Vol. 6 Number 5 • May 2019 www.HomelandMagazine.com
Homeland Veterans Magazine
Memorial Day: A Time For Heroes Honor, Courage, Memorial Day - Veterans Day Commitment Remember The Hershel “Woody” Williams
Supporting Community Based Services
Marine Walks to Support U.S. Military Veterans
Carry Forward 5K
Honors Veterans’ Service
Difference
A Heart Attack of the Mind
Getting through depression
Enlisted To Entrepreneur
LEGAL EAGLE Careers In Law Enforcement
MEMORIAL DAY ISSUE Resources • Support • Transition • Inspiration
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EDITOR’S
LETTER
Greetings and a warm welcome to HOMELAND Magazine! Please take some time to get to know the layout of our magazine. Homeland Magazine focuses on real stories from real heroes; the service member, the veteran, the wounded and the families that keep it together. Our magazine is driven by passion, vision, reflection and the future. The content is the driving force behind our magazine and the connection it makes with service members, families, veterans and civilians. Homeland is about standing your ground, resilience, adaptation, inspiration and solidarity. HOMELAND is inspirational, “feel good” reading; our focus is on veterans, military and civilians alike. I believe HOMELAND is where the heart is, and our publication covers a wide variety of topics, and issues about real life and real stories. We are honored to share the work of so many committed and thoughtful people.
Publisher Editor-In-Chief Mike Miller Contributing Writers CJ Machado Vicki Garcia - Enlisted Holly Shaffner - Honor Flight Joe Molina - VCCSD Lori Boody - VANC Shelter to Soldier Eva M. Stimson Boot Campaign Barry Smith Leigh Ann Ranslem Wounded Warrior Project Jennifer Silva DAV - Dan Clare American Warrior Jim Lorraine Operation Homefront Kelly Bagla. Esq. Billieka Boughton Shya Ellis-Flint Lara Ryan Daniel Chavarria National Women’s History Karen R. Price Fathers Joe’s Village Hart Dubois Public Relations CJ Machado Mike Miller Marketing/Sales Mike Miller Homeland Magazine is published monthly. Submissions of photographs, Illustrations, drawings, and manuscripts are considered unsolicited materials and the publisher assumes no responsibility for the said items. All rights reserved.
We appreciate your support and are so happy to have you as a reader of HOMELAND Magazine.
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With warmest thanks, Mike Miller, Publisher
858.275-4281 Contact Homeland Magazine at:
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE 3 Honor, Courage, Commitment 6 Marine Walks To Support U.S. Veterans 12 Carry Forward Honors Veterans’ Service 16 Supporting Community Based Services 18 The Heart Attack Of The Mind 22 Remember The Difference 24 Memorial Day: A Time For Heroes 29 Sacrifice & Self-Worth 30 Memorial Service Miramar National Cemetery 32 VANC - Memorial Day 2019 34 ENLISTED TO ENTREPRENEUR 36 Veterans Bring Leadership Skills 40 Legal Eagle 41 Money Matters 42 No Hero Left Behind 45 Careers in Law Enforcement
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MARINE LARRY HINKLE TALKS THE TALK AND WALKS THE WALK IN SUPPORT OF U.S. MILITARY VETERANS By Barry Smith Boot Campaign
Photo by Liz Boomer
For most Americans the month of May ends with a holiday weekend that is designated to remember and honor the brave men and women who have proudly and selflessly served and died during active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces. For Sgt. Larry Hinkle, a life-long Texan and veteran of the United States Marine Corps, that designated holiday on the U.S. calendar is not nearly enough recognition for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our freedom. “Every day should be Memorial Day in this country,” declares Hinkle, the grandson of a flight navigator of B-52 bombers in World War II. “Our country is rich in heroes, and we should honor those heroes daily, and we should remember their names and say their names daily. “To a lot of us who have served it is that way every day, 6
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but the fact that we have one day to celebrate them as a country is still a good thing to bring light to,” continues Hinkle. “Understanding that somebody laced up to simply protect strangers, and they gave up everything to do that… it’s just amazing. You can’t put into words what kind of character those men and women possessed.” Hinkle, who grew up in the small town of Joshua, Texas, admits he was not always aware of what the Memorial Day “holiday” stood for. However, after his fledgling baseball career at North Central Texas College came to an end due to a shoulder injury, he enlisted at a Marine recruiting station in North Richland Hills near Dallas on Jan. 11, 2000, and his opinion of the “holiday” was forever magnified. “In all honesty, before I enlisted in the Marine Corps, it was just a day off work,” Hinkle confides.
“I was young and probably knew no better. Even though my grandfather was a veteran, I never knew the significance of it until I enlisted and realized the legacy that is left for us to maintain for these people who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. That’s an honorable thing to shoulder.” While Hinkle admits he did not appropriately recognize the importance of Memorial Day in his youth, he says he clearly understood the significance of serving in the military thanks to the example set by his grandfather, U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Dale Chalfant. A flight navigator on several World War II missions, Chalfant survived the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, because he was fortuitously recovering in a local hospital from a broken leg. “My grandfather was in the Air Force in World War II, so I kind of had a military history in the family and that’s obviously one of the determining factors for me joining the military after I got hurt playing baseball,” reflects Hinkle, whose sister Leisa (Parker) also served four years in the U.S. Navy. “Unfortunately, I didn’t get to meet him because he died 20 years before I was born. But he was a religious man and definitely attributes all that [Pearl Harbor experience] to God. My whole family Pamela Hughes Lisa Cupp does.” After enlisting, Hinkle received orders to Camp Pendleton, Calif., where he was attached to 3rd AABN (3rd Amphibian Assault Battalion) and became specialized as a crew chief for amphibious assault vehicles (AAV).
He deployed three times in his career, including the end of 2000 when he was assigned to a security detail for the U.S.S. Cole hours after it was bombed in the Gulf of Aiden, near Yemen. On his second deployment in 2001 he was part of the Amphibious Ready Group that provided an immediate support presence for “Operation Anaconda” after the September 11 terrorist attacks. His final deployment was to Iraq in 2003 in support of Fox 25 (2nd Battalion, 5th Marines), for the initial invasion. “We were in Saddam City on the outskirts of Baghdad, and we were taking fire and the scout team ended up taking a wrong turn, so we had a big logistics nightmare for tanks and AAVs,” recalls Hinkle as if it was yesterday. “The next thing I know I woke up on the bottom of the turret and a big explosion went off. Our company First Sergeant Edward Smith was hit in the head and ended up passing away three days later. He was the epitome of the Marine’s Marine.” Ever since that date of April 3, 2003, losing 1st Sgt. Smith has been top of mind for Hinkle, who finished active duty in 2004 and his ready reserve tenure in 2008. Although he works in the commercial construction industry as a civilian, Hinkle now spends a considerable amount of time and effort raising awareness and giving back to veterans. Not only does Hinkle talk the talk in support of the military community, he literally and figuratively walks the walk. In fact, he burned through 27 pairs of Brooks running shoes in just three walks to prove it. Continued on next page >
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In 2015, Hinkle started training as a distance walker to raise awareness for veterans. He has since teamed up with various nonprofits and walked more than 5,200 miles throughout the U.S., while also getting face to face with veterans and first responders in VA hospitals and outpatient clinics, veteran state nursing homes, fire/police/sheriff departments and Salvation Army locations along the way. Hinkle always starts a major walk on or around April 3 in honor of 1st Sgt. Smith, and his first excursion was no easy layup.
In 2016, Hinkle traveled 2,640 miles one step at a time from Camp Lejeune, N.C. to Camp Pendleton, Calif., and it took 16 pairs of shoes. In his second walk of 1,600 miles through every major city in Texas in 2017, he needed six pair of shoes. On his third walk in 2018, where he joined teams from the U.S. and United Kingdom in a 1,000-mile expedition throughout America, he needed five pair of shoes to complete the journey.
