Homeland Resources Support Inspiration
Vol. 2 Number 11 • November 2015
Veterans Day Honoring All Those Who Served Defying The Odds Together The Wounded Warrior Project Gary Sinise Honor. Gratitude. Rock n’ Roll. The Disappearing “Greatest Generation” Transitioning Military Personnel Education/Careers
HOMELAND / November 2015 1
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EDITOR’S
LETTER
Homeland Publisher Michael J. Miller Contributing Writers CJ Machado Vicki Garcia Linda Kreter Vesta Anderson Keith Angelin Christopher W. Diem Scott McGaugh Public Relations Linda Kreter CJ Machado Graphic Design Trevor Watson
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 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. With warmest thanks, Michael J. Miller, Publisher 4
HOMELAND / November 2015
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 9750 Miramar Road, Suite 315 San Diego, CA 92126
858.240.0333 Contact Homeland Magazine at: info@homelandmagazine.com
Homeland Inside This Issue
6 The Disappearing Greatest Generation 10 Defying The Odds Together 12 REBOOT Workshop 14 Project Management: How Service Members Get It Done.
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17 Enlisted To Entrepreneur 20 Gary Sinise: Honor. Gratitude. Rock n’ Roll. 22 San Diego Celebrates Greatest Generation Parade
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24 Keeping The Wall Refreshed And Clean 28 Appreciating Military Families 30 Helping Substance Abuser 31 Stress Management For Well Being
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32 Veterans Day- Interesting Facts
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HOMELAND / November 2015 5
S
The Disappearing Greatest Generation
eventy-one years ago this month, Jim Okubo stood in the snow at the end of a densely forested ridge in the Vosges Mountains of eastern France. He was part of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. One of 16 million Americans who defended our nation in World War II. He was part of America’s Greatest Generation.
We will always honor the Greatest Generation. While we still can, we should shake the hand of very member we meet. By Scott McGaugh
(l-r) Shown here at the USS Midway Museum’s 70th anniversary celebration of the end of World War II, San Diego residents Mas Tsuida and Frank Wada both were members of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team in World War II.
Regrettably, we are losing 500 of them every single day. Every three minutes we lose a national treasure from World War II. Each is irreplaceable, and some are unique. Certainly the legacy of the 442nd RCT is emblematic of not only the Greatest Generation but of the American spirit. Following Pearl Harbor, our vengeful nation incarcerated more than 100,000 Japanese-American citizens only because of their ethnicity. They were sent to desolate internment camps after they were evicted from the homes, pulled out of school, and forced to leave their businesses and family heirlooms behind. All to make the West Coast “secure.” Yet less than a year later, President Franklin Roosevelt authorized the creation of the 442nd RCT. It was to be a unit of young Japanese-American men, many of whom volunteered from behind barbed wire. They volunteered for an army combat unit that would be commanded only by white officers in a segregated military. America was stunned to see more than 11,000 Japanese-Americans volunteer, given the way their country had treated them and their families. Even more remarkably, the 442nd became the most-decorated unit of its size in World War II. Time and again it was assigned some of the toughest battles in Italy and France, leading some to think it was regarded as little more than “cannon fodder” as their casualties rose. Ultimately more than
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18,000 men in the 442nd earned more than 18,000 medals for valor, including 21 Medals of Honor, 588 Silver Stars, 5,200 Bronze Stars, and more than 9,500 Purple Hearts. Jim Okubo, a medic, was one of those young men. The 442nd had just completed a remarkable rescue of 275 trapped soldiers in the Vosges. The 442nd had succeeded after other rescue battalions had failed. The 442nd had suffered more than 600 casualties in five days…before Okubo and the others continued on in the winter push toward the German border in November 1944. We cannot offer Jim a personal thanks. He died in a car accident in 1967 after becoming a dentist. He posthumously received the Medal of Honor 33 years after his death for his role in the rescue. But we still
And that is critical, given how our military is “disappearing” in many ways. Less than one percent of America serves in uniform. The military’s share of the national population hasn’t been this low since the 1930s. Not since the Revolutionary War has a war like what we’ve fought in the Middle East been waged with an all-volunteer force. Yet the overwhelming share of our country has no personal stake—no family member—in the uniformed defense of our nation. As we lose more Greatest Generation members each day, we become more detached from our military. In 1988, 40 percent of Americans had a parent who served in uniform. By 2010 it had fallen to 18 percent. Most grandparents today were born after World War II. A 45-year-old today (meaning nearly all parents) has no personal recollection of Vietnam. Military service and loss on the battlefield no longer are part of the American people’s mosaic.
A Veterans Day
Celebration for All! Honoring the Greatest Generation!
And so it is critical that we pause to honor the Greatest Generation and say thank you at every opportunity. For some, we have waited far too long. Twenty Japanese Americans who earned the Medal of Honor in World War II did not receive it until 2000. Their nominations had been downgraded to a lesser medal during the war. More than five decades later, it was a widow who accepted the Medal of Honor on her husband’s behalf. President Harry Truman might have been talking to the entire Greatest Generation when he welcomed the 442nd home.
G
You are now on your way home. You fought not only the enemy, but you fought prejudice--and you have won. Keep up that fight, and we will continue to win--to make this great Republic stand for just what the Constitution says it stands for: the welfare of all the people all the time.” We will always honor the Greatest Generation. While we still can, we should shake the hand of very member we meet.
Scott McGaugh is the marketing director of the USS Midway Museum and is working on a book about the 442nd, Honor Before Glory, which is slated for publication in October 2015 www.homelandmagazine.com
re a
t e s t G e n e r a ti
on
Wednesday, November 11, 2015 San Diego Blood Bank Blood Drive 10am-3pm
Free museum admission with donation
Veterans Day Parade
“You are to be congratulated on what you have done for this great country of ours. I think it was my predecessor who said that Americanism is not a matter of race or creed, it is a matter of the heart. You fought for the free nations of the world along with the rest of us. I congratulate you on that, and I can’t tell you how very much I appreciate the privilege of being able to show you just how much the United States of America thinks of what you have done.
