On May 24, car racing fans were treated to a special Memorial Day tribute at the Coca-Cola 600. The usual drivers' names on car windshields were replaced with the names of servicemembers killed in the line of duty. 

According to the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, all 43 drivers participated in the "600 Miles of Remembrance" tribute. Many of the family members of the fallen soldiers being honored were in attendance, in addition to more than 6,000 active members of the military. 

 "In a lot of ways, we get more attention than we should, so this is a great way to redirect some of that attention," NASCAR driver Sam Hornish Jr. told the Air Force Times.

The tribute launched "NASCAR: An American Salute," a summer series of events that will run through Independence Day. The seven-week platform seeks to express respect, reverence and gratitude to the soldiers who served our country and continue to defend it today.

In addition to the Memorial Day weekend activities, NASCAR reported that "An American Salute" will include a national letter-writing campaign to encourage fans to send messages thanking military members for their service, a "Troops Welcome Center" for veterans, active duty servicemembers and their families in the Midway at the Coke Zero 400, and opportunities for families of former and active members of the armed forces to attend each race in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. 

In conjunction with the platform, NASCAR partner Goodyear launched a charity auction featuring signed memorabilia, blimp rides and special race experiences that will run through July 6, Goodyear reported. The funds raised will go to Support our Troops to help U.S. military members and their families. 

Fans can follow the stories and events around "An American Salute" through the social media hashtag #NASCARSalutes. 

The activities will culminate on 4th of July weekend at the Coke Zero 400, held at the Daytona International Speedway. 

Military uniforms perform an honorable duty when they are in use, but once they are no longer needed, they are often discarded or packed away. However, those looking for an alternative option are in luck. A U.S. Marine mom is turning old uniforms into treasured mementos for loved ones. 

Elsa Zarate, an Army veteran, operates Bands 4 Courage, a company that creates bands and bracelets from military uniforms. According to her website, Zarate was inspired when her son was on his first deployment overseas with the Marines.

Zarate took pieces of her son's boot camp uniform and fashioned them into a band in order to symbolically keep him close while he was away, Today News reported. People soon started asking about the bracelet, and the idea for Bands 4 Courage was born.

"The more compliments I received the more I wanted to show my appreciation to our servicemembers and find a way to uphold the honor of their used Military uniforms instead of it being trashed or misused," Zarate said on her Etsy page.   

Zarate uses fabrics, buttons, patches and any other salvageable part of the uniform to make each of her final products unique. Each item is delivered with a card containing information about the person who owned the uniform that was used to make the band, and free bracelets are given to anyone who donates a uniform. 

Bands and bracelets can be ordered from the Bands 4 Courage website or the company's shop on Etsy. While there are many options online, customization is also available.

Giselle Wilz was recently promoted from colonel to the first-ever female brigadier general in the Army National Guard in a ceremony in Bismarck, North Dakota. She attributes the majority of her success to the love and support of her family.

A family of dedicated servicemembers 
Wilz became a captain of the National Guard in 1993. She followed in her father's footsteps, who was a colonel in the Guard for 38 years. He retired after being diagnosed with cancer. In 2008, he promoted Wilz to colonel and passed away soon after. He always told her that she would be the Guard's first female general.

"He just somehow knew. I think early on, I wasn't sure. I just loved the Guard and loved serving and wearing the uniform," she told the Grand Forks Herald. "It wasn't until probably the last 10 or 12 years that I really aspired to be a general."

Although she is thrilled to be promoted, she regrets that her father was not there to see the ceremony. Her new role marks the start of her 32nd year in the Guard, having enlisted in the 191st Military Police Company as a student in high school. Three years after her enlistment, she became a second lieutenant and has since held various roles within the Guard.

Wilz and her father are not the only family members who have dedicated their lives to military service. Her younger brother, Greg Wilz, is also a retired colonel who served for 29 years as a battalion commander and director of operations. The Grand Forks Herald noted that he was also appointed as North Dakota's director of the Homeland Security Division in 2006. Wilz's older brother, Gary Wilz, also retired as a Guard major.

"I can tell you the family is extremely proud of her accomplishments," Greg told the news source. "Her getting promoted is kind of a pinnacle to all she's done in her military career."

