Homeland May 2014

Homeland

Vol. 1 Number 3 • May 2014

Memorial Day

Real stories from real heroes; the soldier, the veteran, the wounded, and the families that keep it together

magazine

We Remember

MEMORIAL DAY A Time for Heroes

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Armed Services YMCA San Diego Makes Military Life Easier

By Cat Quirk and Bettina Rausa

A

t the Armed Services YMCA San Diego (ASY San Diego), strengthening the military community is not just a phrase; it is a cause and a way of life. Through a focus on youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility, this non-profit gives military personnel and their loved ones the support and resources they need to be resilient, confident, connected, and secure. Since 1922, the mission of the ASY San Diego is to improve the lives of junior enlisted service members and their families by providing free programs and services relevant to the unique challenges of military life. As the largest branch among the 16 Armed Services YMCAs nation-wide, the ASY San Diego is, and always will be, dedicated to making military life easier.

In the last decade, two prolonged wars and a sluggish economy have placed extra demands on our military personnel and their families.

The need for services has risen significantly and at ASY San Diego; there has been more than a 200% growth in support services. Young military families are subject to life stressors that impact the functioning of each parent, child, and family as a whole. In addition to the range of challenges that many civilian families struggle with, military families have the added burden of frequent relocations, prolonged deployments, and family separations. Soldiers, who are also fathers, mothers, husbands, and wives, are returning home to their families

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May 2014 / HOMELAND

with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and physical injuries, which have an enormous impact on individual and family functioning.

All of ASY San Diego’s programs are offered free of charge. Many of these influential and necessary services are targeted to military pay grades of E7 and below. Family bonding is a top priority at ASY San Diego which is why many special events are provided throughout the year for families to celebrate such as the Father Daughter Dance and the Christmas You Missed™. Maintaining health and wellness in the family is absolutely essential. Junior enlisted families have access to free in-home clinical counseling and emergency food, transportation, child respite care assistance, and other family necessities to help them get by when faced with a crisis.

For the Pagan family of San Diego, the programs and encouragement of the ASY San Diego provide a sense of community and security for the family of four. Alexis Pagan, a 14-year Navy Corpsman, works long hours and spends much of his time away from his wife, Yukika, and their daughters, Miyuki, 5, and Minami, 2. Thanks to ASYMCA, he finds relief in knowing they’re not alone even when he can’t be home.

“It’s very comforting to know that there’s a support group like ASYMCA for my family when I may be deployed and unable to attend to their needs right away,” Alexis said.

When the couple first moved to San Diego, Yukika, a native of Japan, had no family or

friends nearby to serve as a support system.

It wasn’t until she was referred to ASYMCA that she began connecting with other military families.

“I am grateful to be part of the Y community, and I hope my story brings awareness for other military families struggling to connect,” Yukika said.

The ASY San Diego also supports military youth with special programs designed for their unique challenges as they learn to be confident, excel in school, and embrace the important role they have as members of a military family. Active duty members can also benefit from programming and have access to volunteer programs. Also, wounded warriors, children with special needs, and families of newborns also have services specifically for their care. From the ASY San Diego office located at the Naval Medical Center SD, rehabilitation assistance is provided for combat wounded service personnel and their families. The rehabilitative and recreational services that the ASY San Diego connects the patients with support their recovery and promote connectivity to their community.

For 93 years now, the ASY San Diego has wholeheartedly served active duty military personnel and their families residing in San Diego County, home to the largest concentration of military in the world. In partnership with the local community, this non-profit ensures that the challenges of military life are eased— leaving no stone unturned. To participate, volunteer, or donate, visit MilitaryYMCA.org.

Homeland

Inside This Issue 4

Armed Services YMCA San Diego Makes Military Life Easier

7

USS Midway Museum Legacy Week Honors Service

20 A Mother’s Mission 21 Mother’s Day Memories 21 Appreciating Military Families

10 My Homeland

12 Memorial Day: A Time for Heroes

24 Community Spotlight

15 Working Dogs For Conservation

26 Did You Know?

16 Honoring Our Canine Soldiers

from Civil War - Present

28 TOP TEN Endless Sports Debates

18 MILITARY CHILDREN

Target of Study homelandmagazine.com

25 Discover San Diego – La Jolla

Contact Homeland Magazine at: info@homelandmagazine.com 858.877.3421

HOMELAND HOMELAND/ / May May2014 2014 55

HomeLand Publisher Michael J. Miller

Production Editor Liz Standsfield

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 soldier, the veteran, the wounded and the families that keep it together.

Media Sales Associates Kevin Voss Chris Nielson Contributing Writers The Wounded Warrior Project Rick Rogers Cheryl Gansner Linda Kreter Graphic Design Trevor Watson

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 soldiers, 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 family, 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. They say San Diego is a military town, I find that San Diego is a HOMELAND town, where military and civilians work and live together.

We appreciate your support and are so happy to have you as a reader of HOMELAND Magazine.

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.

Homeland Magazine 13223 Black Mountain Road, #168 San Diego, CA 92129 858.877.3421

With warmest thanks, Michael J. Miller, Publisher 6

May 2014 / HOMELAND

Contact Homeland Magazine at: info@homelandmagazine.com

USS Midway Museum Legacy Week Honors Service

T

he USS Midway Museum’s annual “Legacy Week” activities over Memorial Day Weekend are designed to showcase those who serve America in uniform. The popular San Diego tradition is presented

by Booz Allen Hamilton. This year, a very special event will take place on Saturday, May 24, at 9 a.m. on the flight deck.

Each year a Veterans Remembrance Ceremony is held. It’s free to the general public, family oriented, and those who attend can remain aboard and enjoy the museum the rest of the day at no charge. In past years, the ceremony has included a veteran from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Operation Desert Storm and the Global War on Terrorism.

Each is accompanied by active-duty personnel in the presentation of a biodegradable wreath over the side.

This year, however, is the 70th anniversary of the Normandy invasion.

Midway was contacted by the French government about possibly including a French message of thanks in this year’s ceremony. Midway went much further. This year the keynote speaker will be the French Consul General from Los Angeles who will express his country’s thanks for America’s liberation of his country seven decades ago.

In addition, the goal this year is to have all five wreath presenters be World War II veterans. Midway believes 2014 is the perfect time to honor the Greatest Generation. In addition, 2015 is the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II with additional activities being planned aboard Midway.

Everyone is invited to attend the Veterans Wreath Ceremony on Saturday, May 24, at 9 a.m. on the USS Midway Museum’s flight deck.