Photo by Liz Boomer
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While raising awareness, his efforts also have afforded him the opportunity to pass out more than 600 gift cards to veterans, in addition to providing food to more than 3,000 of these heroes along his travels in a program he calls #FeedEmFriday. “I get goose bumps just talking about it, but you’d be amazed by what buying a veteran a simple lunch will do for their day,” reports Hinkle, a life-long Chicago Cubs fan who enjoys tournament bass fishing in his spare time. Nowadays, Hinkle’s message to everyone he meets includes a shout out to Boot Campaign, the Texasbased military non-profit he recently joined as a Veteran Ambassador. He was introduced to Boot Campaign through “one of my best friends in the Marine Corps” David Hardin, who kept telling him about the organization’s revolutionary health and wellness program that focuses on traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic pain, self-medication and insomnia. “While on my international walk with the Brits last year, (Boot Campaign CEO) Shelly Kirkland came out and met us in Houston, and then met up with us again in Colorado and at the finale in New York,” recalls Hinkle. “Morgan Luttrell also came out as well. Seeing their dedication and their heart was impressive. There was this presence of a family feeling, and I knew I had to be a part of it. Now I am a Veteran Ambassador for Boot Campaign and extremely humbled and thankful to be that.”
Hinkle also enrolled in Boot Campaign’s health and wellness program himself, and experienced life-changing assistance that he is eager to raise awareness and funds for to afford more veterans the same experience he has undergone. To do just that, in 2019, he joined fellow Boot Campaign paralyzed Veteran Ambassador Ricky Raley on his 1,200-mile hand cycle journey from Dallas, Texas to Fort Pierce, Fla. “We just recently had three veterans kill themselves in the same week while in the waiting rooms of VA hospitals, just shoot themselves, and we’ve desperately got to change that,” says Hinkle. “If I could convey one thing to veterans who are struggling, it would be that getting help with your mental health is not a weakness,” he adds. “Focusing on my mental health has made me a better person and made me stronger, and it can work for you, too. “Surround yourself with the people who understand where you’re coming from and what you are going through mentally is very important. That’s where you’re going to find your biggest and best support system. You need to know you are not fighting this thing alone. It’s a collaborative effort. There’s always hope, just don’t give up.”
Learn more about Boot Campaign and its health and wellness program at www.BootCampaign.org
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A Different Lens Mental Health Monthly By RanDee McLain, LCSW Why a different lens? Prior to enlisting in the US Navy I worked for a police department for many years. Once I became a sailor I served as a maser-at-arms……. military police officer. Fast forward several years and deployments later it was time to become a ‘civilian’. Those of us who have served know you will never truly be a civilian. You are no longer active but you will never truly be a civilian. Our experiences have forever altered the way we see the world. I was lost….I lost my sense of identity, purpose and this was compounded by physical and mental challenges I faced as I transitioned. I went to school because that seemed like the next logical step. A few degrees, several years and hard work later I attained my licensure and the title Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I currently oversee a large outpatient mental health clinic.
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I have committed my professional life to helping my brothers and sisters as they transition. All of these experiences both as an Active Duty sailor and as a mental health clinician have led me to have a unique and different lens of the world, the struggles we face and the fellow veterans we serve. With each addition of the Different Lens I hope to educate you on many of the mental health challenges our service members, veterans and their families may face. These include Post Traumatic Stress (PTS), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Military Sexual Trauma (MST) to name a few. We will also look at some non-mental health related subjects that impact transition such as underemployment and resource navigation and so much more. I hope you will tune in for future additions of “A Different Lens”
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Carry Forward 5K Honors Veterans’ Service By Gary Corless – Chief Development Officer, Wounded Warrior Project Americans are known as people who come together to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, those who are wounded in service, and those who continue to serve. Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) ensures the bravest among us are honored, empowered, and engaged with their communities and the grateful Americans they served. WWP’s Carry Forward® 5K was born out of respect for legacies of sacrifice, honor, and service. Carry Forward is a powerful, one-of-a-kind event where veterans’ supporters can take action and put WWP’s mission in motion.
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What makes Carry Forward unique is how you choose to support veterans: you can carry a flag to show your patriotism; carry a weight to represent the responsibilities veterans bear while serving our country; or carry another person to symbolize one warrior carrying another in their time of need. No matter what you choose, every step empowers wounded warriors as they take on their next mission. In 2018, more than 5,200 people registered and thousands more supported the launch of Carry Forward in three host cities and nationwide through the Carry Forward Virtual 5K.
Why Carry Forward? Kenny Angelini is both a warrior and a teammate at WWP. He served in the Army until 2007, was injured, and found new ways to serve – first in law enforcement and now at WWP, helping other veterans navigate benefits, VA health care, and education awards. When Kenny put on a participant’s bib to walk Carry Forward Nashville last year with his service dog, Ranger, he was walking in memory of someone close to him. “I lost a dear friend on April 12, 2005,” Kenny said. “His name was Manuel Lopez III – we went through boot camp together, and we spent time together while serving in the Army.” Manuel’s Humvee was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade while he was on street patrol in Baghdad, Iraq. He was 20 years old. In addition to his parents and friends, he left behind his wife and infant daughter. Kenny’s service dog, Ranger, is named in honor of an Army Ranger who was killed in combat. Kenny said he’s thankful to the organization that trained the dog and to the Gold Star mom who carried on her son’s legacy with the dog’s name. “Ranger actually helped me get through the 5K,” Kenny said. “I had not done a 5K or any distance walk or run since about 2005.”
Kenny embraced the spirit of community strength at Carry Forward.
“It became a team thing, sort of a collective milestone. It wasn’t a race, but a journey together. No one was left behind; everyone helped each other get to the finish line. It was amazing to see people who haven’t done this type of activity in a while come together and help each other. I want to see Carry Forward grow and turn into something even bigger.” When an injured soldier came home, mom “ went to war” When Mary Tallouzi’s son Daniel came back from Iraq with a catastrophic brain injury, Mary says she “went to war.” She was by his side day and night advocating for his care for the next two and a half years. He was moved from hospital to hospital to rehab facilities – always with his mother by his side. She quit her job while forgoing income and medical benefits to be with her son. After he passed in 2009, Mary became an advocate and spokesperson for injured veterans. “Most people think about a spouse and children as survivors,” Mary said. “But a soldier likely had parents, too, as survivors.” Mary and fellow caregiver and spokesperson Jennifer Mackinday started a virtual squad for moms all over the U.S. who are survivors or caregivers of an injured veteran. The group is called Wounded Warrior Moms Across America. Its members communicate via text and social media to encourage each other to train for Carry Forward. This is a great example of a powerful and virtual Carry Forward event. “For many people, it’s hard enough to commit to fitness, especially if you’re busy caring for a loved one,” Jennifer said. “In a team, we strive to reach our fitness goals and exchange notes about our challenges as caregivers.” Jennifer quit her career to take care of her injured brother, James Smith, who was hurt in an IED blast in Mosul, Iraq. James has regained some independence. His nephew – Jennifer’s son Grant – is also a veteran. Continued on next page >
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“Mothers care for us when we’re hurting, and they ask for nothing in return,” Jennifer reflects. “It has really helped me to connect with other caregivers through Wounded Warrior Project. Other moms need to know that they don’t have to do it alone.” Carry Forward helps fuel programs that give warriors and caregivers access to independence programs, mental health services, physical health and wellness education, and other support. Warriors never pay a penny for these programs – because they paid their dues on the battlefield. The free services WWP offers are only possible due to the selfless and generous support of people who want to give back to veterans who have given so much. Carry Forward not only helps support warriors and their families, it also brings the community together for a common cause. It bridges the gap between veterans and their community and creates more awareness of warriors’ needs. See ways to get involved and help injured veterans at https://wwp.news/GiveBack.
Carry Forward 5K participants choose to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, those who are wounded in service, and those who continue to serve. Mitch Green, an army veteran from Malden, MO, honors his family’s legacy of sacrifice, honor, and service carrying a ruck sack with photos of grandfathers, uncles, cousins and friends who served.