OF WWII
In other ways the military is disappearing from the American landscape. More than half of military housing complexes of at least 5,000 residents have been eliminated in the last decade. Over the past 20 years, nearly 100 military installations in America have been closed.
Y OF THE AR E RS
D N
This extends to the highest reaches of government. Only about 20 percent of Congress has served in the military, compared with 60 percent in 1969. For the first time in 80 years, all four of our nation’s candidates for president and vice president in 2012 had no military experience.
USS Midway Museum Presents
TH 70 ANNIV E
have the opportunity to thank those Greatest Generation members who are still with us.
11am
NBC 7 Salute to Service Festival 12pm-4pm
Presented by Geico Military
Food • Live entertainment KidzZone • Activities Prizes • Giveaways Vintage war plane flyover and more!
FREE Mu
se Admis um Military sion for Veteran s Nov. 11 th
910 N. Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101
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HOMELAND / November 2015 7
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AmericA’S beSt deServe the beSt. After all you’ve done to protect our country, you deserve the best. That’s why we created the Nissan Military Program—to help you get the best offer on a new Nissan. As part of this program, all active and reserve U.S. military, retired U.S. military, U.S. veterans discharged within the past year, and their spouses and partners can get the same pricing we give our Nissan friends and family. Just visit NissanUSA.com/military, grab your qualified proof of military service and your VPP Claim ID, then head to your local Nissan store1. Our best savings and most exciting innovations are waiting for you.
For more details, visit: NissanUSA.com/military
1
The Department of Defense does not endorse any company, sponsor or their products or services. Always wear your seat belt and please don’t drink and drive. Nissan, the Nissan Brand Symbol, Innovation That Excites, and Nissan model names are Nissan trademarks. ©2015 Nissan North America, Inc. All rights reserved.
HOMELAND / November 2015 9
DEFYING THE ODDS Alumni TOGETHER Survey helps in
veteran recovery
By Vesta M. Anderson
K
eith Sekora, U.S. Air Force veteran, was injured while serving in Afghanistan in 2010. Suffering from four large and approximately 18 mini strokes, Skeora was left with no feeling on the left side of his body and difficulty with recall. “My memory is like a slideshow,” said Sekora. “I forget 70, maybe 80 percent of my day. And I don’t remember a lot of the family stuff. I know it’s in there, I just can’t get to it.” With advancements in battlefield medicine and technology, an unprecedented percentage of service members are surviving combat injuries that would have previously been fatal. To date, more than 52,000 service members have been physically wounded in the current conflicts and it is estimated that as many as 400,000 service members live with the invisible wounds of war, including combat stress, traumatic brain injury (TBI), depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Chris Wolff, also a U.S. Air Force veteran, contracted a virus after taking a mandatory flu shot, paralyzing him from the neck down within 72-hours after being admitted in the hospital. After 33 days, doctors said he would never walk, breath, eat or talk on his own again. “If I had the ability to do it, I probably would have committed suicide,” said Wolff. “I’m trying to yell at myself to move my arms. Pick your stupid arm up. Pick your stupid arm up – that’s all I’m telling myself and nothing is happening.” With self-determination and in defiance of the doctors who diagnosed him, Wolff raised his arm off his bed by a quarter of an inch. He, like many other injured veterans, is willing to put in the work but is in need of innovative programs and services that help in his recovery. In an effort to develop new and refine current programs, services and initiatives that best serve injured veterans, and their families and caregivers, Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) began collecting statistical data from WWP Alumni membership in 2010. This would become known as the annual Alumni Survey – one of the most comprehensive and statistically relevant collections of data on post 9/11 veterans. Each subsequent survey provides updates to the previous year’s results, highlighting trends among its Alumni, comparing outcomes with other military populations and measuring the impact and mix of WWP services and programs. Sekora and Wolff would later meet at a camp teaching an introduction for adaptive sports – a program and service like others that stemmed from the information collected during the annual Alumni Survey. This meeting would forever change the course of their recovery. At Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP), injured veterans who enroll with the organization are considered “Alumni” referring to the belief that each person is from the same school—selfless service and sacrifice—and shares common experiences that allow each to be there for the other in ways unique to service
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brothers and sisters. By becoming peer mentors, warriors who once were the warrior being carried have the opportunity to become the warrior who carries others, thus embodying and living the WWP logo of one warrior carrying another. “Being around somebody that just understood what you were trying to do and how hard it was, it just clicked,” explained Sekora of his instant bond and friendship with fellow veteran and WWP Alumnus, Chris Wolff. The two injured warriors were chosen by WWP to receive service dogs through K-9 Care of Montana. The puppies were of the same litter, further linking their bond as a family. Today, the two Alumni look back at their journey together.
“The hardest thing is Fear,” said Sekora. “Fear is a natural emotion that everyone has. It’s the ability to push past it that helps you move on.” Wolff expands, “Looking back at where we were and being able to see where we are now – and the only way we got there was with each other’s strength. We got there together.” The 2015 Wounded Warrior Project® annual Alumni Survey is the sixth planned administration of the survey, revealing notable results in Mental and Physical Health, and Economic areas. These statistics will help further shape the organization and support injured service members in their transformation to a new normal. To view the full Alumni Survey, visit http://www. woundedwarriorproject.org/survey.