Then, on May 25 and May 26, Midway will have a special feature showcasing its “air wing” of more than two dozen aircraft. On both days, those who flew in each aircraft will be “stationed” in front of each, sharing personal recollections of what it was like to fly a Skyhawk, Vigilante, Skywarrior, Phantom, Tomcat, Horner, Texan, Dauntless, Corsair, Intruder, Panther, Cougar, and others. It’s a rare opportunity for the public to truly get to know what was like serving America from the air, from the 1940s to the 1990s.

Serving America for 47 Years

Serving San Diego for 10 Years (619) 544-9600 Continues on next page

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USS Midway Museum Legacy Week Honors Service Continued from page 7 Blood Bank also will hold a donation drive on May 26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Yet there’s more! On Saturday night, May 24, a rockin’ concert will take place featuring the World Classic Rockers. If you like rock and roll, you won’t want to miss a concert whose proceeds benefit local veterans’ organizations. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. and the concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $49.50 for a night of all the rock and roll classics. More information and a link to online tickets is available at: http://www.midway.org/freedom.

Still another feature of Legacy Week is the popular Discovery Zone for kids. A variety of hands-on activities from various local military commands will be available. In past years youngsters have had the opportunity to wear EOD gear and even help restore aircraft.

Additional information is available at: http://www.midway. org/legacy-week.

Booz Allen Hamilton, celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2014, has a significant presence in San Diego and is a major sponsor of several USS Midway Museum 10th anniversary activities.

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May 2014 / HOMELAND

“Eleven years ago, I had the privilege when serving here as Commander of Naval Surface Forces to play a role in bringing together officials from the city of San Diego, local business leaders, and the Navy’s leadership to create the USS Midway Museum,” said Vice Admiral Tim LaFleur, USN (Ret.), Coronado resident and Principal at Booz Allen Hamilton’s San Diego office. It was a great team effort, and we had challenges to overcome including raising a large escrow fund because some other ship museums across the country had not been successful. I’m thrilled with the USS Midway Museum’s success, and proud to be able to help bring the museum and Booz Allen together on the occasion of our firm’s 100th anniversary and the museum’s 10th anniversary.”

“Booz Allen’s first assignment for the U.S. Navy dates to 1940 when our founding partner Edwin Booz helped then Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox prepare for World War II. We have had the privilege to continually serve the Navy as our client ever since, and our partnership with the USS Midway Museum is an opportunity to honor all of those who have served our country in uniform,” said Ralph W. Shrader, Booz Allen’s Chairman & Chief Executive Officer.

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From pre-qualification to closing, I will be there to ensure that the loan process for your home goes as smoothly as possible. You will find that I strive to keep in contact with my clients throughout the entire process and to be easily accessible.

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HOMELAND / May 2014 9

my homeland

By Alice Driver

M

y childhood is a whole flowing memory of water, of lithe bodies under the blue-green of Little Mulberry River.

I know there were winters, but I only remember the summers, the days of Arkansas heat driving my cousins and me down to the creek. We lived there, us little ones, swimming as if we were born to it, reigning the kingdom of striped water snakes, beavers, and water moccasins. As babies, we sunned our fat dimpled flesh on top of our fathers as they lay in the creek on floaties, beer in hand. We knew those waters, every inch of them, the places deep enough to dive off the rope swing, where the gigantic tadpoles bred, how to haul large flat rocks from one side of the creek to the other to construct monoliths.

We stacked rocks, pounded rocks, pulled up rocks in search of crawdads, threw rocks at fat golden copperheads sunning themselves on the banks of the creek. Sometimes it was boys versus girls, a game of throwing mud balls or heaving a greased watermelon through the water. I close my eyes and can feel the weight of those waters, the way my body plied them. And the heat, the sun catching the beads of water on our bodies as we ran up from the creek, through the fields, past the rusted barn.

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We ran in a pack, cousins and friends since birth, our bare feet made for flying over the stones and pebbles of our homeland.

What does homeland mean to you?

Does it remind you of the country you were born in? What if you were born in a certain country but raised somewhere else, which country would you call “homeland�?

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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?

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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.

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, 1925-1944. 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.

“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 the reminiscing around the kitchen table.

“I guess he was a hero because he gave everything for what he and walked down the hall to the back bedroom. I followed.

She opened a bureau drawer and took out a small metal box, believed,” I said carefully.

“Yes, child,” Mama replied, wiping a tear with the back of her then sank down onto the bed.

“These are Bud’s things,” she said. “They sent them to us after hand. “Don’t ever forget that.”

I haven’t. Even today with Mama gone, my husband and I take he died.” She opened the lid and handed me a telegram dated October 13, 1944. “The Secretary of State regrets to inform you our lawn chairs to the tree-shaded boulevard on Memorial Day and give our three daughters small American flags that I buy for a that your son, Lloyd Heitzman, was killed in Italy.”

Your son! I imagined Mama reading that sentence for the first quarter at Ben Franklin.

I want them to remember that life isn’t just about getting what time. I didn’t know what I would have done if I’d gotten a telegram you want. Sometimes it involves giving up the things you love for like that.

“Here’s Bud’s wallet,” she continued. Even after all those years, what you love even more. That many men and women did the same it was caked with dried mud. Inside was Bud’s driver’s license with for their country—that’s what I think when I see the parade pass the date of his sixteenth birthday. I compared it with the driver’s by now.

And if I close my eyes and imagine, I can still see Mama in her license I had just received.

A photo of Bud holding a little spotted dog fell out of the wallet. regal purple hat, honoring her son, a true American hero.

Jiggs. Bud looked so pleased with his mutt.

There were other photos in the I want them to remember that life isn’t just about wallet: a laughing Bud standing arm in arm with two buddies, photos of my getting what you want. Sometimes it involves giving mom and aunt and uncle, another of up the things you love for what you love even more.

Mama waving. This was the home Uncle That many men and women did the same for their Bud took with him, I thought.

I could see him in a foxhole, taking country—that’s what I think when I see the parade out these snapshots to remind himself pass by now. of how much he was loved and missed.

“Who’s this?” I asked, pointing to a shot of a pretty dark-haired 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, Mama 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 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

HOMELAND HOMELAND/ / May May2014 2014 13 13

S G HU

Homeland

SEND US YOUR PICS! We’d love you to send us your favorite personal Hug-A-Soldier moment. Just send us your photos with a caption/name and a line or two and we will feel honored to publish them in the next issue of Homeland magazine.

Write “My Photo” in the email subject heading to increase your chances of selection.

Each photo you submit will need a caption. Make sure you are the copyright owner of the photo(s), and/or have permission from anyone you have photographed before sending us your pictures.

