Elysburg is a quiet town nestled just east of central Pennsylvania. The community is best known for hosting a Labor Day Weekend celebration called All Home Days that honors the service of local military members. The event features a parade, a car show, sumo wrestling and live performances. However, this year's celebration will feature a patriotic new addition.
Teenagers from the Shamokin's juvenile delinquent program paired up with local veterans to create a display called The Field of Honor. The boys, all low-level offenders, participated in the project as part of their community service commitment. In partnership with the local veterans, they planted 5,000 flags in Ralpho Township Community Park. Each of the flags is meant to represent the nearly 90,000 veterans from the surrounding areas.
The boys' supervisor, Timothy Vincent, told WNEP News that the young men were happy to help out with the project.
"It gives them a new-found respect for not only veterans, but it gives them respect for other adults that they normally are coming down at," Vincent said.
The Fields of Honor will be a featured attraction at the town's All Home Days celebration.
Women have served the country as long as men. They may not have always had the option to take up arms, but since the American Revolution women have been crucial to military success. Now, the women who have served in the military are getting new recognition with a monument in the Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Spanish Fort, Alabama. The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, a nonprofit organization for women with direct lineage to those who fought for American independence, organized the fundraising and development for the new monument.
The Daughters of the American Revolution raised and donated nearly $2,000 for the project in addition to a grant from a Mobile chapter of the organization. The monument will be dedicated to every woman who has ever served the country. It will be built in Texas and take almost eight weeks to complete before it is shipped to Alabama. The Daughters of the American Revolution have yet to release the design of the monument or when the dedication ceremony will take place. They have announced that the site will be called the Women's Veterans Memorial.
When Oregon Boy Scout Bryce Nurding began planning his service project, he had no idea how successful it would be. Nurding started Bike for America, in which he, two fellow scouts and a local Vietnam veteran would ride their bicycles from the Peter Iredale shipwreck in Hammond, Oregon, to the Hudson River in New York City. Along the way, the group would collect money and raise awareness for Operation Comfort Warriors, a nonprofit organization that provides wounded or ill veterans with comfort supplies that the government may not supply.
Nurding and his team set an initial goal to raise $10,000 on the journey, a 3,521-mile stretch that included multiple days riding in triple-digit heat. By the time they reached NYC on Aug. 15, the group had more than doubled their goal. Nurding and the others were invited to a local American Legion post where they were thanked for their service to the country's veterans and honored by some of the highest officials in the AL.
Nurding told the American Legion that before his trip he did not know anything about the organization or all the work it did for veterans. Along the way, though, the AL was one of his greatest assets. He stated that he would not have been able to do the journey without their help along the way.
Children of active duty servicemembers and veterans experience difficulties that their peers may not have to deal with. They go through long periods without one of their parents, and this can sometimes mean they have to assume more responsibility than other children their age. AFBA has compiled a list of camps for military children where they can relax and be with other kids who understand what they are going through.
1. American Wanderer Summer Camp
Children of active duty personnel and veterans who are between the ages of 11 to 17 have a chance to camp out and explore the national parks in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. For two weeks, campers are able to enjoy the wilderness and bond with children of other military personnel.
2. Camp Corral
Founded in 2011, Camp Corral has served over 6,500 children of active and former military servicemembers. Kids aged 8 to 15 have the opportunity to spend a week engaged in outdoor activities like canoeing, hiking, fishing and horseback riding. The camp also offers counseling sessions and group therapy.
3. Military Teen Adventure Camps
These camps, which take place in a variety of locations across the nation, are designed for older children of military personnel. Military teens ages 14-18 can bond and participate in archery, rock climbing, backpacking and whitewater rafting.
4. Operation Purple Camp
This camp is specifically for children who have a military parent who is about to be or is currently deployed. Operation Purple Camp is designed to help children cope with the pressures and stresses of dealing with a parent's deployment in a safe, fun environment.
5. Air Force Space Camp
For 12- to 18-year-olds with an active duty military parent, the Air Force Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, is a great distraction during deployment. Campers will get the chance to participate in things like simulated Space Shuttle missions, rocket building and launches, training simulators, scientific experiments and discussions on the past, present and future of space exploration.
6. Camp C.O.P.E.
Offering therapy sessions and alternative coping methods, Camp C.O.P.E. was created to help children of active duty servicemembers, veterans and fallen military personnel find healthy outlets for their emotions. This weekend-long camp is free for military children.
7. HomeFront Equestrians, Inc.
This camp is for military children and their families. It allows them to relax and enjoy themselves while engaging in horseback riding and equestrian bonding. The camp also offers leadership courses and horsemanship classes.