About Wounded Warrior Project The mission of Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) is to honor and empower Wounded Warriors. WWP’s purpose is to raise awareness and to 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. WWP is a national, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. For more information on WWP and its free programs and services, visit woundedwarriorproject.org or call the Resource Center at 888.WWP.ALUM (997.2586), Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST. www.homelandmagazine.com
HOMELAND / November 2015 11
REBOOT your LIFE after the military! [REBOOT] To reload the operating system and start over. A reboot often solves many software problems in computers, smartphones, tablets, cable boxes and other electronics devices, because it resets the system. 12
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THE TRANSITION TO CIVILIAN LIFE IS NOT A JOB CHANGE……. IT IS A LIFE CHANGE!
THE CHALLENGE
Each year over 200,000 service members transition from the military with over 50% of them going on 22 weeks of unemployment insurance. Survey results show that 81 percent of transitioning military personnel do not “feel fully prepared for the process of entering the job market.” And unfortunately, the military’s Transition Assistance Program is not designed to address the cultural needs of members leaving the service.
THE SOLUTION
In 2010 the National Veterans Transition Service Inc. (NVTSI) created REBOOT Workshops™. REBOOT Workshops™ are designed to meet an acute need for robust military to civilian transition program and close the gap. By addressing transition issues at their root cause, NVTSI and its network of partners helps transitioning service members, veterans and spouses successfully transitioning from the military-to-civilian world through a three phased, 15-day intensive workshop that empowers them with resiliency and self sufficiency. The goal of the workshop is to assist veterans in reframing their thought patterns from military service to civilian life, with all veterans achieving, within their potential, their unique goals in the TRANSITION DOMAINS of: Employment and Career, Education, Living Situation, Personal Effectiveness & Wellbeing and Community-Life Functioning. The results of the the program after five years is a 97% success rate for over 1300 REBOOT graduates. Discover how you can REBOOT your life after military service at: www.REBOOT.vet ABOUT NATIONAL VETERANS TRANSITION SERVICES, INC. (NVTSI)
NVTSI is a San Diego-based 501(c)3 organization dedicated to assisting veterans in adjusting to civilian life and securing meaningful employment by combining best practice performance social solutions and techniques. The organization provides returning service members and veterans with a social and career transition workshop program called“REBOOT.” NVTSI was established by a group of retired high-ranking Naval and Marine Corps officers and workforce development professionals who seek to fill a tremendous gap in the continuum of veteran services. The REBOOT Workshops™ was designed by NVTSI in collaboration with our partners; The Pacific Institute® and; Operation Legacy™, bringing together the best in class cognitive behavioral training solutions proven to achieve results.
National Veterans Transition Services, Inc. aka REBOOT 4007 Camino Del Rio South, Suite 203, San Diego CA 92108 Phone: 619-822-2701 Fax:866-535-7624 Email: reboot@nvtsi.org Web: www.REBOOT.vet
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HOMELAND / November 2015 13
The Path to the Project Management Professional Certification: How Service Members Can Get It Done By: Christopher W. Diem, MA, PMP, CWO3, USMC (Retired)
M
y appointment to Warrant Officer and subsequent transfer to working at The Pentagon began my formal understanding and passion for project management in 2007. I was assigned as a Project Officer in two primary areas within my section, each dealing with database development and records management systems. The military accomplishes tasks through “missions”. The missions generally have specific start and end dates, objectives to meet, and an evaluation pertaining to the success (or failure) of the mission. The Project Management Professional® (PMP®) certification through the Project Management Institute® (PMI®) receives recognition as the gold standard for the project management profession around the world. Ultimately, military missions are simply projects; since they are projects, they can be translated and used towards PMI requirements for certification. In 2013 I earned my Project Management Professional certification. The formality of earning my PMP certification fully began after I returned from a tour in Afghanistan in 2012. The PMI has several requirements for taking the PMP Exam. The initial prerequisites are education and experience leading and directing projects. Many educational institutions have programs satisfying PMI’s educational requirements. California Miramar University programs meet
PMI’s standards and further information about their programs can be found at www.calmu.edu. The degree requirements and the 35 hours of project management education are fairly easy to satisfy. The somewhat perceived obstacle is the project hours (4,500 or 7,500); however, military members have an easier time satisfying the project hour requirement than they may initially believe. (Complete detailes are available on the PMI website: www.pmi.org) There are five Project Management Process Groups (Initiation, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, and Closing). I suggest writing a list of projects in which you have participated during your career. You cannot claim hours for two different projects during the same month if days overlap. I faced this issue when I was listing my major projects at The Pentagon. Since the projects overlapped, I chose the project in which I invested more hours and where I worked more of the Process Groups. Once you have figured out you have enough project hours, have met the educational requirements, and studied for the test, submit your application with PMI and schedule the exam. The PMI exam is difficult and will require dedication to prepare. I recommend purchasing the Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK®), a secondary PMP book with practice tests and flash cards. I prepared well and passed the test on my first attempt.
I suggest becoming a member of Project Management Institute. You do not have to be a certified Project Manager to join. As a member, I received some great insight through resources and learned more about project management by attending events and reading articles accessible to members on www.pmi.org. The PMI also has local chapters around the world and I am a member of the San Diego chapter. Information about the San Diego chapter can be found at www.pmi-sd.org. We have a variety of monthly events, most of them counting towards Professional Development Units (PDU). Plus, the events are a great place to share ideas and network with other professionals. Since so many organizations utilize project management, I encourage you to put your military training and experience to work for you and earn your PMP certification. I welcome your questions and I am happy to discuss Project Management in more detail. Contact the author:
Christopher W. Diem at California Miramar University www.calmu.edu 858-653-3000 *PMP, PMI and PMBOK are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.
California Miramar University, in San Diego, CA is committed to supporting our military and veteran students. The university is VA Approved and Accredited by Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges & Schools (ACICS). The university is committed to offering very affordable tuition. At California Miramar University faculty are known both for their excellence in their chosen field and passion for teaching. Students may complete their courses 100% online from anywhere in the world or attend hybrid classes on our San Diego campus. Visit: www.calmu.edu or call 858-653-3000 for more information.