In contributing to Homeland magazine “Hug-A-Soldier,” you agree to grant us a royalty-free, non-exclusive license to publish and otherwise use the material in our Hug-A-Soldier page. It’s for fun, capture your favorite moment and let San Diego smile with you.

We cannot guarantee that all your photos will be used but we will do our very best. And remember a picture is worth a thousand words. Send photo to info@ homelandmagazine.com Subject heading: My Photo “Hug-A-Soldier 14 May 2014 / HOMELAND

Photo: Dave Hamman, Rewarding Pepin in Botswana for Cheetah scat.

working dogs for conservation

By Megan Parker

their dogs work to their fullest potential. Most of our dogs come from rescue, where their crazy, high speed drive makes them poor pets for atching a dog do almost anything is interesting to some most people, but perfect for us. We train our dogs as highly capable of us. Watching a dog work to find something that only detection dogs, using skills from explosive, narcotics and Search and his nose can lead him to is fascinating to almost all of us. Rescue disciplines.

When that nearly invisible This group began training their dogs to find something is the dung from bear scats in the 1990’s and has since moved a rare and cryptic endangered species or a on to training dogs to find nearly everything rare or invasive plant, or the burrow of an you can imagine, from rare wolverine, wolf, endangered tortois, an important sample cheetah and ground squirrel scats to tiny, for a conservation project, that dog’s work invasive plants, which to human eyes, are becomes more than just fascinating, it lost in a green sea of other plants. The dogs’ becomes incredibly valuable. A group of noses lead them to the smallest rosette of dogs work on just such projects and often a plant, emerging from under other plants, here in California, where endangered San but this specific plant will grow into a weed Joaquin kit fox and blunt-nosed leopard that can threaten native plants. We have lizards are best counted and understood been working on a population of weeds through the nose of a dog. By finding the outside Missoula, Montana and helping scats, or feces of these species, the animals eradicate Dyer’s woad, which spreads over are never bothered, but their genetic, diet native grasses, well… like a weed. and hormonal information is collected to Camas alerting on a threatened lupine plant in Oregon.

These dogs work in some incredible better understand where, how many and which ones are living in a places, from rugged deserts for venomous Gila monsters, to the particular area. This can have huge consequences for development, jungles of Myanmar, where the dogs rode in on elephants for 22 industry and state and federal agencies. miles to Alaungdaw Kathapa park, where wild Asian elephants still Working Dogs for Conservation is an organization of conservation live. They have worked among lions, hyenas, elephants and hippos of biologists who are also dog trainers. We are based in Montana and Africa, where they searched for cheetah and African wild dog scats to California, where we regularly work, but we also hop on planes determine how many survived in one area of Zambia. Then they went frequently with our dogs to work in far flung places from Hawaii (snails), back to Zambia the following year to detect wire snares with antiChina (moon bears) to Zambia (cheetah, African wild dogs, lions and poaching scouts. People said dogs can’t smell wire, but these dogs just illegal snares) to Myanmar (Asian elephants). The dogs who work with went ahead and found them anyway. We will return to Zambia again to their handlers are specially selected for their crazy toy drive; meaning take dogs to detect ivory, rhino horns and other illegal wildlife being they love to play with a ball or tug with the utmost enthusiasm every trafficked from and through Zambia. We have yet to ask our amazing moment of the day. This love of a toy allows a trainer to ask the dog canine partners to find something they haven’t done even better than to learn difficult or repetitive tasks in order to play with its toy and its we could have hoped. handler… and this is a joyful, fulfilling event for a working dog. The handlers and biologists with WDC live with their dogs and know even Please visit our website, www.workingdogsforconservation.org the slightest change in their behaviors, which allows them to help for more information on our work.

W

HOMELAND / May 2014 15

WAR DOGS

Honoring Our Canine Soldiers from Civil War - Present By, CJ Machado

chine gun fire stopped and an Italian soldier appeared with Chips slashing and biting at his throat. Three Italian soldiers followed with their arms raised in surrender. After receiving a minor scalp wound and powder burns from the confrontation, later that night, Chips led to the capture of ten more Italian soldiers trying to attack the unit.

W

e honor your service and will forever remember the lives that were given bravely to ensure our freedom.

Dogs have served in warfare since ancient times. Throughout our nation’s military history, you will find stories of outstanding bravery and dedication of our canine heroes. These dedicated canines served as mascots, messengers, scouts, guards, trackers, sentries and first aid responders. These loyal companions also locate, comfort and protect the wounded after battles.

Today, military working dogs go through vigorous training in facing combat, detecting explosives and chasing down the enemy. Our well-trained canine soldiers can parachute, rappel and swim.

Hundreds of military working dogs put there lives on the line for us everyday. Remembering some of our most famous ‘War Dogs’ this Memorial Day…

Civil War 1861-1865

Union Jack was one of the best-known dog mascots in the civil war. The brown and white bull terrier mascot of the 102nd Pennsylvania Infantry was known to understand bugle calls and obeyed only the men of “his” regiment.

Jack’s career spanned nearly all the regiment’s battles in Virginia and Maryland. The dog was present at the Wilderness campaigns, Spotsylvania, and the siege of Petersburg. After a battle he would seek out the dead and wounded of his regiment. Jack himself was wounded severely at Malvern Hill and was captured twice. He is the only dog known to have been traded for a Confederate soldier at Belle Isle.

World War I 1914-1918

Stubby, a stray American pit bull terrier was the most decorated War Dog of our time. He served nineteen months overseas and partici-

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Korean War 1950-1953 pated in seventeen battles. His most recognized valiant effort on duty was when one night all soldiers lay sleeping and he alerted a sleeping sergeant of an impending gas attack.

This allowed for all troops to place their masks on, avoiding imminent death. Stubby became a national hero and in 1920 was awarded a large silver medal from the Eastern Dog Club of Boston with the inscription “Awarded to the Hero Dog Stubby.” General John Joseph “Black Jack” Pershing awarded Stubby a gold medal made by the humane society. He met three presidents including Woodrow Wilson, Harding and Coolidge.

York, a Military Working German Shepherd served from June 12, 1951- June 26, 1953.

He completed 148 combat patrols. No patrol member was ever killed while York led point.

General Samuel T. Williams awarded him the Distinguished Service Award for his outstanding performance.

Vietnam War 1954-1975

World War II 1939-1945

Chips, a mixed breed German Shepherd, Husky and Collie was the only War Dog to have received the Purple Heart and a Silver Star, which were later rescinded due to the regulation prohibiting the issuance of medals to animals. While on morning patrol with his handler Pvt. John Rowell, 300 yards away, a camouflaged pillbox opened fire.