Mary Tallouzi, from Albuquerque, NM, organized a virtual Carry Forward 5K squad for moms all over the U.S. who are survivors or caregivers of an injured veteran. The group is called Wounded Warrior Moms Across America. Its members communicate via Marie text and social media to encourage each other to train for Carry Forward. Anyone can form a virtual Dale, his wife Elaina squad and participate from anywhere in the globe. 14
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2019 Carry Forward® 5K, delivered by CSX® DATES & LOCATIONS: 8/24 San Diego 9/21 Nashville 10/5 San Antonio 11/9 Jacksonville, FL Virtual Carry Forward 5K – you can participate from anywhere through Dec. 15. In addition to four host cities, virtual runs or walks are held to honor wounded warriors and their sacrifices while changing their lives for the better. REGISTER: http://WWPCarryForward.org
Carry Forward 5K helps fuel programs that give warriors and caregivers access to independence programs, mental health services, physical health and wellness education, and other support. Warriors never pay a penny for WWP programs – because they paid their dues on the battlefield.
About Wounded Warrior Project Since 2003, Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) has been meeting the growing needs of warriors, their families, and caregivers – helping them achieve their highest ambition. WWP is a national, nonpartisan organization accredited with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), top rated by Charity Navigator, and holding a GuideStar Platinum rating. To get involved and learn how WWP connects, serves, and empowers, visit http://newsroom. woundedwarriorproject.org/about-us.
About the Author Gary Corless is chief development officer for Wounded Warrior Project. He leads Warrior Support, which includes resource development, communications, and marketing. Gary also oversees the promotion and protection of the organization’s mission, vision, and purpose. Before joining WWP, Gary was president and chief executive officer of PSS World Medical, concurrently serving on the company’s board of directors. From 2002 to 2010, his extensive career with PSS World Medical included serving as chief operating officer, executive vice president, and president of the Physician Business. Gary studied finance at Florida State University. He lives in Jacksonville, Florida, with his wife, Ruby, and their four children.
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The Importance of Supporting CommunityBased Services By Jim Lorraine, President and CEO of America’s Warrior Partnership May is Military Appreciation Month, which marks an important time for us all to recognize the active duty military, veterans, families and caregivers in our communities who have served our country. We can demonstrate our appreciation by considering how to most effectively support our nation’s warriors not just this month, but throughout the year. It is encouraging to see many national veteran-serving organizations prioritizing collaborative partnerships with local groups to provide resources at a community level. The foundation of these successful collaborations is often an emphasis on holistic support. In other words, service providers take a veteran’s entire situation into account as they connect them with appropriate programs that will enable them to achieve the quality of life they deserve. Holistic, community-based services are driven by local organizations and often supplied by resources from national partners. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is one of the key providers of national resources, particularly through initiatives such as the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program. The SSVF program awards grants to nonprofits that provide supportive services to low-income veterans and their families as they transition to permanent housing. Organizations that receive SSVF funding recognize that veterans who are navigating challenges related to housing may also be seeking assistance in other areas, such as obtaining VA benefits, accessing healthcare providers, acquiring transportation to a new job or finding child care services, to name a few examples. Many community-based veteran programs received their start thanks to national grant programs, including our own Community Integration service model at America’s Warrior Partnership. Community Integration serves as a framework that empowers communities with the tools, resources and partnerships they need to create and execute a customized program that is responsive to local veterans. In practice, the service model closes the gaps that often exist between national resources and the local organizations that interact with veterans every day. 16
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Since 2014, Community Integration has impacted nearly 48,000 veterans, all of whom were able to access services provided by one of our local affiliates based throughout the country. The continuing support and success of communitybased programs has also opened the door for the launch of other critical veteran initiatives. Our team is currently working with The University of Alabama and the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation to bring a community emphasis to veteran suicide prevention through Operation Deep Dive. This first-of-its-kind study is examining the community factors that impact suicide and self-harm among veterans, an area that has been absent from previous research projects, with a completion date slated for late 2021.
The importance of community services is also extending into the corporate realm this year through our Corporate Veteran Initiative (CVI), which provides tailored insights to businesses on improving the recruitment and retention of military veteran employees. The CVI ultimately empowers businesses with a customized program that guides veterans toward company resources and local community programs that can help them achieve a higher quality of life. The common thread through all of these programs, alongside a focus on community-based services, is that they were all made possible through an initial, one-off avenue of support that grew into something greater. Like the national grants that have spurred the growth of countless community programs, we as a nation should consider how we can continue to support veterans, their families and caregivers not only during Military Appreciation Month, but also throughout the rest of the year. The Empowered Giving Corps is a great example of how you can show continued support throughout the year. The Empowered Giving Corps provides the opportunity to give a recurring monthly donation to support veteran service programs nationwide while being part of a dedicated community. More information on the Empowered Giving Corps is available at Give.Classy. Org/EmpoweredGivingCorps. As Memorial Day approaches, consider connecting with local service providers in your community to see how you can help ensure veterans are empowered to thrive in their post-military lives now and in the future. About the Author Jim Lorraine is President and CEO of America’s Warrior Partnership, a national nonprofit that helps veteran-serving organizations connect with veterans, military members and families in need. Learn more about the organization at www. AmericasWarriorPartnership.org.
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‘That Truck is Going to be How I Get Through This’ By: Patricia Morrow
A well-worn pair of cowboy boots, size 13, and a 2003 Chevy Silverado, with a lift kit and mud tires, helped Kevin Amundson of New Prague, MN, heal after a “heart attack of the mind” led him to attempt suicide in September 2014. Age 20, and suffering from undiagnosed depression, Kevin drove after work to his favorite childhood lake, called the sheriff with his location, and asked that his family be spared finding him. Then he shot himself through the bottom of the jaw with a rifle. Kevin’s mom, Amy, calls it divine intervention that the sheriff sent up a helicopter immediately, and that Kevin fell backward onto the dock, instead of into the water. What Amy wrote on Kevin’s CaringBridge website the day after he was saved still holds true: “We will not attempt to answer the question you will all be asking, which is, ‘Why?’ There is no answer we can offer that will satisfy that question for any of us. We can tell you he is a charming, funny, compassionate, and deeply loved young man, and we believe that neither God nor we are done with him yet.” 18
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Based on the bullet’s path, Kevin should not be here today. Never mind talking, walking … or driving. But after waking up in the ICU at North Memorial Hospital in Minneapolis, nine days after the attempt, Kevin, a former member of the Army National Guard, said he purposely and consciously put himself on a path toward healing.
“I saw the pain and the suffering that the attempt caused my family and my friends,” he said. “I wasn’t taking my pain away like I thought. I was just putting it on other people.” For inspiration, Kevin’s family taped to the foot of his hospital bed pictures of the pickup he had purchased a few months before the attempt. It was his baby.
Amy offers a different perspective, three years after the worst experience of her life. She said, “If being open and talking about how he felt, and what he struggled with, and the things he went through, has the ability to save another person, then the struggle and pain all had a purpose. That is healing for Kevin, and for all of us.”
Do You Know Someone Who Needs CaringBridge Do you know a current or former military service member who could benefit from starting a CaringBridge site to keep loved ones updated on their mental and physical health? If so, share this link with them: www.CaringBridge.org/military-service/.
He said: “Every time I would start to get down, I’d just look at the truck and remember, ‘That’s waiting for me. That’s going to be there for me. That’s going to be how I get through this.’” Neither Kevin nor his mom, his primary caregiver, wish to minimize the physical damage from which he has miraculously recovered. Or overlook that he will always be working toward having depression control less of his life. But having Kevin get back in his cowboy boots was a big deal. And getting behind the wheel of that truck again, when doctors didn’t think it could happen, was even bigger. Kevin said, “The fact that the truck is mine, and I can build it how I want it … that is an additional piece of healing.”
Note: We can all help prevent suicide. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7 free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. Dial 1-800-273-8255. The Amundson Family also supports SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education), founded in Minnesota in 1979. Dial 1-800-273-8255. The Veterans Crisis Line connects Veterans in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring Department of Veterans Affairs responders through a confidential toll-free hotline, online chat, or text. Veterans and their loved ones can call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, chat online, or send a text message to 838255 to receive confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Support for deaf and hard of hearing individuals is available.