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California Miramar University offers the following degree programs. You are invited to call the university and set an appointment with the CMU military advisor to discuss all of the options available. Associate of Science Degree in Business Administration Bachelor of Science in Business Administration / Business Administration Bachelor of Science in Business Administration / International Business Bachelor of Science in Business Administration / Finance Bachelor of Science in Business Administration / Health Care Management Bachelor of Science in Business Administration / Marketing Bachelor of Science in Business Administration / Criminal Justice Bachelor of Science in Business Administration / Homeland Security Master of Business Administration (MBA) / Finance Master of Business Administration (MBA) / International Business Administration Master of Business Administration (MBA) / Marketing Master of Business Administration (MBA) / Health Care Management Master of Business Administration (MBA) / Business Administration
Thank you for serving our country & protecting our freedoms!
Master of Business Administration (MBA) / Technology Management Master of Science in Strategic Leadership Doctor of Business Administration / International Business Administration Doctor of Business Administration / Marketing Doctor of Business Administration/ Strategic Management
www.calmu.edu
Doctor of Business Administration / Finance
858-653-3000
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE ! OPEN TO ACTIVE MILITARY, TRANSITIONING, VETERANS AND MILITARY SPOUSES
Made possible through a grant by the Frank M. and Gertrude R. Doyle Foundation
$5,000.00 scholarships to each recipient for the following degree programs: q Bachelor of Science in Business Administration q Master of Business Administration q Master of Science in Strategic Leadership
Check out our already low tuition and save your benefits!
www.calmu.edu
• Online and hybrid programs available • Hybrid students meet once per week for 4 hours and complete remaining assignments using our online learning system! Hybrid is a perfect blend of in class and online!
Located across from MCAS Miramar California Miramar University 9750 Miramar Rd. San Diego, CA. 92126 * Accredited
Call admissions now to reserve your scholarship.
858-653-3000 ext 12 admissions@calmu.edu
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HOMELAND / November 2015 15
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enlisted to entrepreneur
For the month of November
says:
By Vicki Garcia
November is Business Planning Time
A
s the Cheshire cat in Alice in Wonderland said, “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.” As an entrepreneur, planning can save money and frustration down the road. Taking a little time determining your goals, setting your strategy in place, developing tactics in advance and focusing on your business practices, rather than shooting from the seat of your pants can mean the difference between success and failure. Sounds a little like a military campaign, doesn’t it? There are many elements to business planning. Since you’re likely a small business, don’t get confused with all the corporate stuff you hear. Keep these things in mind. Plan in small, manageable steps no further than 12 months out, with 3-month “Action Step” boxes to check off. Put it in writing. A plan in your head is no plan at all. The very act of writing it down is powerful. Study your competition. Don’t invent the wheel. The route to success is in doing what someone else is doing, only better. Target your customer. You can’t be all things to all people. Leave that to Walmart. Strategy comes first. Marketing tactics are a result of a strategy. Don’t spend money on marketing without a strategy. Be skeptical about all the marketing promises on the internet. Set goals. Goals are measurable, practical and time specific. Everything is about the goal. Make a commitment to your plan. This is code for be prepared to spend money on it. Not lots of money, but consistent money.
for your service by offering you
20%OFF Any Service/Repair
Toyotas only. Please present coupon at time of purchase. Cannot be combined with any other offer or discount and cannot be applied toward previous purchases. Valid only at Frank Toyota. Active and retired military I.D. required. Expires 11/31/2015.
Buy 3 tires and get the 4th for $1* And enjoy 24-month road hazard protection included in the price of your tires.** * Restrictions apply. See participating Toyota dealer for details. OEM, OEA and WIN replacement tires only. Tires must be dealer installed. Three tires at regular price, fourth tire for one dollar. Fourth tire must be of equal or lesser value value. Excludes mounting & balancing, sales tax, shop supplies, tire disposal, & other applicable taxes. Excludes previous purchases. Toyota & Scion vehicles only. Offer only available at participating Toyota dealers 11/1/15 - 11/31/15. ** Exclusions apply. See your participating Toyota dealership for details. Active and retired military I.D. required. Expires 11/31/2015.
Free battery check • Free alignment check • Free tire tread reading • Free health & check engine light readings • Free multipoint inspection with any paid service.
We want you to succeed. And, we’re willing to help you for free. Visit www.mindmasters.com, a San Diego based organization that puts together groups of entrepreneurs in think tanks to learn and support each other. You are invited to two meetings, no charge! Vicki Garcia is the Co-Founder of Veteran Entrepreneurs Today. and the Boss of the marketing firm, Marketing Impressions, with 30 years helping small business owners succeed. Learn about and apply for V.E.T. at http:// veteranentrepreneurstoday.org or fill out an application at https://www. surveymonkey.com/r/veteran-entrepreneur
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HOMELAND / November 2015 17
SeaWorld San Diego Veterans Admissions Offered Extended Through End Of Year
M
ilitary veterans and up to three guests invited to enjoy complimentary admission during tribute program
SeaWorld® San Diego’s tribute program honoring the men and women who have previously served as members of the U.S. armed services has now been extended through the end of the year. Previously offered through Veterans Day, the Waves of Honor ticket offer provides complimentary admission to SeaWorld San Diego for the military veteran and up to three additional guests. Veterans must register online at www. WavesofHonor.com in advance, and verify their proof of service through the ID.me qualification
process. SeaWorld is working with ID.me to provide an online verification of former military personnel in a secure and privacy-enhancing manner. Once veterans and their guests have registered online, they can bring their e-tickets directly to the park’s entrance turnstiles. Tickets must be obtained and redeemed by Dec. 31, 2015. “We greatly appreciate the service and sacrifice of our veterans and retirees, and have recognized them prior to the start of our killer whale show every day for the past several years,” said John Reilly, SeaWorld’s park president. “This year we’d like to extend our appreciation further by offering them free admission through Veterans Day. Our hope is they will share an enjoyable
visit to the park with families and friends.” SeaWorld has paid tribute to active duty service members through a complimentary ticket programs for the military since 2003 with more than two million members of the U.S. and allied armed forces and their families having visited the park for free. SeaWorld has also offered a number of complimentary admission programs to teachers and emergency first responders in the last 12 years. Last year, the park provided a limited-time discounted offer for veterans that was very well received. For more information, contact Dave Koontz, SeaWorld Public Relations at (619) 226-3619.