Chips immediately broke loose and charged the enemy soldiers. Moments later, the ma-

Nemo, a sentry German Shepherd, alerted his handler Robert Thorneburg to several Vietcong hiding in a cemetery within the base perimeter. Thorneburg released Nemo and several shots later he heard his dog crying in pain. Thorneburg went looking for his faithful companion and killed one VC before being wounded by return fire. Nemo crawled across his master’s body and refused to let anyone get near him. The reaction team finally con-

vinced Nemo to leave Thorneburg as other handlers administered first aid. Thorneburg survived and Nemo lost sight in one eye due to a bullet wound. Nemo would no longer walk sentry duty. He returned to Lackland Air Force Base in July 1967 as an air force canine recruiter.

Afghanistan War 2001- present

Lex, a Belgian Malinois, U.S. Marine Corp Bomb Sniffing Dog served two tours of duty in Iraq and was wounded in action at the side of his handler, Corporal Dustin Jerome Lee, who was killed on March 21, 2007. Although severely wounded, Lex stayed and protected Dustin until help arrived and they were physically separated. Lex was retired from the USMC in a “nationally televised” ceremony on December 21, 2008. Lex was awarded the “Commemorative Purple Heart” on February 16, 2008. Lex now lives in peace and harmony with the Lee family in Quitman, Mississippi.

Stop To Salute On Memorial Day

There are thousands of canines that have dedicated their lives to serving our country and we regret that we could not share each of them individually in this article. Many thanks to Michael G. Lemish, Military Working Dog Historian ‘War Dogs, Canines in Combat’ www.k9writer. com and the Military Working Dogs National Monument, www.jbmf. us for providing valuable information that made this tribute possible.

If you would like to pay tribute to these heroic canines, you can visit the only Military Working Dog Memorial west of the Mississippi locally at The Rancho Coastal Humane Society (RCHS) at 389 Requeza St., Encinitas, CA 92024, www.rchumanesociety.org

EAGLE BASE, Bosnia and Herzegovina -- It was raining “cats and dogs” and I was late for physical training.

Traffic was backed up at Fort Campbell, Ky., and was moving way too slowly. I was probably going to be late and I was growing more and more impatient.

The pace slowed almost to a standstill as I passed Memorial Grove, the site built to honor the soldiers who died in the Gander airplane crash, the worst redeployment accident in the history of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).

Because it was close to Memorial Day, a small American flag had been placed in the ground next to each soldier’s memorial plaque.

My concern at the time, however, was getting past the bottleneck, getting out of the rain and getting to PT on time.

All of a sudden, infuriatingly, just as the traffic was getting started again, the car in front of me stopped.

A soldier, a private of course, jumped out in the pouring rain and ran over toward the grove.

I couldn’t believe it! This knucklehead was holding up everyone for who knows what kind of prank. Horns were honking.

I waited to see the butt-chewing that I wanted him to get for making me late.

He was getting soaked to the skin. His BDUs were plastered to his frame. I watched-as he ran up to one of the memorial plaques, picked up the small American flag that had fallen to the ground in the wind and the rain, and set it upright again.

Then, slowly, he came to attention, saluted, ran back to his car, and drove off.

I’ll never forget that incident. That soldier, whose name I will never know, taught me more about duty, honor, and respect than a hundred books or a thousand lectures.

That simple salute -- that single act of honoring his fallen brother and his flag -- encapsulated all the Army values in one gesture for me. It said, “I will never forget. I will keep the faith. I will finish the mission. I am an American soldier.”

I thank God for examples like that.

And on this Memorial Day, I will remember all those who paid the ultimate price for my freedom, and one private, soaked to the skin, who honored them. ~ Captain John Rasmussen ~

HOMELAND / May 2014 17

MILITARY CHILDREN Target of Study

FRONT & CENTER

A

new, landmark study is out on the hurdles facing thousands children of injured service members in San Diego and beyond.

“Study on Children of Seriously Wounded Service Members” examines the social and psychological challenges facing more than 50,000 children nationwide whose parents were hurt in Iraqi or Afghanistan.

Commissioned by the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation and conducted by the University of San Diego’s Caster Family Center for Nonprofit and Philanthropic Research, the study concludes that organizations need to band together to provide military families programs that:

RICK ROGERS

Target the needs of both parents and children to develop long-term coping strategies.

Provide children with peer-to-peer support.

Offer mentoring programs for parents and children.

Offer parents advice on how to discuss injures with their children.

Develop a central database listing support programs and services.

The family of Marine 1st Lt. Isaac McCorkle, 34, from San Diego, took part in the study that interviewed 125 combat veterans, military dependents and service providers last year.

In 2005, McCorkle suffered a serious spine injured in Iraq.

Subsequent deployments resulted in Traumatic Brain Injury and PostTraumatic Stress. His three children, Isaac, 7, Danica, 5, and Allen, 2, have never known life without their father battling wounds.

Morgan McCorkle, 32, the lieutenant’s wife for 14 years, along with son, Isaac, contributed to the study’s findings.

Although difficult, Morgan said explaining injures to children and pointing ways they can help are vital as the families find their “new normal” in the wake of life-changing injures.

For Morgan that’s meant telling their children that daddy has an “owie” on his brain and that some times causes him to forget things. ‘’I answer their questions on their level. As they get older, they’ll have more questions that you can then answer,” Morgan said. “I notice that they are less questioning of why someone is in a wheelchair or has a disability. I think that’s because of the other military families we’re around.”

Morgan said her children are showing surprising resiliency as they grow into roles that surpass what’s normally expected of children their ages.

“I look after my little brother and sister and remind my dad of things we need when we go do the store,” said young Isaac. “I also do a lot of things to help out.”

Morgan said the military offers several great family programs, but a better job can be done getting the word out about them.

More than 2.26 million service members have deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq; about 60 percent of them have family obligations, according to a 2011 Rand study and the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation.

The study estimates that 10,000 of the nearly 53,000 children of

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May 2014 / HOMELAND

More than 2.26 million service members have deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq; about 60 percent of them have family obligations, according to a 2011 Rand study and the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. injured service members across the United States come from Marine or Navy families with nearly 9,100 from Marine families.

Factors, the study found, that can stifle social and psychological development of these children if not addressed include: Initial Communication about the Injury: Many parents lack the tools or techniques for communicating this, so discussions often fail to prepare children for their ‘new normal.’

Understanding Severity of the Parent’s Injury: Invisible wounds, such as Post- Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury and depression, can be difficult for children to comprehend.