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Caring for our veterans
Veterans facing the challenges associated with a life-threatening illness can rely on The Elizabeth Hospice for the medical, emotional and spiritual support they need and deserve. Our skilled, compassionate caregivers are trained to address PTSD, depression, anxiety, survivor’s guilt, and soul injury. Complementary therapies, including physical therapy, music therapy, aromatherapy and pet visits, are used in combination with medical support to help alleviate pain. We celebrate and thank our patients for their service at bedside pinning ceremonies officiated by a veteran or active duty service member. Since 1978, The Elizabeth Hospice has touched the lives of more than 100,000 people in San Diego County and Southwest Riverside County. To learn more about our hospice care, palliative care and grief support services for veterans, call 800.797.2050 or visit www.elizabethhospice.org.
The Elizabeth Hospice is proud to be a We Honor Veterans Level 5 Partner, the highest level of distinction.
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Make it easy to keep family and friends informed during a health journey. CaringBridge offers free websites to connect with the people who matter most. Share updates, receive emotional support, coordinate tasks, and even fundraise for medical expenses, all in one place.
Learn more and start a site today. Visit CaringBridge.org/military-service/
“
Just know that there are people out there who care about you. And who will help you.
”
KEVIN AMUNDSON, former Army National Guard member, whose family used CaringBridge for support through Kevin’s depression
It takes just 3 minutes to set up your personal, private and ad-free site. Start a site today and feel the power of your community.
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REMEMBER THE DIFFERENCE Memorial Day: Celebrated the last Monday in May, Memorial Day is the holiday set aside to pay tribute to those who died serving in the military.
Veterans Day: This federal holiday falls on November 11 and is designated as a day to honor all who have served in the military.
“Three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868, the head of an organization of Union Veterans -- the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) -- established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. Maj. Gen. John A. Logan declared that Decoration Day should be observed on May 30. It is believed that date was chosen because flowers would be in bloom all over the country.”
Veterans Day began as Armistice Day to honor the end of World War I, which officially took place on November 11, 1918.
The passage of the National Holiday Act of 1971 by Congress made it an official holiday.
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“In 1954, after having been through both World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd U.S. Congress -- at the urging of the veterans service organizations -- amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word “Armistice” and inserting the word “Veterans,” the site says. “With the approval of this legislation on June 1, 1954, November 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.”
For nearly 150 years, Americans have gathered in late spring to honor the sacrifice of those who have given their lives in service to their country. What began with dozens of informal commemorations of those killed in the Civil War has grown to become one of the nation’s most solemn and hallowed holidays. Memorial Day has become the traditional kick off of summer but the holiday has a much more significant purpose. Memorial Day, observed on the last Monday of May, commemorates the men and women who died while serving in the military. Among its traditions are ceremonies to honor those who lost their lives in service, with many people visiting cemeteries to place American flags on grave sites. A national moment of remembrance takes place across the country at 3 p.m. local time. The purpose of Memorial Day is sometimes confused with Veterans Day. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Day commemorated on Nov. 11 each year - honors all those who have served in the U.S. military during times of war and peace. Armed Forces Day, which falls on May 20 each year, recognizes those who are currently serving in the military.
History of Memorial Day Memorial Day traces its roots to the tradition of Decoration Day, a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. The first declaration of Decoration Day occurred on May 30, 1868, when Major Gen. John Logan declared the day would be a time to recognize those who lost their lives in the Civil War. The first large Decoration Day was held at Arlington National Cemetery that year. The ceremonies included mourning draping around the Arlington mansion of former Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant presided over the ceremonies, which included speeches, children from the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Orphan Home and members of the Granddaughters of the American Revolution placing flowers on both Union and Confederate graves. The Arlington tradition was built on longstanding ceremonies held throughout the South. Once of the first occurred in Columbus, Miss. on April 15, 1866, when a group of women decorated the graves of Confederate soldiers who died at the battle of Shiloh. Upon seeing the undecorated graves of Union soldiers who died in the battle, the women placed flowers at those headstones as well. Several cities currently claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day, including Macon and Columbus, Georgia, Richmond, Virginia, Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, Waterloo, New York and Carbondale, Illinois. Memorial Day continued to be celebrated at local events until after World War I, which it was expanded to honor those who died in all American wars. In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by an act of Congress, though it is still often called Decoration Day. It was then also placed on the last Monday in May, as were some other federal holidays. In 2000, Congress passed “The National Remembrance Act,” which encourages all Americans to pause wherever they are at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation.
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Memorial Day: A Time for Heroes A teenager learns the importance of war veterans in this inspiring story. By Nancy Sullivan Geng, Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota
I leaned against an oak at the side of the road, wishing I were invisible, keeping my distance from my parents on their lawn chairs and my younger siblings scampering about. I hoped none of my friends saw me there. God forbid they caught me waving one of the small American flags Mom bought at Ben Franklin for a dime. At 16, I was too old and definitely too cool for our small town’s Memorial Day parade. I ought to be at the lake, I brooded. But, no, the all-day festivities were mandatory in my family. A high school band marched by, the girl in sequins missing her baton as it tumbled from the sky. Firemen blasted sirens in their polished red trucks. The uniforms on the troop of World War II veterans looked too snug on more than one member. “Here comes Mama,” my father shouted. Five black convertibles lumbered down the boulevard. The mayor was in the first, handing out programs. I didn’t need to look at one. I knew my uncle Bud’s name was printed on it, as it had been every year since he was killed in Italy. Our family’s war hero. And I knew that perched on the backseat of one of the cars, waving and smiling, was Mama, my grandmother. She had a corsage on her lapel and a sign in gold embossed letters on the car door: “Gold Star Mother.” I hid behind the tree so I wouldn’t have to meet her gaze. It wasn’t because I didn’t love her or appreciate her. She’d taught me how to sew, to call a strike in baseball. She made great cinnamon rolls, which we always ate after the parade. What embarrassed me was all the attention she got for a son who had died 20 years earlier. With four other children and a dozen grandchildren, why linger over this one long-ago loss? 24
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I peeked out from behind the oak just in time to see Mama wave and blow my family a kiss as the motorcade moved on. The purple ribbon on her hat fluttered in the breeze. The rest of our Memorial Day ritual was equally scripted. No use trying to get out of it. I followed my family back to Mama’s house, where there was the usual baseball game in the backyard and the same old reminiscing about Uncle Bud in the kitchen. Helping myself to a cinnamon roll, I retreated to the living room and plopped down on an armchair. There I found myself staring at the Army photo of Bud on the bookcase. The uncle I’d never known. I must have looked at him a thousand times—so proud in his crested cap and knotted tie. His uniform was decorated with military emblems that I could never decode.
“Remember how hard Bud worked after we lost the farm? At haying season he worked all day, sunrise to sunset, baling for other farmers. Then he brought me all his wages. He’d say, ‘Mama, someday I’m going to buy you a brand-new farm. I promise.’ There wasn’t a better boy in the world!” Sometimes I wondered about that boy dying alone in a muddy ditch in a foreign country he’d only read about. I thought of the scared kid who jumped out of a foxhole in front of an advancing enemy, only to be downed by a sniper. I couldn’t reconcile the image of the boy and his dog with that of the stalwart soldier. Mama stood beside me for a while, looking at the photo. From outside came the sharp snap of an American flag flapping in the breeze and the voices of my cousins cheering my brother at bat. “Mama,” I asked, “what’s a hero?” Without a word she turned and walked down the hall to the back bedroom. I followed. She opened a bureau drawer and took out a small metal box, then sank down onto the bed. “These are Bud’s things,” she said. “They sent them to us after he died.” She opened the lid and handed me a telegram dated October 13, 1944. “The Secretary of State regrets to inform you that your son, Lloyd Heitzman, was killed in Italy.”