We Salute Our Veterans! A one-time limited free admission to SeaWorld® San Diego per veteran service member & up to 3 guests. Go to WavesofHonor.com to register for and obtain your free admissions.
ONLINE ONLY* — Free Veterans’ Waves of Honor admission tickets must be obtained in advance through the online registration process. *These tickets not available at the SeaWorld ticket windows. Offer available now through Dec. 31, 2015. Ticket is non-transferrable, non-refundable and not for sale. Not valid with any other discounts, offers and has no upgrade value. Offer expires 12/31/15. © 2015 SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. All rights reserved.
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HOMELAND / November 2015 19
Gary Sinise Honor. Gratitude. Rock n’ Roll.
“We can never do enough to show gratitude to our nation’s defenders, we can always do a little more” –Gary Sinise
T
his Veterans Day as we pay tribute to all veterans, active service members and their families, we need to take a moment to thank the organizations and veteran supporters that make a difference in the lives of our nation’s defenders. Gary Sinise embodies the sentiment of President Calvin Coolidge when he said, “The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten.” Taking this statement to heart, Gary Sinise lives his life to ensure our nation’s defenders are not forgotten. In recognition of his continued support of our service men and women, this year the USMC Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation (FLHF) awarded Gary Sinise the FLHF Distinguished Service Award. This award is the highest honor that the Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation can bestow on an individual. The recipient must demonstrate extraordinary qualities of leadership, integrity, service, philanthropy and patriotism and have made contributions to our American heritage by truly giving of himself/herself to his/her community, state, country and fellow man. The FLHF Distinguished Service Award was established in 2012 and there have only been three recipients: Major Glenn Ferguson in 2013, Lt. Colonel Gerald “Jerry” Coleman in 2014 and Gary A. Sinise in 2015. The USMC Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation is based in San Diego, CA and it is
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the only Museum dedicated solely to preserving Marine Aviation history. For more information on the FLHF Distinguished Service Award, visit: https://www. flyingleathernecks.org/distinguished-serviceaward/ Many years after his role as ‘Lt. Dan’ from the 1994 box office hit ‘Forrest Gump’, Gary Sinise was inspired to form the ‘Lt. Dan Band’ to entertain troops all around the world. Gary Sinise founded his namesake foundation in 2011, which actively reaches out to service members, veterans and their families. 18 thousand people have donated or volunteered to help with the foundation to date. The Foundation has many facets of recognition and support for our nation’s service members. One of their new programs is dedicated to supporting First Responders and recognizing the heroism that they demonstrate in their local communities on a daily basis. The First Responders Outreach program was inspired by the men and women that met the challenge of the tragic day’s events on September 11th, 2001 with their actions of courage and bravery. This program gives grants for training and vehicles to fire fighters across the country. Two Lt Dan Vans, a trailer and a Lt. Dan Rescue boat as well
as training support for 45 firefighters in Colorado are just some of the ways that the Gary Sinise Foundation has provided support since the start of the outreach program. The Lt. Dan Band has played for troops, veterans and the United Service Organizations (USO) all around the world. They raise the spirits of the veterans and troops but they also help raise funds and awareness within the community. For over a dozen years, the band has been showing honor and gratitude through Rock n’ Roll and has performed over 300 concerts, inspiring the youth of America to honor and support our nation’s service members. The Gary Sinise Foundation is a partner with American Airlines, MGM Resorts International and the USO in the 7th annual “A Salute to the Troops” weekend in Las Vegas. A group of wounded service members from around the country will be flown in to Las Vegas for an amazing weekend, including a live performance by Gary Sinise and the Lt Dan Band. The “Salute to the Troops” concert will be held on Saturday November 14th at the Freemont Street Experience. The band will pay tribute to our veterans, near and far. The Freemont Street Experience is open to the public and is free for all to enjoy. http://vegasexperience.com/calendar/ free-concert-gary-sinise-the-lt-dan-band/ www.homelandmagazine.com
The Lt. Dan Band is also featured at the Invincible Spirit Festivals sponsored by the Gary Sinise Foundation. They are organized all across the country to spread the spirit of gratitude and honor for our veterans. The day long festivals bring a fair-like atmosphere to the veteran’s hospitals and rehabilitation centers across the nation. The festivals have given over 50K servicemen and women, their families and hospital staff a way to relax and enjoy the day. During the live performance of the Lt. Dan Band, a BBQ cookout headed by celebrity chef Robert Irvine, a Gary Sinise Foundation ambassador, feeds the hungry, happy crowd.