Loss of Childhood: Caring for a wounded parent might require children to take on taxing caretaking duties. This means growing up early and taking on responsibilities many of their peers do not understand.

Diversion of Attention: If the injured parent needs significant care, it diverts focus away from the child, which can leave children with a sense of losing both parents.

Social and Community Isolation: Children of wounded service members are often physically isolated and can also experience social isolation from their peers because their lives are so different than most of their classmates.

homelandmagazine.com

HELP CARRY OUR WOUNDED WARRIORS HOME.

Wounded Warrior Project’s purpose is to raise awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of injured service members; to help injured servicemen and women aid and assist each other; and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. Learn more or find out how you can help at woundedwarriorproject.org. , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , © 2013 Wounded Warrior Project® All Rights Reserved

HOMELAND / May 2014 19

A Mother’s Mission

W

ounded Warrior Project® (WWP) staff members have many reasons for wanting to work here. Some are veterans. Some are wounded warriors. And some are mothers who have a passion fueled by experience – the experience of nearly losing their sons. Two of our many passionate, dedicated staff members are mothers of warriors who now make it their mission to serve.

Cynthia Jo Parsons, a Warriors Speak team member, always credits her son, Sergeant Shane Parsons, as her inspiration to “do more with life.” Shane’s father died just six months after he was born, leaving Cynthia a widow at age 29. She had to muster all the strength she had to raise her son alone. They both made it through that difficult time, but soon after Shane joined the Army in August 2004, Cynthia’s strength would once again be severely challenged.

On September 30, 2006, anti-coalition forces attacked Shane’s convoy while he was on a mission he had volunteered for in Rhamadi, Iraq. Shane suffered a severe anoxic brain injury and two cardiac arrests, and ultimately succumbed to bilateral above the knee amputations.

Leslie Coleman, a member of the Communications team, remembers the day she almost lost her son Rory as if it were yesterday.

Rory served as a combat medic with an Army Counter Improvised Explosive Device Platoon and was less than 30 days away from the end of his deployment. On September 12, 2011, Rory and his platoon cornered insurgent forces while clearing an underground cellar complex. An insurgent came through a doorway, sprinted towards them firing an AK-47, then deployed a grenade in a suicide attempt. The grenade detonated seven feet from Rory. His injuries were life-threatening – the shrapnel and blast ravaged nearly every part of his body.

“It was at Landstuhl Medical Center in Germany that we encountered an amazing organization that would help carry us all through this journey,” said Leslie. “Wounded Warrior Project and their Warrior Outreach Coordinator Jack Shelar came to us at our most desperate hours.”

Jack and the Army Liaison Officer arranged for The Coleman’s to stay at the Fisher House and brought them into the ICU to see Rory. They took them to dinner, and told them what to expect in the coming days – the military transport back to the states and what would end up being months of rehabilitation at Brooke Army Medical Center.

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May 2014 / HOMELAND

“Jack sat with me in the hospital hallway as I sobbed after witnessing the effects of my son’s traumatic brain injury,” said Leslie.

“It was one of the darkest moments of my life.”

From the initial backpack at bedside when their sons were evacuated, through recovery, WWP was there for the warriors, and also for the moms. Their boys’ recoveries are different, as their individual injuries and needs are different, but they are united in their appreciation that WWP is there on the journey and their desire to give back.

Through patience, love, and ever-growing determination, Cynthia is helping Shane through a long recovery. “He had to relearn everything,” she says. After 15 surgeries, and with her help, Shane is improving every day as he works on his speech, social skills, occupational and physical therapy, and managing the effects of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) through WWP’s Independence Program.

Rory recovered from his injuries, went back to active duty and earned the rank of Sergeant. He completed his active duty as a non-commissioned officer and continues to serve his country in the Army Reserves. Now a full-time student, Rory has utilized the Warriors to Work program to find meaningful part-time work in his career path. He is getting help from the Benefits program as he works through the VA rating process and is active in the Physical Health & Wellness program, attending his first Soldier Ride this summer.

As a full-time caregiver, Cynthia says she still worries about the future for her son. What happens when she can no longer provide for his care? Even in that concern, Cynthia knows WWP will be its with their Long-Term Support Trust, a $30 million commitment to care for the most severely wounded veterans for a lifetime. She now travels sharing their story to raise awareness about the needs of this generation’s wounded service members.

“He’s alive, and he’s a precious gift, says Cynthia. “I’m honored to be his mother, and I’m proud of all the men and women who serve our country.”

In her work as a Public Relations Specialist, Leslie assists media in covering veterans’ issues and telling warrior stories. She attended a Caregiver Retreat where she made wonderful friendships and bonded with her own little cohort of “Wounded Warrior Moms.”

“In 2011, I became the most grateful mom in the world -- my son Rory is still alive,” says Leslie. “This Mother’s Day, I’m the one saying thank you.”

Mother’s Day Memories

By Linda Kreter

W

hat does Mother’s Day mean to you? A mother can be many things: the foundation of the family, chief supporter, motivator, disciplinarian, keeper of the schedule, CEO, mediator, taxi driver, Dr. Mom, the calm in the storm, and so much more for many people. Others have mothers that were not the best examples of parenting or who abandoned them. Some lost their mother too soon due to illness or accident. Still others want so badly to be mothers and cannot. Mother’s Day is not always the simple holiday of appreciation that arrives each May. My Mother was extraordinary. She unconditionally loved my sister and me. She taught us how to learn. How to question. What to do in nearly every situation. She taught us the social graces, and how to make others comfortable when we might ourselves be uncomfortable. She most of all was an anchor for the family.

We knew what each tone of voice meant, and just how much we could push the envelope in our requests. We learned about budgeting, saving, giving to others, and the consequences of actions we wish we hadn’t taken in retrospect. She loved us when we were downright awful! How very fortunate we were to grow up this way. It was a very grave shock to lose our mother to ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, in our 20’s, and her loss has left an enormous void.

As a mother myself, I yearn for those simple Mother’s Days of handmade cards, coupons for tasks, and noodle necklaces worn proudly.

I hurt for a young adult who lost her mother (on Mother’s Day) to cancer and remember that this day can be one of sad reflection for some. I know strong soldiers and wise executives who succeeded despite mothers’ who were not in a position to help them at the time.

I know of young couples who want more than anything to be a mother, and who will go to great lengths to accomplish this goal.

On May 11th this year, please acknowledge all of the circumstances many of your friends and family find themselves. Your words of remembrance, sympathy, joy, or support may fill the precise need they may have. Meanwhile, I intend to pull out that brittle noodle necklace and wear it with pride.