32 years of commitment and service
Wilz was a member of the 132nd Quartermaster Company during the Gulf War from 1990 to 1991 as one of the two water operations officers. She decided to volunteer for the tour at only 23 years old after graduating from Officer Candidate School. Maj. Gen. Alexander P. Macdonald, the adjutant general of North Dakota at the time, had encouraged her to participate in the tour. 

Greg mentioned that MacDonald recently reached out to the Wilz family out of respect and gratitude for everything they have done for the country.  

According to NewsOK, after her promotion, Wilz will embark on a one-year tour to Bosnia where she will focus on defense reform in collaboration with local officials. She will also be responsible for commanding the NATO forces operating in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

Wilz explained that she is excited to serve as an example for all of the women servicemembers in the National Guard. 

It is common for military veterans to begin or continue their education upon entering life after military service. With this in mind, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has announced its plans for two new programs that will support military veterans and active duty members who want to enroll.

University starts new position to help veteran enrollees
According to WNCN, the two programs were announced on May 20 during a special presentation. Both programs, the Student Assistance Program and the UNC Core program, have already received a great deal of attention and support from staff, students and local military families.

The Office of the Dean of Students will be introducing a new position, the Student Veteran Assistance Coordinator, as a part of the Student Veteran Assistance Program. The full-time position will be filled this summer. The new employee will work closely with staff in the Office of the Dean of Students as well as higher education professionals throughout the local community and the state to assist veterans in the enrollment process and all additional tasks involved in becoming a student. The underlying goal is to reduce the stress that is often associated with navigating higher education and ensure a positive experience.

Active duty servicemembers receive support with online education 
The second program, the UNC Core, focuses on helping active duty members trying to complete their education online during deployment. There are many soldiers partaking in these online distance courses, but until now there has not been a service dedicated to guiding them through the process when help is needed. 

WKRG.com noted that the program assists servicemembers with any questions they have regarding their general courses and allows them to apply for follow-on undergraduate degree programs after completing their undergraduate program.  

Emergency medical responders are being honored across the country this week as part of EMS Week 2015.

According to the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, President Gerald Ford authorized the first EMS Week in 1973. At that time, EMS practitioners were only just starting to be recognized as an important part of public safety and emergency medicine. Today there are more than 800,000 EMS personnel working in the U.S., the NAEMT reported. 

From May 17 to 23, communities are recognizing these men and women who tirelessly provide aid in medical emergencies.

New this year is a partnership between the NAEMT and the American College of Emergency Physicians. The groups combined to create a promotional campaign for this year's EMS Week called EMS Strong to further recognize and celebrate the contributions of emergency medical technicians. 

According to the ACEP, the EMS Strong campaign aims to make EMS Week a daily reality, increasing the visibility of emergency responders in communities and among other health professions.

The campaign website described "EMS strong" as when a responder can break away from the mythical hero expectations of the public, acknowledge that on some days his or her best may not be enough and continue moving forward to the best of his or her ability. It is the strength to remain composed when everything else is in chaos, and the empowerment to run in when others run out. 

EMS Week does not recognize superhumans. It recognizes normal people who rise to extraordinary challenges every day when duty calls.  

First responders handle emergency situations nearly every day on the job. These high-stress events can make it difficult for servicemembers to remain calm and take care of the problem efficiently and in a timely manner. The ability to assess the situation and come up with the best course of action in a life-threatening circumstance is a skill that takes a great deal of training and is crucial to protecting the community. 

It is a good idea to keep your training in the back of your mind at all times to ensure that you know what to do in emergency situations. Here are a few tips to remember while on the job so that you can keep yourself and emergency victims safe. 

Never be afraid to ask for help
First responders should never hesitate to request backup if they cannot handle the situation on their own. Servicemembers who are new to the job should not be afraid to ask for assistance if something comes up that they do not know how to handle.

Even experienced first responders are bound to run into a situation that they have yet to encounter. Calling for backup will increase the chances that the citizens involved in the emergency will end up safe and a solution will be found. 

Stay calm while helping children
Most first responders have experienced an emergency situation in which they have to assist young children. Although it is always essential to stay calm and focused during your daily encounters, when they involve young victims, this is particularly important. Children will follow your lead – if you are panicking, they will follow suit.

Displaying confidence, even if it may be lacking, will help children feel that their safety is ensured. Being patient, speaking in a friendly voice and allowing them more time to process and respond to what you are saying will also increase the likelihood that the situation will work out smoothly. 