Funny, he was starting to look younger to me as I got older. Who were you, Uncle Bud? I nearly asked aloud. I picked up the photo and turned it over. Yellowing tape held a prayer card that read: “Lloyd ‘Bud’ Heitzman, 19251944. A Great Hero.” Nineteen years old when he died, not much older than I was. But a great hero? How could you be a hero at 19? The floorboards creaked behind me. I turned to see Mama coming in from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. I almost hid the photo because I didn’t want to listen to the same stories I’d heard year after year: “Your uncle Bud had this little rat-terrier named Jiggs. Good old Jiggs. How he loved that mutt! He wouldn’t go anywhere without Jiggs. He used to put him in the rumble seat of his Chevy coupe and drive all over town.
Your son! I imagined Mama reading that sentence for the first time. I didn’t know what I would have done if I’d gotten a telegram like that. “Here’s Bud’s wallet,” she continued. Even after all those years, it was caked with dried mud. Inside was Bud’s driver’s license with the date of his sixteenth birthday. I compared it with the driver’s license I had just received. A photo of Bud holding a little spotted dog fell out of the wallet. Jiggs. Bud looked so pleased with his mutt. Continued on next page >
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There were other photos in the wallet: a laughing Bud standing arm in arm with two buddies, photos of my mom and aunt and uncle, another of Mama waving. This was the home Uncle Bud took with him, I thought. I could see him in a foxhole, taking out these snapshots to remind himself of how much he was loved and missed. “Who’s this?” I asked, pointing to a shot of a pretty darkhaired girl. “Marie. Bud dated her in high school. He wanted to marry her when he came home.” A girlfriend? Marriage? How heartbreaking to have a life, plans and hopes for the future, so brutally snuffed out. Sitting on the bed, Mema and I sifted through the treasures in the box: a gold watch that had never been wound again. A sympathy letter from President Roosevelt, and one from Bud’s commander. A medal shaped like a heart, trimmed with a purple ribbon, and at the very bottom, the deed to Mama’s house. “Why’s this here?” I asked. “Because Bud bought this house for me.” She explained how after his death, the U.S. government gave her 10 thousand dollars, and with it she built the house she was still living in.“He kept his promise all right,” Mama said in a quiet voice I’d never heard before. For a long while the two of us sat there on the bed. Then we put the wallet, the medal, the letters, the watch, the
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photos and the deed back into the metal box. I finally understood why it was so important for Mama—and me—to remember Uncle Bud on this day. If he’d lived longer he might have built that house for Mama or married his high-school girlfriend. There might have been children and grandchildren to remember him by. As it was, there was only that box, the name in the program and the reminiscing around the kitchen table. “I guess he was a hero because he gave everything for what he believed,” I said carefully. “Yes, child,” Mama replied, wiping a tear with the back of her hand. “Don’t ever forget that.” I haven’t. Even today with Mama gone, my husband and I take our lawn chairs to the tree-shaded boulevard on Memorial Day and give our daughters small American flags that I buy for a quarter at Ben Franklin. I want them to remember that life isn’t just about getting what you want. Sometimes it involves giving up the things you love for what you love even more. That many men and women did the same for their country—that’s what I think when I see the parade pass by now. And if I close my eyes and imagine, I can still see Mama in her regal purple hat, honoring her son, a true American hero.
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Sacrifice & Self-Worth By Carrie Shuster, Navy Veteran
The force is strong in May, but not because of the fourth- it’s because of the self-less sacrifice of those heroes in our beloved Armed Forces that died while serving in combat in the many wars that came before us. Thousands of souls, that came from all types of backgrounds and beliefs, who believed that putting the freedom of our country above their own lives would build a stronger and better country, and it has created the unrelenting force that is our military today. As a young eccentric woman from Michigan, I, like the many before me, followed to respect that unrelenting force and enlisted into the United States Navy. I now continue to work at finding ways to honor our country as a Veteran. The thing I consider each year in May is what can I, and should I, be doing this Memorial Day. The simplest answer is – everything I possibly can. During this month I like to invest special time into healing, as an individual and as a community. On Memorial Day I’ll be volunteering with the San Diego Women Veterans Network (www.sdwvn.org) at the Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial to commemorate our fallen heroes. I believe it is important for us Veterans to come together with our communities to spend time remembering our heroes with families, friends, and fellow veterans to show our respect and support. I feel that volunteering has benefited my emotional well-being, and other Veterans I volunteer with have felt the same way. We have found that strong community support systems help process grief and PTSD. It can help socially reconnect to others as many of us have struggles with feeling disconnected after transitioning into the civilian world or after a traumatic experience. In addition to serving at the Memorial, I will also be planting a small remembrance reflecting garden with a few small indoor plants in my own living room at the beginning of the month.
Taking care of this garden will not only give me a serene and beautiful way to personally commemorate my fallen service heroes, but it will also promote focus and healing as an individual I am a proud woman Veteran, not only because of my own service but because my sister and father, both United Stated Marine Corps Veterans, who influenced me and inspired me to follow in their brave footsteps. They are both very intelligent, strong, and passionate and have taught me to be the same. I was an electrician on F/A-18E/F Super hornets in the US Navy and served overseas for four years. It was a long time to be away from home and it’s a long time to be away from all that is familiar. I had the honor to serve with the finest Women and Men I have ever met, who tirelessly taught me perseverance, courage, and strength in myself and others. As soon as I got out of the service, my sister inspired me to attend college and as well as to join EVERY club and attending every activity in hopes to feel the same way I felt with my service members! I wanted to stay connected to those great types of people! Reconnecting with my fellow veteran sisters through the SDWVN has been the cornerstone in my own healing. They have given me the inspiration to harness the best woman veteran within myself and not only connect with community, but with myself as an individual. In fact they inspired me to find a new amazing passion in nonprofit work. I was struggling with depression and was trying to find a job I could be passionate about. I found a great job using that compassion and my experience as a leader in the military that allows me to help fundraise for nonprofits! Joining a cause gave me a sense of selfworth and purpose which is exactly what our past fallen would want. I can’t think of a better way to honor the fallen than paving the way to serving others and living my absolute best life.
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TO SPEAK AT VETERANS MEMORIAL SERVICE, MAY 26 - MARINE CORPS AIR STATION COMMANDING OFFICER - NATIONAL CEMETERY ADMINISTRATION EXECUTIVE - SAN DIEGO VETERAN OF THE YEAR Colonel Charles B. Dockery, Commanding Officer of Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar, will be the featured speaker at the Veterans Memorial Service scheduled at 1 p.m., Sunday, May 26, at Miramar National Cemetery. Joining Dockery on the podium will be Brian Alvin, Chief of Operations, Pacific District, National Cemetery Administration; and the San Diego County Veteran of the Year, Master Sergeant Matthew Foster, USMC Retired. The Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation will sponsor the eighth annual Veterans Memorial Service. The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band will perform. The service will be conducted in the cemetery’s Flag Assembly Area at the eastern end of the Avenue of Flags. Some 600 veterans, active-duty, and family members are expected to attend. Limited parking will be available in designated parking areas and along cemetery streets. Dockery is a distinguished graduate of both the U.S. Army War College and the Australian Command and Staff College. He completed an assignment at the Combined Air and Space Operations Center at al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, in 2009, and at Marine Corps Aviation Headquarters in 2012. He next assumed command of a Marine Air Reconnaissance group for its deployment to Bahrain. VETERANS MEMORIAL SERVICE During his career, Dockery served in a number of key positions, including Chief of Staff at First Marine Aircraft Wing Headquarters, before returning to San Diego to take command of Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar. A decorated fighter pilot with more than 2,400 hours in the FA18 Hornet, he is a winner of the prestigious Marine Corps Aviation Association’s Robert Guy Robinson Award. Prior to embarking on his civilian career earlier this year, Brian Alvin served as an Army officer for 35 years, retiring as a Major General. His deployments during those years included Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm; Operation Iraqi Freedom; Kandahar, Afghanistan; and Korea. 30
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Alvin earned an engineering degree at Northern Illinois University, Master’s degrees from Texas A&M and the University of Management and Technology, and from the U.S. Army War College. Among his decorations are the Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. Master Sergeant Foster was selected by the United Veterans Council as Veteran of the Year for 2019 to represent some 240,000 San Diego County veterans. He served 24 years on active duty as a Marine Corps flight line mechanic and maintenance chief. Active in veterans’ affairs, Foster serves as Commander of VFW Post 1513 and Chairman of North County Stand Down for homeless veterans. He also helps organize the City of Escondido’s Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day ceremonies. He routinely volunteers 40 hours a week while working full time at Northrop Grumman. Sallay Kim, Vice President of the Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation, will welcome guests to this year’s memorial service. A retired Army intelligence officer with more than 20 years’ service, she is owner of Serenity Event Solutions of San Diego, a firm that plans and manages public events. VETERANS MEMORIAL SERVICE Chaplain (Commander) Manuel A. Biadog, Jr., is Command Chaplain at Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar. A cum laude graduate in Biblical studies from William Carey University in Hattiesburg, Miss., Biadog earned Master’s Degrees in Divinity and Religions Education at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, and a Doctor of Ministry from the Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena. He also earned a Master’s in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College. During his 29-year career, Biadog has served as a chaplain with Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard commands in the United States, the Western Pacific, and the Middle East. Miramar National Cemetery is located at 5795 Nobel Drive, San Diego, between Interstate 805 and Miramar Road. For information about the Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation, a non-profit organization, go to www.miramarcemetery.org.