Appreciating Military Families: Who They Are and Where They Are

M

any kinds of military families make up the military community, and they are located at installations and communities all around the world. Today’s military family includes all of the loved ones of those who serve, have served or died while on active duty - spouses, children, parents, partners and others. They are part of military installations and civilian communities. They are in your churches, schools, hospitals and parks. November is Military Family Month, when we acknowledge our collective responsibility to honor and support the family members of military personnel, who also serve.

A wide variety of families make up the military community. A military family might be a single person, a married couple, a couple with children, a single parent with children, a

retired couple with or without adult children; the combinations are numerous. Regardless of the type of family, military families provide our troops with invaluable encouragement and love and endure the challenges of military life selflessly and patriotically. They face the dangers of combat and separation during holidays and life milestones with courage and poise. They also serve as a beacon of hope for those who have been wounded in service, sharing their strength on their journey to recovery.

Just as the family makeup can be vastly different, military members and their families can be stationed in all kinds of locations. A very unique and remote duty-station is Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia, The Navy and Air Force serve at this station located on a footprint-shaped coral atoll close to the

equator in the British Indian Ocean Territory.

The remoteness of this duty station makes it an ideal place for tracking satellites and it is one of five GPS monitoring stations. Diego Garcia is one of the smaller duty stations; from end to end this atoll is 34 miles long, but the total area is only 11 square miles.

In contrast, Fort Hood in Texas is one of the largest and least remote military installations. It is 340 square miles and the only post in the United States capable of training and stationing two armored divisions.

This Army post and is home to nearly 18,000 military family members.

No matter the size or location of the military family, it is important to consider the shared sacrifices of all of them. Join with them in thanks for one another and celebration of our exceptional military community.

HOMELAND / May 2014 21

Back At One - A Sea Story

By Cyndia Rios-Myers www.cyndiariosmyers.blogspot.com

I

joined the Navy during a low engagement time, and got out of the Navy less than a month before the events of 9/11, so I didn’t see any wartime engagement.

Still, it was the Navy, so I had lots of time at sea. My job was that of an OS, or an Operations Specialist. People in my rating specialized in several shipbound warfare areas; undersea warfare, anti-aircraft warfare, surface warfare, and a couple of other areas, too. Being that our eyes had to be open to all sorts of “pictures,” meant that we had to work in an area where we could “see” (through radar and not through windows) everything around us. That space was called Combat Information Center, CIC, or simply “Combat.” We Operations Specialists didn’t work there alone, but shared the space with other ratings such as those of Fire Controlmen, Electronic Warfare Specialists, and an occasional Sonar Technician or two.

We saw lots of traffic while we were close to land - ships, aircraft and an occasional submarine. But as soon as we headed out to the open ocean and away from the coastlines of whatever body of land we were near, the traffic would decrease significantly.

We kept a constant eye on the picture, of course, but diminished contacts (what we called the blips on the radar pictures) meant more time to daydream, snack, and talk. We watchstanders learned about each other’s educations, families, favorite foods, what we’d do after we pulled back into our homeport, and what we wanted to do at liberty ports, too.

But what roused me the most was the talk of music. It was my opinion that you could learn a lot about someone depending on the music that moved them. Sailors (and all other service members) are brave souls, but I had a lot of admiration for the ones who could actually belt out a few bars of their favorite tunes. I’d do it too, depending on how amused or how delirious with exhaustion I was (we stood many, many hours of watch in my rating).

One sailor, an FC2, mentioned a song that was popular right before we went out to sea for that pre-deployment training exercise.

It was called “Back At One,” and it was by a musician by the name of Brian McKnight. He asked us if we’d seen the video for it yet.

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May 2014 / HOMELAND

Most of us had not. He then proceeded to describe it in detail. In the video, the protagonist is singing the solemn, bittersweet tune as he rides in a car with other people. The FC2 was a natural storyteller, though, so I knew that there was more to the video. With his details, I made the connection that the people riding in the car together were from different walks of life, and would probably not ride along with each other during any other day. The FC2 nodded and smiled at me. He then got to the “climax” of his story, and the video. The singer and everyone else in the car were dead - perished in a plane crash. The rest of the video featured flashbacks of the flight and what the passengers did for their remaining time.

The protagonist gets on an airphone to call his lady love and tell her how much he loves her. She was devastated, of course.

After hearing about the video, the sweet song haunted me just a bit more. I thanked the FC2 for his story and went on to thinking of other things. The next day, while eating chow on the mess decks, I heard the commanding officer come over the 1MC (the general announcing system). Apparently, there had been a passenger airline crash near the area where our ship had been sailing and we were to cease our Middle Eastern Force exercises to go on site to assist with the search and rescue efforts. I felt the ship turn and then quickly speed up to its maximum speed of 30 knots. After finishing my meal, I hit my rack. The severity of the situation kept me awake for a while, but eventually I fell asleep. I woke up five minutes before my alarm was supposed to go off and I swear that I felt the ocean talking to me. In many voices it said, “Look at me! I am here! Please look at me,” the voices begged. Chilled, I showered and went up to Combat.

Combat was full of people that were usually only there during drills and other training scenarios. Speakers that were usually quiet erupted with different voices coming from different vessels and different land-based stations. A watch supervisor told me that for the time being, we were under the command of the Coast Guard.

That was okay by us, though, as we wanted to do what we could to help. Our ship did spanning square searches in order to find debris.

We did. Hours later, the search status changed from a search and rescue one to a search and recovery one. I sat on a desk by the radios and kept the log books that recorded the information that I heard. I learned how recovery debris of all kinds were measured - by weight.

We remained tasked to the SAR area for as long as we could, but had to leave a few days after as we had to resume our pre-deployment training exercises. A few days after the training, we pulled into San Francisco for liberty. However, before we could leave the ship for some fun liberty, a representative from the airline came to our ship and spoke on the 1MC to thank us for our assistance during the SAR efforts. The words rung hollow to me, though, or maybe it was just the way his voice bounced off the steel bulkheads in the passageways of our ship. It was an awful thing, I thought. Was that representative privy to the information spoken on the radios in the search area? Did he know that our ship’s lookouts kept spotting seat cushions, even as we sped away from the SAR area? Did he hear about the child’s read shoe that was found floating in the water?

But I’d heard the reports. I’d heard the anguish of the ocean in my heart. And thanks to a late hour combat conversation, I would forever have a sad song playing in my memory of the most heartbreaking service event I’d ever been witness to.

Ask The Plastic Surgeon

William J Seare MD Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

cliniquesculpture@gmail.com In this second part of my series on breast augmentation we’ll be discussing some of the specific breast implants, and alternatives to breast implants, including natural fat transfer to the breast.