8. Sisters Under Sail
Girls aged 13-18 who are members of the Daughters of U.S. Military and Canadian Forces can participate in this camp. Daughters of military personnel will learn leadership, bonding and coping as they learn to sail on the Great Lakes.
9. The First Tee
This program was created to teach teens the value of hard work and how to make healthy life choices. There is a specific camp for children of active duty military personnel and veterans where they learn to release their stress through the game of golf.
10. Camp Trotter
Located 7 miles east of Newaygo, Michigan, Camp Trotter is the VFW's program to assist children of military veterans. The calming environment along the shores of Lake Michigan is the perfect place for children to learn about things like post-traumatic stress disorder and how to deal with changes in their parents. Campers are also given the chance to be carefree while boating, swimming and hiking.
Being children of active duty military personnel or veterans can be difficult. Situations like deployment and issues like post-traumatic stress disorder can put a strain on military children. The camps above give these kids a chance to let loose and bond with other children in similar situations. For more camp options, check with your local base or VFW.
For many veterans, the most daunting aspect of life after service is the unknown. Where will they work? Will anyone understand what they have been through? What many veterans do not realize is that their military service equipped them with the skills to be highly successful in almost any industry. Boots to Business, an entrepreneurial education and training program, wants to help former servicemembers recognize those skills and apply them to civilian life. It is part of the U.S. Small Business Administration and Department of Defense's Transition Assistance Program.
Boots to Business programs are available in 165 military installations across the country and offer programs like Introduction to Entrepreneurship and the Foundations of Entrepreneurship. It has educated veterans with ideas ranging from running their own organic farm to opening a nano-brewery to growing medicinal marijuana in Colorado. The program is designed to make veterans feel comfortable applying the skills they learned during their service to civilian jobs and teaching them to market those skills.To date, Boots to Business has educated roughly 25,000 troops and helped strengthen the American workforce, which includes 2.5 million veteran-run businesses.
Veterans have made many sacrifices in their service to the country. They have put their lives on the line, and some carry physical and emotional reminders of their time in service. One county in Texas has launched a program to help make life after service a little easier for these brave former servicemembers. In January, Nueces County, known for having a large military population, began issuing "Thank a Vet" program cards to former servicemembers.
"There is no way we can ever fully thank veterans enough for the sacrifices they have endured, but this program is a nod from the community to show that we appreciate and want to honor them," Nueces County Clerk Kara Sands said in a news release.
The cards give veterans special benefits at local businesses and attractions. To date, 42 businesses have joined program. Among these are Schlitterbahn, Brewster Street Ice House, Candlewood Suites and several other businesses. With the "Thank a Vet" program card, former servicemembers can receive free or discounted items at participating businesses. The Nueces County program is based off the Galveston County program, which has been highly successful since its introduction.
The Nueces County program leaders hope the program continues to grow and more veterans will join.
For the fifth year in a row, World Sport Chicago will host the Valor Games Midwest. This event is an adaptive sports competition for active duty military personnel and veterans who were disabled in their service. The competition is for veterans and active duty personnel who have had a limb amputated, are coping with post-traumatic stress disorder, have sustained brain injuries or experience visual and hearing disabilities. The participants compete in events like shot put, cycling, archery and indoor rowing.
The three-day event will take place Aug. 18-20 at Soldier Field, Armour Square Park and Marquette Park. At the opening ceremonies in Soldier Field, World Sport Chicago will display thousands of messages they are calling the Wall of Thanks. Gathered from various social media accounts, the wall will convey messages of gratitude and support from people around the country. The games are a chance for the men and women who have served and are serving the country to remain physically active and reintegrate into society.
"Sometimes the hardest thing when you get back from deployment is getting back to a sense of normalcy, especially if you've lost a limb or you've been injured," Kambium Buckner, executive director for World Sport Chicago, told the Big Ten Sports Network. "Valor Games gives them a chance to get back to normalcy and to be around folks with shared experience."
This year, over 200 former and active duty servicemembers are anticipated to compete.
When military service ends, many veterans choose to go back to school to begin or further their education. There are many scholarships available to assist veterans with their educational goals in life after service. AFBA has compiled a list of nine of the top scholarships available to military veterans and their families.
1. The Montgomery G.I. Bill
This is the most well-known scholarship available for veterans. During active duty, military personnel can elect to have $100 withheld from each paycheck to be used for education upon discharge. According to CollegeScholarships.org, honorably discharged service-members can receive up to $37,000 in scholarships for up to 36 months.The Montgomery G.I. Bill benefits are available for 10 years after an honorable discharge and can be used to cover the cost of tuition, books, housing and other university-related fees.
2. Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship
The VFW partnered with Sport Clips to establish this veteran scholarship program. Honorably discharged servicemembers and their families can apply for this scholarship during the fall and spring semesters. The amount of the award can add up to $5,000. This scholarship is paid directly to the accredited institution and may only be used for tuition and school fees.
3. The Post 9/11 G.I. Bill
This bill is an extension of the Montgomery G.I. Bill and is specifically for military members who enlisted within 90 days of September 10, 2001. The Post 9/11 G.I. Bill offers the same benefits as the Montgomery G.I. Bill, but it extends to graduate programs and private institutions.
4. AMVET National Scholarship Program
This scholarship is for veterans who have used all of the possible funds from the G.I. Bills. The AMVET National Scholarship is only available for students who are currently enrolled in an accredited institution and were honorably discharged. For up to three years, veterans are able to receive $1,000 in scholarships.
5. Leadership Through Action – Tilman Military Scholars
The Pat Tilman Foundation provides varying award amounts to veterans who are interested in beginning or continuing their higher education. Applications must demonstrate reasonable financial need and maintain a 3.0 GPA. To be considered for this scholarship, veterans can submit two essays to the foundation.
6. American Legion Scholarship
For an annual award of $1,000, veterans who are members of the American Legion can apply for this scholarship. Funds can be used for tuition, book and other university fees at an accredited institution. Most eligibility for this award is based on the financial need of the applicants.
7. Troops to Teachers Program
The U. S. Department of Defense provides this scholarship for veterans who are interested in pursuing a career in education. Veterans who demonstrate financial need and have proven academic merit will be considered for this award. Once veterans accept this award, they must agree to teach in a high-need high school for one year.
8. Disabled War Veterans Scholarship
Veterans who sustained injuries during Iraqi Freedom Operation and Enduring Freedom Afghanistan, and are now considered disabled, are eligible for the AFCEA Education Foundation's Disabled War Veterans Scholarships. The foundation offers $2,500 for veterans looking to attend a 2- or 4-year accredited institution.
9. The Military Order of the Purple Heart Scholarship Program
Veterans who are members of the Order of the Purple Heart are eligible for this scholarship. The foundation awards 80 scholarships to veterans and their families every year. Recipients must be accepted into an accredited institution and maintain a 2.75 GPA during the semester.
Beginning or continuing higher education is an excellent opportunity for military servicemembers entering life after service. Many foundations and government agencies have created scholarships to assist veterans with their educational goals. The nine scholarships above are just a few of many available to former servicemembers.
During World War II, the government rationed staple foods like milk, butter, cheese and bread. Additionally, because so many men were gone to war, it was difficult to ship fresh fruits and vegetables to grocery stores. As a result, the government encouraged many homeowners to plant "victory gardens" where they could grow their own produce. According to Wessels Living History Farm, about 20 million Americans planted these gardens.
Now, 70 years after the end of WWII, a group of veterans living in the Community Living Center at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, have recreated this agricultural tradition. The residents, all aging veterans, have worked together to grow a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. It promotes cooperation and provides them with a chance to use the skills they developed in their youth. About 70 percent of the medical center's residents work in the garden.
"It's a cooperative kind of thing," Sarah David, a recreation intern at the center, told the Times Leader. "[The veterans] may not be able to do all of the work, but they have the wisdom."
So far, the garden has produced zucchini, tomatoes and many herbs. The center also uses the garden as a therapeutic counseling area.
When military servicemembers leave combat for life after service, they are faced with many different challenges. Feelings of anxiety about an uncertain future, loneliness and post-traumatic stress disorder are all potential difficulties. Fortunately, there are many organizations that are launching programs to assist veterans with the transition to civilian life. One of these organizations is On Target 4 Vets. Based out of Old Hickory, Tennessee, this nonprofit is dedicated to providing healing and bonding recreational activities for the nation's heroes.
On Target 4 Vets hosts a deep sea fishing excursion for veterans. This year, the organization raised enough money to take 35 veterans on one of these excursions.
"We just want the veterans to come and have a good time and mingle and talk to the other veterans because we all have something in common," On Target 4 Vets board member and Outreach Coordinator Joe Couch told ABC 12 News.
The veterans can escape the stresses that come from transitioning to civilian life by enjoying the calming effects of the ocean and bonding with other veterans who may be experiencing the same trouble. This year's On Target 4 Vets deep sea fishing trip will take place on Oct. 9, and veterans are encouraged to RSVP.