Miramar National Cemetery Veterans Memorial Service Sunday, May 26, 2019
Veterans, Active-Duty Military, Public Invited Honored Guest
Brian Alvin Chief of Operations, Pacific Region National Cemetery Administration
Featured Speaker
Colonel Charles B. Dockery Commanding Officer Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar
Guest Speaker
Master Sergeant Matthew Foster, USMC Ret. Sunday, May 26, 2019 (1:00 PM)
The Veterans Memorial Service is sponsored by Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation and coordinated by the staff of Miramar National Cemetery.
Limited parking on cemetery grounds 8
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“The men and women who serve our Nation deserve our support — Today, Tomorrow, Always —” www.vanc.me
Memorial Day 2019
Join Us May 27th
Originally observed as Decoration Day in the Civil War era, Memorial Day was officially recognized in 1971 as a federal holiday. The tribute to our fallen soldiers often took place in the cemeteries of their home towns by their families and neighbors. They would lay flowers at the grave or decorate the head stone in honor of the sacrifice of some for the benefit of many.
Please join us at VANC Resource Center to celebrate the 10th consecutive Memorial Day service on Monday (May 27 at 10 am) conducted at our center since VANC
Each year on Memorial Day, at 1500 (or 3pm) local time, a national moment of remembrance takes place on a day that was picked because it did not coincide with any particular battle. For many years the families of Northern Soldiers honored their dead on different days than the families of the Southern Soldiers. After World War I, Memorial Day would unify the countries various decoration days to be one day of solidarity for all of the US dead from all wars. This Memorial Day, we will honor the contributions of all veterans both living and dead. Remember the sacrifice of those veterans that have fallen in service to our country, the 1.2 million men and women who have died since the Revolution War. And, keep in mind that as we gather there will be Marines, soldiers, airmen, sailors and Coast Guardsmen on duty May 27 around the world serving our country.
and city officials began working together back when the floors were dust covered no carpet and no air conditioning. One month prior to the event VANC has received a dozen commitments from veteran groups and support organizations to place a memorial wreath upon a commemorative gravesite that pays homage to those who have died in service to our country. We at VANC thank each and every veteran service organization for their tireless contributions to making the lives of all of our veterans better. We know that each of us hears a different call to serve. But serve we do, with the best of intentions for the betterment of all. We sincerely hope that we can use the Memorial Day remembrance as an opportunity to heal all wounds and put our entire veteran service community on the same side. The side that appreciates the service of every veteran and that will not wait for our veterans to die in order to remember them for their service. Always a lot going on at VANC. You can see for yourself the upcoming events at VANC on www.vanc.me. In the mean time, thank you to all those who support our organization with your attendance, your financial support and your participation. We will continue to offer free programs and services that our relevant in our community while supporting our active duty military, our veterans and their families.
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ENLISTED TO ENTREPRENEUR By Vicki Garcia
16 MARKETING MAXIMS - “MARKETING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART” Of everything you do to make your business successful, MARKETING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART. You should be constantly looking for new ways to attract buyers and clients to you. Consequently, everyone is looking for the new silver bullet. News Flash: There are no silver bullets! There is just the hard work of testing and tracking. Here Are A Few Essential Marketing Maxims to Hang on Your Wall. 1. You should spend 25% of your time working on marketing. You have two things to work with: Your time and your money. You’re a marketer now. 2. All marketing is experimental. Get used to it. As soon as you find the perfect formula something will change, and it won’t work as well anymore.
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3. Because you’re seeking to influence people, a deep understanding of the people you want to reach is critical. Who is your target market? The more you focus, the more accurate you become. You can’t meet the needs of any market if you’re not an expert in it. 4. Research, research, research. Investigate your competitors, the marketplace and trends to name a few things. www.trends.google.com/trends will give you insight into trends. You can look up your competitor’s panties and discover the products or services they provide, how they market them to customers, the prices they charge, how they distribute and deliver, the devices they employ to enhance customer loyalty, their brand and design values, and best of all, the keywords they are using. www.spyfu. com is just one of the sites you can use for free.
5. Plan your marketing tactics out for the next quarter. Planning too far in advance will not take advantage of your ability to be nimble. A marketing plan for the next year is good, but you need to nail down exactly what you will be doing in the next quarter. This will save money and stress, believe me.
11. Don’t drink the social media/digital Kool-Aid. With notable exceptions, it’s a happy fantasy that you can sit behind your computer and grow your business. Everything you want to achieve cannot be done entirely on line. 12. Nothing will benefit you as much as networking. Who you are matters. Make deals, shake hands, and meet influencers. People need to see you faceto-face to get to know who you are. Get out there!
6. Advertising (especially Facebook) can quickly drain your pocketbook and bring very limited results. If you’re smart about it, you can get away without spending anything until you are big enough to have funds to buy advertising. Once you do any advertising, realize that one ad won’t get you anywhere. You must advertise consistently over time. 7. Marketing is NOT sales. Sales are the result of marketing. Marketing is the pitcher. You’re the seller/ catcher. A class in selling is always a good thing. If you’re averse to selling, read my popular little simple booklet Selling for People Who Don’t Like Selling at https://midd.me/Oloh 8. Growth costs money. There is no magic formula to estimate your marketing budget. You can’t get by spending nothing. Pick a figure you’re able to meet comfortably and spend it consistently. There’s no big bang, one-time, sure thing. 9. Believe NOTHING that comes to you as an email pitch or a cold call. There are zillions of marketing siren songs from buying email lists to automated marketing services to lead generators. These sales pitches are hard to resist. Don’t be a Muppet in Sharkland. INVESTIGATE! Be Cynical! 10. Track everything you do to reach your prospects. “Test & Track” is the formula. How much did it cost compared to the buyers you received? You can break this down to cost per buyer.
13. People buy from people, not companies. Relationships count. Buyers should be encouraged to think they know you. Yes, this is a perception you can cultivate, and it works. For examples start with the local advertisers who show up on the TV screen so often you think you know them. 14. People buy from people they know or think they know. It’s up to you to manage prospect perception. Your reputation is everything. Marketing is about creating trust. If you don’t protect your reputation, treat customers fairly, and always strive to do the right thing, the word will get out and trust in you will be destroyed. It is almost impossible to recover from this. (See Boeing) 15. Understand the marketing basics. They still apply. Find them at Part 4 in my Simplebooklet titled Startup | Take Off at https://midd.me/7Sse . 16. To be a good marketer it helps to be a good writer. I strongly recommend getting the FREE book How to Write Copy That Sells by world-class writing guru Ray Edwards. Open this link https:// rayedwards.com/ Vicki Garcia is the Co-Founder of Operation Vetrepreneur & President of Marketing Impressions, a 33+ -year- old marketing consulting firm. Apply NOW to join her Operation Vetrepreneur’s FREE Brainstorming Groups for veteran entrepreneurs at www.veteransinbiz.com and visit https://www.nvtsi.org/ov/ for more info. If you want support for starting up a business, email her at vicki@veteransinbiz.com.