Today we have an amazing array of silicone breast implants.

Essentially all breast implants have a very tough, thin, highly cross-linked outer shell. This outer shell contains the contents of the implant, which can be saline or various silicone gels that have different properties. The shell can be smooth or textured with various proprietary irregularities formed on its surface. Some doctors prefer one textured surface to another.

These surface modifications were supposed to reduce the amount of implant contracture that occurs in various severities in a large proportion of implants. I was involved in one study where various surface modifications and chemical modifications were examined and the surface modifications had thicker capsules, and more contracture than smooth implants long- term. My patented porous surface modification performed the best, but has yet to come to market. Clinically, most of the surgeons I know believe that the smooth implants are the best choice currently.

Some new advances in implants are the “gummy bear” implants, where the gel that fills the shell is more cross-linked and will not flow out of the shell if it is ruptured, staying together as more of a solid than a liquid. The can also give more projection (taller for the width) , helping somewhat with sagging (ptosis) of the breasts. I quite like these implants and are my implant of choice.

The FDA has recently approved shaped implants, having more of a tear-drop shape, potentially giving a more natural appearance. However, there are many technical issues with these implants, including correct placement, rotation or malposition issues after placement. Shaped implants are now generally reserved for breast reconstruction after mastectomy.

Natural fat transfer has now become a very power tool for breast augmentation. I have long dreamed about using the body’s own tissues for breast enhancement, and today that has become a reality. I personally started using autologous (from one’s own body) fat transfer (AFG) in 1987. Until about 7 years ago, most of my colleagues and I didn’t put AFG into the breast because we didn’t know if there might be a breast cancer risk. However, we now have some data, but not absolute statistically significant data, that AFG is safe.

Currently, natural fat transfer to the breast is my method of choice for breast augmentation, and less than 2% of my augmentations are now with silicone implants. The advantages of AFG are; there are essentially no scars, we can place the fat in more anatomical areas that implants don’t correct, such as the cleavage, superior and superior lateral areas, it won’t contract, it doesn’t have the high reoperation rate of breast implants of 34% at 3 years and 66% at five years, and there is no recommendation that they be changed at 10 years. Disadvantages include; we can only about double the breast tissue you currently have, you cannot instantly become “California Big”, and you usually have to have significant lipo to get enough of your fat for the size change you desire.

Visit my website at www.cliniquelipo.com/naturalfattransfer or more information.

Dr. Seare

HOMELAND / May 2014 23

COMMUNITY 2014 SPOTLIGHT Spotlighting The San Diego Community Send your suggestions to: info@homelandmagazine.com

NTC at Liberty Station Happenings

Meet at San Diego Harley at 10am, May 3rd, free ride!

The ride will start at San Diego Harley at 4645 Morena Blvd. San Diego, CA 92117 with a pancake breakfast and ride pins then head up to Mt. Soledad for the blessing. The ride will end at San Diego Harley with a catered lunch, drinks, live band and complimentary bike wash! No Charge!

On May 2nd- Catch Spring Fever at Friday Night Liberty on May 2nd with a new exhibition from renowned artists Lynn Schuette at Dance Place San Diego.

Share joy with the San Diego Watercolor Society’s Military Family Art show, showing works from local military families See a 4th grade wind ensemble and learn about art classes at Pachis; senior exhibitions from San Diego’s leading creative arts high school will be in Barracks 17 and Bravo has specials on class registrations for summer camps! From 5pm-9pm. 2640 Historic Decatur Road, San Diego California 92106

Chasing the Song La Jolla Playhouse’s 2014/2015 Season kicks off with the Page To Stage musical, Chasing the Song, running May 13 - June 15 in the Potiker Theatre. This jubilant new production is by the team behind the Tony Award-winning and Playhouse-launched smash hit Memphis, featuring book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro, music and lyrics by David Bryan and directed by Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley.

The creators of the Tony Award-winning musical Memphis follow the evolving American music scene into the early 1960s in this rock ‘n’ roll-inspired new musical.

Elegant Edie’s team of hitmakers is upended by the arrival of the newest aspiring songwriter - Edie’s daughter Jinny. As Jinny strives to earn her place in the maledominated world of songwriting, American rock ‘n’ roll finds itself under siege from the incoming British Invasion.

“There is so much about this musical that excites me as a director - it explores social issues, the power of the relationship between mothers and daughters, and most of all, it delves into the iconic and energetic music of the 1960s.” - Artistic Director Christopher Ashley. www.lajollaplayhouse.org/chasing-the-song Date: May 13 - June 15, 2014 Time: 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM Price: Start at $15 Contact: bbiegelsen@ljp.org

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May 2014 / HOMELAND

May 17 – 18, 2014- KidsFest is San Diego’s largest hands-on, creative festival for kids and their families. With over 100,000 square feet of interactive fun, dozens of activity stations and 50+ exhibitors, KidsFest is filled with simple, organic, creative play for kids. KidsFest is committed to providing a quality experience for San Diego families. ALL proceeds from KidsFest will benefit the Chloe Nichols Foundation to further the Foundation mission of providing college scholarships for creativity and supporting various children’s charities, including our 2014 partner the Jenna Druck Center. From 10AM-5PM at Ingram Plaza, 2640 Historic Decatur Road, San Diego California 92106 http://www.kidsfestsandiego.com/ .

Homeland

Special thanks to www.sandiego.org

This months featured spotlight – La Jolla

DISCOVER san diego

La Jolla What to Love

Hiking through the trails of Torrey Pines Scoring a tee time on Torrey Pines Golf Course Exploring the tide pools and coves along La Jolla Shores Shopping and browsing through boutiques and art galleries along Prospect Avenue

San Diego’s Jewel by the Sea With a dramatic coastline boasting spectacular views, it’s no surprise that La Jolla is one of the most popular beach destinations in California. Surrounded on three sides by the sea and backed by the steep slopes of Mt. Soledad, La Jolla’s coastal profile and quaint village lifestyle evokes a Mediterranean feel. With a unique microclimate that rarely drops below 50 degrees or exceeds 90 degrees, combined with unmatched natural beauty, an upscale casual vibe and world-class attractions, La Jolla lives up to its nickname as “the jewel” of San Diego.

La Jolla offers a wide range of accommodations and activities, from upscale and luxurious hotels, to casual fine dining, museums and art galleries, one-of-a-kind boutiques a slew of outdoor activities. Home to the famous Torrey Pines Golf Course and the The Lodge at Torrey Pines, the area also offers well-groomed hiking trails with spectacular views.