Know how to help those with mental disabilities
According to the Indiana Protection and Advocacy Services, assisting someone with mental disabilities requires different procedures compared to helping healthy individuals. When aiding those with mental disabilities, clear and simple communication is key. Allow them plenty of space so that they do not feel overwhelmed or cornered, especially if they are already flustered as a result of an injury or traumatic experience.

Finding a quiet space away from the commotion and groups of people will allow mentally disabled citizens to relax and process what you are trying to tell them. Ask them or any caregivers that may be present if they are taking any medications. If so, remember to take the medicine with you as you leave the site. 

Be prepared for assisting people with physical disabilities 
Physical impairments, such as blindness or deafness, also demand certain strategies when handling an emergency situation. For example, when assisting those who are deaf, switching the lights on and off if possible to get their attention will ensure that you do not alarm them. Maintaining steady eye contact and using clear hand gestures will significantly enhance your ability to communicate. While helping those experiencing visual impairments, announce your presence and offer assistance before you try to guide them to safety.

Before helping people with mobility issues, ask them what the best way to assist them is, whether you are lifting them into a wheelchair or need to carry them out of the building. They may have special techniques that can get the job done faster, which is particularly important if there is a fire or they require immediate medical assistance. Try not to interfere with their movements until they give you their permission, unless the nature of the emergency demands immediate action. 

Six bills passed by Congress aim to provide solutions to some of the problems that veterans face in everyday life. The successful votes bring the bills one step closer to becoming laws. 

According to the minutes from the floor proceedings, on May 18 the House voted to approve the Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Programs Reauthorization Act, the Ensuring VA Employee Accountability Act, the Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business Relief Act, the Boosting Rates of American Veteran Employment Act, the Veteran's I.D. Card Act and the Vulnerable Veterans Housing Reform Act.

The bills aim to help veterans and keep the Department of Veterans Affairs accountable.

For example, the Ensuring VA Employee Accountability Act would require the VA to keep a copy of any employee reprimand or admonishment on file, according to the Library of Congress. This would allow the VA to keep better track of each employee's work history, providing greater accountability.

To combat a problem that many veterans face, the Veteran's I.D. Card Act could help protect former servicemembers from identity theft, The Associated Press reported. Under current laws, many veterans must carry around official documentation in order to prove military service. Because some of these documents contain sensitive information, such as the veteran's Social Security number, it can make the vet vulnerable to identity theft. 

Homelessness is a problem that affects far too many veterans. The Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Programs Reauthorization Act extends reintegration programs available to veterans through the year 2020, according to the Library of Congress website.

The Senate will vote on the bills next. 

Pets often have a major impact on how successfully military veterans heal after physical or mental injuries while serving. However, many retired military servicemembers do not get to keep their beloved four-legged friends due to financial reasons upon returning from deployment. Two military vets, Marine Sgt. Dan Spangler and Army Ranger veteran Joe Trainor, have set out to change this.

Pets give military vets unconditional support after injuries
Spangler and his dog Spanky, along with Trainor and his furry companion C.T., recently started a 6,000-mile trek across the country. According to Fox8, the pair was last seen in Cleveland, Ohio. As a Cleveland native, Spangler is hoping that their journey will resonate with his friends, family and residents in the area. 

The two veterans are out to support military families struggling to keep their pets through a program called Operation Keep Your Spanky. Spangler started the nonprofit organization after returning home from deployment in Iraq in 2003.

He was severely injured after jumping from his truck during gunfire and was sent back to the U.S. for medical treatment. During the painful months of recovery, Spangler adopted his dog Spanky from an animal shelter. They quickly became best friends as Spanky stood by his side while he recovered.

"I don't know where I would be without the companionship that my dog, Spanky, gave me when I came home from Iraq," Spangler explained to Fox8. "I want all veterans to have a Spanky, but it's a sad fact that military veterans often experience financial difficulties where they face the heartbreaking choice of giving up their pets."

Trainor also experienced a traumatic injury while serving in Afghanistan. He was impacted by brain damage which has caused him to go partially blind. Trainor told the news source that he was severely depressed before he met his loyal companion C.T. He feels strongly that his dog saved his life. 

Vets aim to ease financial strains for military families and pets
Spangler and Trainor are hoping that their journey across the U.S. will raise awareness of the positive impact that dogs can have on injured vets and how many are unable to keep theirs because of factors like having to buy food regularly. The vets are aiming to raise money for these families to cover a lot of expensive necessities that come with having a pet.