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THE LEADERSHIP SKILLS VETERANS BRING TO ORGANIZATIONS Joseph Molina Veterans Chamber of Commerce www.vccsd.org
Over the years, veterans have learned nontechnical skills like; leadership, decision-making, being dependable and attention to details, which they can offer to civilian employers. It is indeed difficult to find any military role that doesn’t translate in the civilian workplace. This article focuses on some of the skills these veterans can bring to the table and how they can be effectively put to good use in a civilian workplace.
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1. Discipline: Veterans, in general, are used to a mission-critical mindset. Something veterans have learned over years of being trained with the responsibility to solve problems and follow through until the job is done. Aside from being known to be focused on specific tasks, veterans also have a great attention to detail. Most civilian employers appreciate the level of discipline veterans bring to the civilian workplace.
2. Loyalty:
6. Working under pressure:
One of the key traits required for a successful service in the military is loyalty. People who have served in the military have loyalty ingrained in them, which is sure to be an asset to any company. Veterans understand the critical importance loyalty has in everyday life. Loyalty is that bond that keeps veterans united.
Veterans are used to stressful conditions and have learned to work through these difficult situations. Are able to effectively function under pressure and have the ability to quickly adapt when necessary to meet the demands required by a situation. Working under pressure is also an excellent skill employers’ value. Having the ability to remain calm under stressful situations allows for veterans to be excellent leaders as others depend on them to solve difficult tasks on helping improve employee productivity and increase morale in the workplace.
3. Accountability: Employers often state that it has become more difficult to find employees willing and ready to embrace accountability in the workplace. Veterans understand accountability extremely well. Veterans have a mindset that embraces and fulfills each task with complete sense of accountability. 4. Organizational skills: Veterans have the training and have a full and complete understanding of what organizational skills are and the way to implement them. These skills are key to completing the mission and achieving every task. Employers look for employees who understand and are able to use this important skill. Veterans know how policies and procedures enable a business to succeed. Veterans are no strangers to systemic planning, which is of utmost importance to any form of business. 5. Teamwork: Working in groups is no new thing for veterans. They know how to employ the strength of individuals and rely on their teammates. Veterans work well in teams and learn to rely on each other, support each other. Veterans bring a team mentality to the workplace, with great understanding on how to establish bonds of collaboration and support to the team and to each member within the team. Veterans who enter the workforce are already many steps ahead by having a team mentality that today’s businesses look for.
7. Leadership based on trust: Military Leaders know that money is not the main motivating factor for people. Veterans understand that maintaining a team who has strong loyalty to the group, clear focus and is able to understand and clearly communicate the stated objective is key to the successful working environment. Veterans who lead make sure each team member feels valued, respected and able to trust the team, these are key elements to forming strong bonds between each team member. A civilian organization will greatly benefit by employing a veteran as a business manager because most employees are often far better motivated by a leader who they fully trust than by someone who just offer rewards and/or punishments. IN SUMMARY: Veterans bring a can-do attitude and a mind-set of leadership, loyalty, collaboration and a sense of comradery to the workplace. Employers who value these principles will most definitely benefit from having a veteran in their organization.
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IN THE TRENCHES . . . What You Can Expect Certification & Supplier Diversity Concept Review for Startups Perfecting Your Pitch Speaker Training Brainstorming with Experts Publishing Knowhow Personal Branding Mind Mapping Crowdfunding Writing a Business Plan Branding, Graphics & Visuals Internet Marketing Social Media & SEO Legal Issues Budgeting Where & How to Get Money High Velocity Growth Strategies Employees & Contractors
Starting a Business as a Veteran? The transition from military service to civilian life can be a difficult one, especially when it comes to your career. That’s why a growing number of veterans choose to forge their own path and become entrepreneurs after leaving the Armed Forces. While starting a business comes with numerous challenges, former service members do have one distinct advantage: the veteran community. “The strength and power of veteran entrepreneurs comes from other veteran entrepreneurs” Unlike most highly competitive entrepreneurial environments, veteran entrepreneurs share information much more easily. If you or someone you know is a veteran looking to start a business, please feel free to contact Vicki Garcia. Vicki is the Co-Founder of Operation Vetrepreneur & President of Marketing Impressions, a 33+ -yearold marketing consulting firm. If you want support for starting up a business, email her at vicki@ veteransinbiz.com.
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legal Eagle Straight-forward legal tips for Military and Veteran Business Owners By Kelly Bagla. Esq.
LEGAL ISSUES FOR THE ENTREPRENEUR When it comes to starting a business, you might be a pro, but what about when it comes to working through all the legal issues you must consider as an entrepreneur when launching your startup? Most entrepreneurs get caught up in the midst of starting their business and quickly forget the legal aspects that need to be considered.
but it isn’t that obvious to everyone. As a rule of thumb, anyone who interacts with your business, not your clients, should sign a nondisclosure agreement (NDA) to ensure they will not share your ideas with others who should not know. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY While your business is still small, it is hard to imagine that you could potentially face the issue of people infringing on your intellectual property assets, but it can happen easier than you think. It is worth the investment to both time and money to get your trademarks, copywrites, patents and trade secrets legally registered. VESTING Finding the right co-founder for your business is quite the task. Who do you trust? Who will make a good fit and lead your business in the right direction? It is important that you have a similar work ethic and timelines for investment. Instead of getting all the shares as once, one option to consider is vesting the shares over time. Your equity can be vested over time so that if your co-founder does not end up working out, there is a fair solution and you haven’t just lost half your company.
To ensure that you avoid the negative repercussions of an avoidable mistake, there are a few common legal issues you should be aware of: BUSINESS STRUCTURE There are several different business structures: Partnerships, S Corporations, C Corporations, Limited Liability Companies, and Sole Proprietorships. All business structures hold very different meanings and offer a variety of different benefits. You should consider if your business is going to remain privately funded, if you plan on taking on investors, and what type of growth you expect your company to have in the future. Making the right decision at the start could save you a lot of money in legal fees. NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS It seems like common sense, you should not talk to anyone about your confidential business information, 40
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COMPLIANCE There are corporate compliance laws in place that affect companies in various industries. The laws that apply specifically to your business will vary based on the type of business entity you are, the state you do business in, and several other determining factors. Do some research and consult with an attorney to ensure you know what documents should be generated and maintained by your business to remain compliant. You have already put in the hard work to get your business up and running, don’t let a simple and most often costly legal mistake cause you to lose it all. For more information on how to legally protect your business please pick up a copy of my bestselling book: ‘Go Legal Yourself’ on Amazon or visit my website at www.golegalyourself.com Disclaimer: This information is made available by Bagla Law Firm, APC for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, and not to provide specific legal advice. This information should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state.