local network of support is key to the success of a transitioning warrior.” Dr. Bonar gives “Smiles for Heroes” because a confident smile can change a life. http:// tinyurl.com/SmilesForHeroes Thank you Gary Sinise for honoring OUR veterans and inspiring America. “While we can never do enough to show gratitude to our nation’s defenders, we can always do a little more” –Gary Sinise
By CJ Machado
During WWII, the ‘Greatest Generation’ defended our country with sheer determination and valor. The Soaring Valor program is a partnership with the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana. This program will document the individual stories of WWII heroes and preserve them for future generations. The personal stories will create a “Living Library” so we will never forget the contributions that many brave service members gave for the liberty of our nation. Less than 2% of Americans volunteer to defend this country and many are forever wounded in its service. The Gary Sinise Foundation’s R.I.S.E. program stands for Restoring Independence and Supporting Empowerment for wounded veterans. Many families are unable to cope and retrofit homes or vehicles to help our wounded heroes to excel as civilians. Wheel chairs, track chairs and special vehicles given through this program have changed the lives of those in need. Smart technology homes that are custom made for the severely wounded veterans are tailored to the needs of each recipient warrior. Independence starts with the homes, but community support is also vital to the success of the service member in transition. To date, 36 of these homes have been built or are under construction. The Gary Sinise Foundation’s community network has inspired some fans to create local veteran outreach programs. Not all have the ability to build homes, but we can all give back locally, doing what you can, where you are. Dr. Leslie Bonar’s ‘Smiles for Heroes’ program has done just that. Located in Escondido, CA, Dr. Bonar’s program reaches out through her dental practice to help veterans in need of dental work in her community. She has adopted the Gary Sinise Foundation’s philosophy of “community”, “A strong www.homelandmagazine.com
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City of San Diego Celebrates Veteran’s Week with Colorful “70th Anniversary of World War II America’s Greatest Generation” Parade By Vicki Garcia
The San Diego Veterans Day Parade produced by “Veterans Week San Diego,” an all-volunteer team of Veterans and citizens of all ages and walks of life, is dedicated to honoring Veterans annually during “Veterans Week,” as a program event of the Veterans Memorial Center. Viewing Areas. Travel to the Parade. Grand Stands. Parking. The 2015 Parade starts at 11:00 am November 11, 2015, on N Harbor Drive. The Start Line is in the vicinity of the Fountain Plaza in front of the County Administration Building. The one mile route proceeds south on N Harbor Drive past a long row of grand stands, and past Broadway, and past the USS Midway, and continues on Harbor Drive one block east to Pacific Highway to turn LEFT onto Pacific Highway to finish there in the Dismissal Area. Parade Viewing Areas offer great viewing along the entire route from the Start Line south. There is excellent viewing along N Harbor Drive, along both sides of the street all the way to Pacific Highway. (No Viewing Areas or spectator access is available behind the Start Line, including the sidewalks behind the Start Line, which are within the Marshaling Area
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According to Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer, City of San Diego “In San Diego County, there are over 240,000 veterans and in the city we know that veterans are woven into every thread of our social fabric. Our veterans’ community are our police officers, lawyers, doctors and city government workers. Put simply, we love and cherish our San Diego veterans, who help make our home Americas Finest City.” and is closed to all persons except Parade Staff and parading entrants who are Marshaled prior to their starting orders.) Grand Stands on the west side of N Harbor Drive between the Start Line and Ash Street will have one Reserved Section with “Honor Seating” Section reserved for World War II Veterans, and several open sections with seats available for first come first served. Warning! Parking is extremely limited in the Parade area, and one-half hour walking time
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should be allowed to reach a viewing area after parking on streets downtown or in Little Italy or on W Harbor Drive parking locations in vicinity of the Convention Center. Make an afternoon of it. Travel to the Parade is best by Trolley, from any Green, Orange or Blue Line Trolley Station with parking for autos and trucks. Arrival at the Santa Fe Depot station downtown, or at any prior stop on any of the three lines, will place parade viewers within one or two block walks to prime viewing areas. Check
out one of the great small restaurants in the downtown area for lunch after the parade. The Veterans Museum at Balboa Park honors the men and women who served their country in the U.S. Armed Forces and Wartime Merchant Marine by documenting their contributions and experiences and preserving their legacy for future generations through their individual stories.
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Keeping the wall refreshed and clean By Linda Kreter
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still remember when I first visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC. Clear memory has blurred over the years, but not the first glimpse of that black granite slash of a wall with the carved names of 58,195 fallen in the jungles in Vietnam. My uncle served two tours – and I am forever grateful that his name is absent from this bold and moving memorial to courage and valor. The Vietnam War was very controversial; the draft, the anti-war protests, the enormous body count, and residual hideous effects of Agent Orange, the defoliating agent used to clear areas to see the guerrilla fighters. The Memorial Wall itself created controversy when in an anonymous selection process, former Yale student, 21-year old Maya Lin’s design was chosen. Its cunningly simple wall design with 58,195 names carved into the granite was confusing in a town full of more traditional memorials. Later two statues were added to satisfy that debate; the Three Servicemen Statue and the Vietnam Women’s Memorial Stature to offset the feelings of some that the Wall was merely a giant tombstone. Today, the Wall is one of the most visited sites in Washington, DC. In the beginning when the wall was opened in 1982, many veterans could only bear to visit the Memorial at night; to be unseen and to privately mourn their fallen friends and memories. Some veterans have never visited the wall, and instead close the door on that part of their past. But for those that visit, most feel a fascinating need to locate, then touch or trace the name of their loved one. Over time, those finger and hand smudges and tracings leave marks, and so does nature. The National Park Service is formally tasked with keeping the Memorial clean, but later efforts were augmented with the help of volunteers, led by veteran Jan Scruggs of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, who was discouraged that bird droppings had filled in some of the engraved names. Mr. Scruggs is known to have handed 37 toothbrushes to visiting veterans one day, who then scrubbed the grime away. Today, veteran’s organizations and the Park Service work more closely together and every spring and summer weekends, volunteer cleanings take place. Mementoes left at the wall are collected daily, catalogued, and added to the Memorial Collection. The wall is washed early in the morning, as sunrise is the rare time when the wall is not busy with visitors. Though this is a solemn task, many speak of the honor and humility they feel in reviving and refreshing the dark granite wall, making it pristine for the coming week’s visitors. Volunteers are welcomed, as are children (who are often the great-great-grandchildren of those named on the wall) who wash the lower portions of the wall where they can reach. It is not difficult physical work, but it can be intense, and even a time of draining remembrance. Each year, over 3,000,000 visitors will come to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Powerful, sobering, proud, and very compelling – we honor our Vietnam Veterans and those whose names will be literally touched and renewed every week. For more information on visiting or volunteering to clean the Wall, contact the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund at www.vvmf.org, or call them at 202-393-0090.