According to NewsNet5, Spangler is currently focusing specifically on providing food and affordable veterinary care for retired servicemembers and their families. Those who want to donate can contribute a set amount or make per-mile pledges as low as 1 cent. 

"It's going on journeys like this that will do nothing but raise awareness to save more lives in the end," Spangler told NewsNet5. "It all goes back to that sacrifice that we all signed up for in the military to begin with. You know, selfless service. Our duty, our honor, and all we're looking for is the American public to simply look at it and say that this isn't something we're out trying to say it will help veterans, it has," said Trainor.

Trainor and Spangler do not plan on using any of the money they make to help them buy food or shelter along their journey, pledging to give every cent they make to benefit the military families and their pets. Kurgo, a company that provides pet accessories, has already donated harnesses, seat covers and other useful products to Spangler's program. 

The Department of Veterans Affairs wants to hear the nation's best ideas for how to use technology to improve quality of life for veterans with disabilities. 

The VA's new Innovation Creation Series for Prosthetics and Assistive Technologies is a two-month campaign that seeks to gather ideas for innovative ways to solve problems that disabled veterans face every day.  

 "We're reaching out to technology leaders in the corporate world and to the public in order to find creative new solutions to help transform care and quality of life not only for our veterans, but for the public at large," VA Secretary Robert A. McDonald said. "The innovations that come out of this challenge will benefit the veterans we care for and will be open source to help advance American medicine."

The series launched on May 15 in Palo Alto, California. According to Stanford University, guest speakers at the launch included Beijing Paralympics gold-medalist Oscar Sanchez, director of the Center for Women Veterans Elisa Basnight, and White House Maker-In-Residence Stephanie Santoso. 

According to the VA, the organization is calling for innovators to submit ideas to address the following five challenges: 

1. Develop a device that can be put on the end of an upper or lower extremity prosthetic for use in daily life.
2. Create a pillbox with a built-in reminder system that can be used for pills that need to be taken up to eight times a day.
3. Design technology that would change the speed and grip strength of an upper extremity prosthetic. 
4. Develop a video game controller that would provide alternative access for veterans who are using them in therapy. 
5. Create an apparatus to dampen tremors during the performance of tasks that require fine motor skills. 

Solutions to these challenges would give disabled veterans greater autonomy and reduce some of the stress they deal with every day. They could also provide aid to members of the general public who face the same struggles. 

The launch was the beginning of a tour that will cross the country en route to Washington, D.C., where the National Maker Faire takes place on June 12 and 13. The series will then conclude with final judging on July 29 at the Richmond VA Medical Center.

  

Despite the success of recent box-office hits like "Lone Survivor" and "American Sniper," many former and current members of the armed forces find that Hollywood films often rely on stereotypes and dramatic action that give a very limited picture of military life. The GI Film Festival seeks to combat that problem by featuring a large collection of films that testify to the diverse experiences of the American soldier. 

Film festival for soldiers
The 9th annual GI Film Festival began on Monday, May 18, in the D.C. Metro Area. The week-long festival features film viewings, panels and various other events for attendees, according to the GIFF website. While the festival officially began on Monday and will feature events throughout the week, most of the action is scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The GIFF is the first festival in the nation to exclusively use film to share the military experience. With films of varying lengths examining a medley of topics both in and out of war, the GIFF provides a more complete picture of the experiences of servicemembers than what may be seen in more traditional Hollywood-style films. The hope is not only to provide films that past and current military members can relate to, but to better educate the public. 

 "… in a nation where less and less people actually serve in the military, most people don't know what it means to serve," GIFF co-founder Laura Law-Millett told the Washington Post. "By educating the public, it's going to help veterans who are transitioning and returning home and looking for employment. Maybe the person interviewing them or hiring them will have a better understanding of what that veteran has been through. It's really just to bridge that divide between people who have served and people who haven't served." 

A full agenda
This year's festival will include more than 60 films, according to Military Times, and will address everything from historical battles to life after service. Attendees will be able to view projects like "The Haircut," a short film on one of the first women to attend West Point, "Craft in America," a documentary that looks at the healing role of crafts in the military, and the North American premiere of "Kajaki," a film that portrays the true story of the bravery of young British soldiers on Kajaki Dam.