MILITARY MONEY MINUTE A Monthly Financial By Lara Ryan & Daniel Chavarria
SDP – THE HIDDEN GEM
What would you say to a financial advisor if they told you they could guarantee you a 10% annual rate of return on your money, compounded quarterly? You’d probably check their credentials and then maybe report them to FINRA or at least walk out the door. Well, we’re telling you there is such a deal. So, how do I get in on this you may ask? All you have to do is deploy to a combat zone! Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) administers the Savings Deposit Program (SDP). SDP offers a guaranteed annual return of 10%, compounded quarterly, on up to $10,000 contributed to the program. This far exceeds the return on any traditional savings account out there. In fact, it’s a good return compared to most any other investment. Sure, you may be able to beat that rate of return by putting your money in the stock market when the market is having a good year, but how can you predict a good year? Even Warren Buffett doesn’t have a lock on that gouge. The truth is, you can’t time the market, and you most certainly won’t find a stock, bond, fund, or ETF in the marketplace that will guarantee you a 10% annual rate of return. HOW IT WORKS You can participate in SDP if you are serving in a designated combat zone, qualified hazardous duty area or certain contingency operations outside the United States for more than 30 consecutive days or for at least one day for each of three consecutive months. Contact your Admin department or the finance office at your deployment location. They will let you know if you or your unit are eligible, will provide assistance with the necessary paperwork and will explain when you can begin making deposits. A total of $10,000 may be deposited during each deployment and will earn up to 10% interest annually. You cannot close your account until you have left the combat zone, although your money will continue to draw interest for 90 days once you’ve returned home or to your permanent duty station. Interest earned in your Savings Deposit Program is taxable, even though your income while deployed is not taxable. Uncle Sam always gets his cut.
Deposits may be made in cash, by check or through allotment. Once started, allotments may be increased or decreased as your financial situation changes. Your allotment will stop upon your departure from the combat zone. Once you make your initial deposit, interest accrues on the account at an annual rate of 10% while compounding quarterly. Let’s take an example. You leave for a known nine month deployment to the fun zone and you want to immediately deposit that $10,000 you have lying around. Interest earned on $10,000 deposited into the SDP for nine months would total $768.91. The last day to make a deposit into the fund is the date of departure from the assignment, and interest will accrue at the 10 percent rate up to 90 days after return from deployment. That said, wait 3 months after you get back and interest earned would total $1038.13! That’s not a bad gig for just letting your money sit around. Not like you have anything to spend it on over there anyway… Well, those Persian rugs are pretty nice! Lara Ryan and Daniel Chavarria work with a team and run a comprehensive financial planning practice that specializes in working with active duty, retired, veteran and military-connected individuals, families, and businesses. They are not fee-based planners and don’t charge for their time, but believe every servicemember needs and deserves a financial plan.
Lara.ryan@nm.com (307) 690-9266
Daniel.Chavarria@nm.com (702) 497-3264
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No Hero Left Behind By Hart DuBois Father Joe’s Villages committed to protecting the health and well-being of San Diego’s Veterans, so they can enjoy the freedoms they helped to preserve. To address the distinct issues facing homeless Veterans, Father Joe’s Villages provides specialized housing services, case management, behavioral and physical healthcare, and education and employment programs tailored to the Veteran experience. One of the many inspirational stories of service members helped by the non-profit is Sebastian, a 66-year-old Marine Corp Veteran who lived on the streets for 15 years before he received the help he needed from Father Joe’s Villages. Thanks to their Rapid Rehousing program, Sebastian received help finding an apartment he could afford, assistance paying his rent, and support from a Case Manager to settle into his new home and neighborhood. But the story doesn’t end there. Sebastian saved every penny he could and after receiving back pay from the VA, Sebastian was able to purchase his own townhome in El Cajon.
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Today, Sebastian finally has peace after years of fear and desperation living on the streets. He now gives back to the homeless community he used to be a part of, serving hot meals to neighbors in need. On June 28, 2019, the non-profit is hosting the No Hero Left Behind luncheon to raise critical funds for programs that support Veterans like Sebastian, as well as others in the San Diego homeless Veteran community. Attendees of The No Hero Left Behind luncheon will hear from Mary Jean Eisenhower, granddaughter of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Through Ms. Eisenhower’s work with People to People International, an organization established by her grandfather, she is dedicated to the idea of solving big issues through the pillars of education, exchange, and understanding. You are invited to celebrate the many contributions of our community’s Veterans by attending the No Hero Left Behind luncheon. Individual tickets are $75.00 and active Military and Veterans tickets are $50.00. Tickets are available at neighbor.org/events
LEAVE NO NEIGHBOR BEHIND. For nearly 70 years, Father Joe’s Villages has been taking care of the immediate needs of homeless Veterans, while also helping end their homelessness for good. Call 1-619-HOMELESS or visit NEIGHBOR.ORG to learn more.
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JOBS FOR VETS
Careers In Law Enforcement Visit Today For Law Enforcement Profiles & Job Openings
HomelandMagazine.com JOBS FOR VETS LAW ENFORCEMENT 44
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Military service can be a perfect entrance into a law enforcement career. Military and law enforcement personnel have had a long-standing relationship with overlaps in training exercises, equipment, and, most important, personnel. It is not uncommon for a service member to make the jump from the military to law enforcement, as both professions look for the same characteristics; leadership, fidelity, chain of command, and teamwork are all common themes in both professions. Quite understandably, many American military veterans often gravitate to a career in law enforcement when the time comes to rejoin the civilian workforce. The two professions have many fundamental similarities; from the uniforms they wear with pride, to the firm command structure they serve under, to great personal risk they endure while protecting those who cannot protect themselves.
Opportunities in Law Enforcement
You’ve served your country, now serve your community! The following agencies are actively hiring & proudly support our veterans, active military and the families that keep together.
We thank you for your service, to all the men and women in law enforcement around the world for your courage, your commitment & your sacrifice. - Homeland Magazine -
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WE DON’T JUST THANK
VETERANS,
WE HIRE
THEM.
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THE POSSE VETERANS PROGRAM
Go to a TOP college with the support of other veterans and FULL TUITION GUARANTEED. Posse is selecting veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces to attend:
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
VASSAR COLLEGE
POSSE IS LOOKING FOR VETERANS WHO: • Have not previously received a bachelor’s degree • Have served at least 90 consecutive days of active duty since September 11, 2001, and have received or will receive an honorable discharge by July 1, 2019 • Can commit to a one-month pre-collegiate training program in New York City in the summer of 2019 • Are leaders in their places of work, communities and/or families
WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE POSSE VETERANS PROGRAM? Visit our website at www.possefoundation.org/veterans or email the Posse Veterans Team at veterans@possefoundation.org. GET TO KNOW A POSSE VETERAN SCHOLAR...
WHAT IS THE POSSE VETERANS PROGRAM?
GRANT KILLIAN
COLLEGE DEGREE: Each cohort—a Posse—of 10 veterans attends college together to pursue bachelor’s degrees.
University of Virginia Navy Gallatin, TN
FUNDING: Vassar College, The University of Virginia, The University of Chicago, and Wesleyan University guarantee four years of full tuition funding after GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon benefits have been applied. SUPPORT: Comprehensive training from Posse prepares veterans for the college experience and support continues on campus through graduation. CAREER: Posse offers internship opportunities, career coaching and connections to a large professional network to prepare Posse Scholars for leadership positions in the workforce.
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Grant joined the Navy after graduating from high school in 2015. He developed into a strong and effective leader while training at the Naval Special Warfare Preparatory School. At UVA, Grant hopes to study physics and international relations while actively engaging with the university and surrounding communities. Grant says, “the Posse Foundation is investing in groups of driven individuals with incredible leadership potential to have an impact on conversations, campuses, communities, and the world."
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communities built to support those who serve.
. 24/7 Maintenance . No Security Deposit . Gas & Water Included Roadside Assistance . Average Electrical Use Included . Intrusion Alarms
Free Family Events
Call 866-779-5434 or visit www.lincolnmilitary.com
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PTSD TREATMENT DECISION AID: THE CHOICE IS YOURS
Wondering which PTSD treatment is right for you? Use the PTSD Treatment Decision Aid to learn about and compare treatments.
HOW DOES IT WORK? Watch Video Interviews with Providers Compare the Treatments You Like Best Find Answers to Frequently Asked Questions Get a Personalized Summary
WHO IS IT FOR? PATIENTS: The Decision Aid teaches you about your options and gets you ready to work with your provider to choose the best treatment for you. PROVIDERS: The Decision Aid educates your patients about evidence-based PTSD treatments. Review it together in session, or have your patients work through it at home.
There are effective treatments for PTSD. You have options. The choice is yours.
The PTSD Treatment Decision Aid is an online tool to help you learn about effective treatments and think about which one might be best for you.
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