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The wall is washed early in the morning, as sunrise is the rare time when the wall is not busy with visitors. Though this is a solemn task, many speak of the honor and humility they feel in reviving and refreshing the dark granite wall, making it pristine for the coming week’s visitors.
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Tips to Thanking our Troops on Veterans Day
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eterans Day was inaugurated after World War I, to celebrate its ending and to honor the soldiers that fought in it. The Armistice of that war happened on the 11th day of the 11th month at 1100 hours. Hence, we honor the sacrifices and services of all US veterans on November 11th to this day. To most, Veterans Day is a day off work and time to relax, party, watch a parade and have fun. And that is normal. It is the same with most US veterans too. It is another needed day of rest. Since America’s emergence as a major world power in the 20th century, our Christian foundations have fostered in us a national conscience that seeks to defend the starving, victims of famine and disaster, and people in any nation that are imprisoned or killed for their race, religion or color. We use our military might to save and defend people, continuously, all over the world. Sometimes, this requires us to become involved in armed conflict with their persecutors. Sometimes, we declare war on dictators and despots. As a result, America is involved in almost every conflict requiring combat forces, and has been for over 70 years, since World War II. As a result, America has the most formidable military might on the planet. Our destructive capabilities are greater than the rest of the world’s, combined. And our military members are the best trained, educated, technically elite, and prepared armed forces anywhere. They are extraordinary men and
women. For various reasons they have all volunteered to defend us until death. More than a million of these highly trained and disciplined US veterans are looking for companies to give them a decent job. 2.5 million Veteran owned businesses need the rest of us to patronize their establishments and purchase their goods and services. Another way to thank and to support our troops is to give those who need it an opportunity to earn some extra money by helping you with chores and repairs around your home, yard or business. These are one day/ off duty jobs that your local US military and their spouses will reply to. Recent US veterans who have not yet gotten their feet back on solid ground may also apply. – Just describe the job and say where it is and how much you will pay. Then leave your name and phone number. Go to HirePatriots.com and click One Day Jobs. Give a local sailor, Marine or their spouse a chore to do to help them pay their bills today. You can also donate to local US veteran charities. I suggest giving to smaller non-profits. The big ones are top heavy with huge salaries. Type into your address bar “San Diego Charities,” then click the link that says: “6 Reputable Veteran Charities to Support.”
Mark Baird US Veteran Employer and Advocate
CFC# 45816
Support Our Military Veterans “We provide legal support, veteran-oriented seminars, and mentorships at no cost to the veteran or their family.”
Donate today!
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November Events
Sunday, Nov. 8 – Stop by to make a holiday card for military
heroes. Sponsored by the American Red Cross
Tuesday, Nov. 10 – Last day to drop off business clothes for military women. Sponsored by CALVET, the VETFUND and San Diego Chamber of Commerce Tuesday, Nov. 10 – FREE Tuesday for San Diego County
residents, Arts for all, Aztec therapy dogs and military movies
Wednesday, Nov. 11 – Celebrating Veterans Day with FREE admission to the public
Veterans Museum at Balboa Park 2115 Park Boulevard, San Diego 619.239.2300 Open – Tuesday through Sunday 10 am to 4 pm
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Appreciating Military Families: Who They Are and Where They Are
“Our nation owes each day of security and freedom that we enjoy to the members of our Armed Forces and their families. Behind our brave service men and women, there are family members and loved ones who share in their sacrifice and provide unending support.” – President Obama
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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, has 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.
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 installations.
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.
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.
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
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.
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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.
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By Keth Angelin
Helping a Chronic Substance Abuser Face Reality
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f someone you love is chemically dependent, then the rules of the household are probably all shot to hell. A good way to improve the situation is to redefine your relationship on paper in the form of an agreement. A good “boundaries agreement” will benefit you as much as them. It takes the responsibility for recovery off your shoulders and puts it all on theirs, where it belongs. That way, if they don’t stay sober, they will be punishing themselves.
Those of us who are chemically dependent do not like reality. However, our freedom to avoid reality depends on your unwillingness to enforce the rules. Of course, we are very skilled at manipulating you into being this way. Our bag of tricks includes fits of rage, blaming, guilting, lying, withdrawing and sarcasm. Over time, we wear you down so the rules apply to everyone but us. You become so intimidated that you will do anything to avoid upsetting us. On the rare occasion we do stick to our word - however insignificant the incident, we make you feel like we are doing you the biggest favor in the world. Sound familiar? Boundaries are like rules, but they are from your perspective, not the perspective of the chemically dependent person. Is there
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a difference? Yes... a big one. You cannot force the addict to stick to your rules. That is their decision. However, you can specify where their behavior crosses the boundary marking where your responsibilities begin. For example, you cannot control whether someone uses illegal drugs away from the home. However, using those drugs on your property puts you at risk. A boundaries agreement protects you from becoming responsible for their problems.
