workshops and support group sessions. Briggs hopes that the informal environment will encourage veterans to open up and discuss their experiences.

"If they're out here in blue jeans and boots, and they can come sit in a [hunting] blind, they can get that vet to open up more and to talk about it," Briggs told Michigan Live.

Most of Camp Liberty, including the hunting blinds, is handicap accessible. Briggs wants to invite trauma counselors and physical therapy experts to lead rehabilitation workshops. He hopes his camp will become a safe haven for veterans across the country.

Military service members sacrifice a great amount to serve their country, but many struggle to find jobs when they return. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 5.4 percent of veterans are currently unemployed. However, veterans have the potential to be some of the most skilled members of the workforce. Their experiences in combat have made them responsible, organized and adaptable. Veterans are natural leaders and often have specialized skills they learned during service.

An organization called 100,000 Jobs is dedicated to spreading the word about veterans' skills. Its primary mission, however, is securing jobs for the 5.4 percent and the other 200,000 service members transitioning to life after service every year. Founded in 2011, 100,000 Jobs began with the goal of finding jobs for 100,000 veterans by 2020. It started out with a partnership of 11 companies. Just four years into its mission, the organization has found employment for 250,000 veterans, and its network has increased to 190 companies. 100,000 Jobs has expanded its ambition and hopes to get another 50,000 veterans secure employment. 

To learn more about the companies 100,000 Jobs partners with or how to make your business a part of the coalition, visit the website today. 

Art is commonly recognized as a helpful form of therapy. Many veterans are encouraged to take up music or painting to help them through the emotional difficulties of transitioning from combat to life after service. For Tucson resident Engel Indo, music helped him work through his personal combat experiences. However, Indo decided to use his art to help other veterans. He recently published a book titled "Thoughts and Poetry for the Soul and out of Boredom." This work includes poetry in both English and Spanish that deals with hope, love and hate.

Indo will host a release party for his book on Tuesday, July 28. All proceeds from the party will go to a foundation called Pay It Forward Tucson, which helps local low-income families and veterans. Growing up in one of the poorest parts of Peru made the artist sensitive to the struggle of those around him. He told Tucson Weekly that he is always looking for ways to help fellow veterans and those in need. Before Indo turned to veterans' advocacy, he established From La Perla to the Stars, a program that teaches music to poverty-stricken children from his old Peruvian neighborhood.

Indo's release party will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Galeria Cuadro Arte Latino Internacional in Tucson. His book is available for purchase on Amazon. 

After deployment, most service members are eager to return home to their families and friends. However, for some, it can be a daunting prospect. Some veterans are intimidated by life after service because it is unfamiliar. There are steps newly returned service members can follow to make the transition from combat to civilian life go smoothly. 

1. Prepare for change
Civilian life is going to be monumentally different than life in combat. Free time will become more abundant and things will be much less structured than you are used to. You should also realize that your friends and family may not recognize what kind of struggles you are dealing with. Mentally prepare yourself for these changes before you arrive home so you do not get frustrated with your new lifestyle. 

2. Establish your comfort zone
Patience is key for any former service member attempting to transition to civilian life. You should figure out what you are comfortable discussing with friends and family and what you would rather keep to yourself. Do not feel obligated to share stories from combat if you do not want to or engage in social situations where you are uncomfortable. Find a group of friends who make you feel at home and set clear boundaries about what you are comfortable discussing with your family. Communication will help you avoid awkward scenarios.

3. Find a hobby
As previously stated, you will likely have amounts of free time you are unaccustomed to. While this may seem like a good thing, it can quickly lead to boredom and anxiety. Experiment with different hobbies until you find something relaxing and enjoyable. Group hobbies are an advantageous way to reach out to others in a safe, unassuming environment. Additionally, choosing an athletic hobby will also help you keep the fitness level you maintained during combat.

4. Surround yourself with support
There are thousands of veterans' support groups and organizations geared toward helping service members transition to civilian life. A simple Internet search will bring up a variety of different ones for you to choose from. Not only that, but your family and friends are most likely eager to help you feel at home again. Do not be ashamed to accept their help and support. To see a list of veterans' support groups, click here.

5. Utilize your resources
The government, the military and many nonprofit organizations offer transitional programs. Many of these can help you with financial planning, career advice and mental health support. Use these resources to make the most of your life after service. They were put in place to assist you, and there is no shame in taking advantage of the help that is offered. Click here to look at the Transition Assistance Program, which was designed to help veterans with financial, career and health issues they may experience during their transition.

Your return to civilian life should not be cause for stress. By adequately preparing yourself and using the help provided, you can make the transition without much difficulty. 

It has long been a tradition of war for soldiers to take home souvenirs from the battlefield. These items symbolize their personal strength and survival. A popular souvenir was the enemy flag, but these were often hard to capture. World War II was the first opportunity many American soldiers had to bring home a flag from the opposing army. As part of tradition, every Japanese soldier carried a hinomaru yosegaki, a silk Japanese flag signed by family and friends that was meant to bring the soldier good luck. Some soldiers even carried multiple flags with them. This meant that there were more flags available for capture during the war than in previous wars.

When the war ended about 70 years ago, thousands of hinomaru yosegaki made their way back to the U.S. in the hands of American soldiers. Now, a nonprofit organization called OBON 2015 is working to return those flags to their rightful owners and their families. For the past several years, the organization has been collecting hinomaru yosegaki from veterans around the U.S. This week, seven WWII veterans will fly to Japan to deliver those flags back to the country. In a gesture of peace and goodwill, the veterans will present the hinomaru yosegaki to Japanese dignitaries.