Along the dramatic coastline lies Scripps Park, where families can picnic throughout the summer while enjoying Fourth of July fireworks and concerts under the stars. There are plenty of cultural attractions to visit in La Jolla, with the Birch Aquarium at Scripps, La Jolla Playhouse and the Museum of Contemporary Art all situated in close proximity to the Village.

La Jolla’s biggest draw for locals and tourists alike, are the beaches. During the summer and autumn months, the surf is relatively gentle, with warm waters in 70s. Swimmers, snorkelers, scuba divers and surfers can enjoy the local beaches at La Jolla Shores, the Cove and Windansea.

Fine dining with spectacular ocean views

What to Know The roads in and out of La Jolla are narrow and can back up easily. Be prepared for traffic.

Due to its beauty and popularity, parking at La Jolla shores fills up quickly.

Arrive early in the morning or late in the afternoon.

Comfortable and balmy weather typically arrives in September, just as the crowds thin, and lasts well into December.

HOMELAND HOMELAND/ / May May2014 2014 25 25

Just For Fun

DID YOU KNOW?

2014

MEMORIAL DAY

Did You Know the origins of Memorial Day go back to the Civil War, when more lives were lost than in any other war in US history.

Did You Know Memorial day was first celebrated on May 30, 1868 after the civil war.

Did You Know New York was the 1st state to officially recognize Memorial Day. Did You Know several towns claim to be the originators of Memorial Day but Congress declared Waterloo, New York, to be the birthplace of the holiday in 1966.

Did You Know on Memorial Day; the flag should be at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff.

Did You Know the poppy was inspired by (World War I-era) John McCrae poem “In Flanders Fields”

Did You Know Memorial Day was first called “Decoration Day” because of the practice of decorating soldier’s graves with flowers.

Did You Know Memorial Day was declared a federal holiday in 1971.

Did You Know In 1971 Memorial Day was declared a national holiday to be celebrated the last Monday in May, thus beginning the tradition of federal three-day holiday weekends.

Did You Know an additional observance on Memorial Day is the moment of remembrance, a minute of silence at 3PM local time on Memorial Day. This became law in 2000.

Did You Know on the Thursday before Memorial Day, soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry (The

Old Guard) place small American flags at each of the more than 260,000 gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery. They patrol the cemetery 24 hours a day during the weekend to ensure that each flag remains standing.

Did You Know this tradition, called “Flags In”, has been in place since 1948.

Did You Know Memorial Day traditionally marks the start of summer, while Labor Day traditionally marks the end.

Happy Memorial Day to everyone…and thank you to all the troops and families that sacrifice so much for us.

Fact Check We strive for accuracy and fairness.

But if you see something that doesn’t look right, contact us! (info@homelandmagazine.com)

Did You Know Red Poppies are recognized as the Memorial Day flower.

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May 2014 / HOMELAND

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Griner, a lot of sports fans may like to see it actually happen. Could the 6’8” Griner actually compete against the men?

Would it just be a publicity stunt, or could she actually be as successful?

We may never know, but it’s definitely a fun conversation to think about.

TOP TEN Endless Sports Debates 10 Should College Athletes Be Paid?

With all the revenue college players bring to school through merchandise sales, sporting events and sponsorships, the debate will continue to rage on until the NCAA sets a fair alternative. Whether you do or don’t think student-athletes should be paid, it’s common to see both sides of the story with this one.

9 Should Athletes Be Paid as Much as They Are? This one’s tricky—especially when you consider that the rest of the country is still locked in a crappy economy. Sports are a chance for fans to be around something they’re passionate about, while escaping for a couple hours from their normal lives. But just because athletes entertain us with their great performances and improbable athleticism, do they really deserve to be paid millions of dollars for that?

8 Could a Woman Play in a Man’s Sport?

Thanks to the Mavs’ Mark Cuban suggesting he’d at least consider the option of drafting former Baylor star Brittney

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7 Who’s the Best Team Ever?

This is where things can get extremely tricky because of the strength, speed and all around talent of today’s athletes. It’s easy to say that the Celtics team that won 11 NBA titles in 13 years—including eight-straight—from ‘57-’69 are without a doubt the best team in pro basketball. Or that the Steelers who won four Super Bowls in six seasons hold the NFL’s crown.

But with different generations, rules and playing styles, we’ll never really know unless someone can warp time to have teams play each other in their primes.

6 What’s the Greatest Individual Record in Sports?

There are so many great ones that it was tough to just limit them.

Can someone ever break Wilt’s 100-point game? How about DiMaggio’s Hit Streak? While these are great to debate in themselves, the question of which one is truly the best is something fans talk about when trying to decide.

5 How Should 2 Michael Jordan or Someone Else?

MLB Handle Steroid Users When It Comes to the Hall of Fame?

If you ask any baseball purest—say, like a baseball writer who actually votes for the Hall of Fame—the answer will most likely be “no way.” But who’s to say that in 15 years that will still be the consensus?

With increased testing and research on the stuff, at some point we may see voters just accept the steroid era for what it was and get guys like Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire a bronze plaque.

4 Best Hockey Player Ever?

You can’t argue with a guy whose nickname was literally, “The Great One,” so we absolutely believe it’s Wayne Gretzky.

But before getting ahead of ourselves, we need to respect the past and look at all that Gordie Howe did for the game of hockey while he played. With numerous records and the moniker of being the best ever already associated with him, we think most people would say Gretzky, but it may be closer than you’d think.

Like most sports fans in the ‘90s, we grew up absolutely idolizing Michael Jordan.

So while we never saw guys like Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Magic or Bird play in their primes, we are absolutely convinced that Jordan was the ultimate champion and best basketball player to ever play.

Could someone overtake him? Sure. Has there been anyone better before him? Not in our opinion.

1 Who’s the Biggest Bust in Sports History?

3 Will Pete Rose Ever Be Reinstated?

As most of us know, Pete Rose is Major League Baseball’s alltime hits leader.

The clear problem is that he also openly admitted to betting on baseball while managing the Reds, making him blackballed from the game. It’s hard for us to imagine him not getting reinstated and being awarded his proper place in Cooperstown, but with each passing year, his chances continue to be slim.

Each year, we see hundreds of new players get drafted or signed to professional sports teams. While we hope that all the scouting teams do pay off and those players turn out the way most expect, we’ve seen over the years that sometimes organizations just drop the ball. From dudes like Michael Olowokandi and Darko Milicic in the NBA, to Ryan Leaf and JaMarcus Russell in the NFL, it’s actually pretty fun to debate who we think had the most unfortunate careers.

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