Many families are unsuccessful at implementing rules. Typically they run into one of two difficulties. Either they issue rules without any consequences, or, the consequences are never enforced. Unlike the past, the new agreement will have clear consequences for unacceptable behavior. Equally important, it will be made clear that the consequences are to be enforced swiftly and without exception. Anything less will send the abuser mixed messages, causing you to lose all credibility while giving them more reasons to use. Implementing boundaries is an act of love. Ideally a boundaries agreement is created with input from all parties, because when everyone has a say in what affects them, they are more likely to support it. It should be written as a contract, read and signed by
all and posted on the refrigerator. In a coparenting situation, it should be posted on both refrigerators. The first boundary should always be that they stay “clean and sober”. There is no “grace period”. Beginning with the very first time a boundary is violated, you need only point to the agreement. Consequences become the automatic result of unacceptable behavior. You can tell the abuser that you sympathize with their situation. You can tell the abuser that you love them and wish it hadn’t come to this. You can tell the abuser that it just plain sucks. But, you cannot change the consequences they have brought on by their actions. Chronic substance abusers desperately need structure. So, you aren’t doing us any favors by not enforcing boundaries. You are simply “enabling” us to avoid reality, walk all over you and kill ourselves with chemicals. Think about that the next time you are considering whether to let us get away with breaking the rules. We might not appreciate your efforts at this moment, but we will thank you later, I promise. Get more information about helping a chronic substance abuser to face reality. Order the At Home Recovery Handbook from Amazon.com.
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S
tress... it’s a word we’ve been taught to steer clear of since birth, but through the course of life and human experience, we find out that it’s totally unavoidable. But here’s the interesting thing... stress is actually necessary, so we’ve put together some tips on how you can decipher the good from the bad and manage the inevitable.
There are signs you can look for to help determine a stress level that’s right for you and you can start by learning the difference between the good and the bad:
Good stress:
Contrary to popular belief, we all need some stress in our lives to move and function, which is why stress management is more important that stress elimination. In fact, finding the right balance between too much and too little stress is an essential part of your overall well-being.
Makes you feel motivated, inspired and focused on doing your best
GOOD stress vs. BAD stress and balancing the right amount
Gives you energy, ambition and enthusiasm Strengthens your immune system
So, how much stress should you allow in your life before it becomes too much and what can you do to manage it all? Well, you must first understand that determining the right amount of stress can be tricky because it varies from person to person and is rooted in perception. For instance, riding on a roller coaster might be delightfully fun for one person, but terrifying for another; or having many demands on you at one time may make you feel energized, but may overwhelm someone else.
Bad stress: Harms your health and well-being, causing symptoms such as headaches, stomach discomfort or insomnia Makes you feel frazzled, frustrated, upset, out of control or overwhelmed Makes even simple tasks become difficult or impossible to accomplish At the end of the day, stress, in the form of good and bad challenges, helps us to flourish and grow. Do your best to take life one day at a time and you’ll find yourself living healthier and happier in no time. Managing stress is all about taking charge of what you can control and learning to become flexible regarding the things you have no ability to influence or change. To manage stress when the demands stack up, be sure to identify the triggers that cause you stress and resolve to make realistic, healthy changes. To be successful in this, it’s important that you: Get the right amount of sleep. Schedule time for relaxation each day. Eat a balanced, nutritious diet and exercise regularly. Cultivate supportive relationships. Have fun and try to laugh more. Laughter is a great stress reducer and has the added benefit of increasing social support.
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How Much Do You Know? Facts y a D s eteran
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11 Veterans Day facts: How much do you know about Veterans Day?
What is the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day? These two holidays are frequently confused but they are not the same. Memorial Day, celebrated in May, honors those who lost their lives in service to our country, and Veterans Day, celebrated in November, honors all who have served and focusing on thanking living service members, past and present.
In what war did the largest number of Americans serve in the Armed Forces? World War II saw more than 16 million Americans become service members. Troops from the 1st Infantry Division landing on Omaha.
When was Veterans Day first celebrated?
President Eisenhower signing HR7786, changing Armistice Day to Veterans Day.
Why do we celebrate Veterans Day?
Originally called Armistice Day, Veterans Day was celebrated on Nov. 11, 1919, which was the first anniversary of the end of the fighting of World War I.
President Woodrow Wilson said of that first observance in 1919, “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations.”
Why do we spell it Veterans Day and not Veteran’s Day? Shouldn’t there be an apostrophe? Veterans Day does not include an apostrophe but does include an ‘s’ at the end of ‘veterans’ because it is not a day that ‘belongs’ to veterans, it is a day for honoring all veterans.
Is there a national ceremony? In keeping with the honoring of the timing of the armistice ending the carnage of WWI, a Veterans
Soldiers of the 353rd Infantry near a church at Stenay, Meuse in France, wait for the end of hostilities. This photo was taken at 10:58 a.m., on November 11, 1918, two minutes before the armistice ending World War I went into effect.
When did Veterans Day become a national holiday? Although first observed in 1919, Congress did not make it official until 1938. IN 1954, the name changed to Veterans Day. In the 1970s the date moved around in November, causing confusion, and President Gerald Ford in 1975 signed a law placing the observance on Nov. 11 and there it has remained.
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Day National Ceremony is held each year on November 11th at Arlington National Cemetery. Image above is unknown U.S. soldier from the North African American Cemetery. www.homelandmagazine.com
Which state is home to the largest number of veterans?
How many veterans are there living in the United States?
California has the most, with 2 million veterans calling the Golden State home. Texas and Florida are next, with 1.6 million vets in each state, reports the Census Bureau.
The U.S. has 21.8 million veterans, according to the Census Bureau’s Snapshot of Our nation’s Veterans.
How many of U.S. vets are female?
There are 1.7 million female veterans, as of 2013, according to the Census Bureau.
Do veterans ever serve in more than one war? Yes. More than 1.3 million of America’s living veterans have served in more than one conflict, and 54,000 have served in 3 wars - WWI, Korea and Vietnam - according to the Census Bureau’s Snapshot of Our nation’s Veterans.
Please thank a veteran and have a Happy Veterans Day!
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