San Diego Veterans Magazine Nov 2019

V

SAN DIEGO

Vol. 1 Number 11 • November 2019 www.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com

MAGAZINE

San Diego Veteran of the Year

Veterans Day Events San Diego Fleet Week Veteran Day Memorial Ceremonies

American Legion

VETFEST

“NO VETERAN EVER DIES” ACTS OF COURAGE

What’s Next

Transition to Civilian Life

SAN DIEGO VETERANS OUTREACH WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019

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EDITOR’S

LETTER

Publisher Editor-In-Chief Mike Miller mikemiller@SDVetsMagazine.com mikemiller@HomelandMagazine.com

Contributing Writers Holly Shaffner Veteran Advocate - Honor Flight SD

RanDee McLain, LCSW A Different Lens

Vicki Garcia

Enlisted to Entrepreneur

CJ Machado

SD Vets & Homeland Photojournalist

Kelly Bagla, Esq. Legal Eagle

Joe Molina Veterans Chamber of Commerce

Eve Nasby

What’s Next - Transitioning

Amber Robinson

www.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com

Arts & Healing

Scott Hermann Cybersecurity

Greetings and a warm welcome to San Diego Veterans Magazine!

Please take some time to get to know the layout of our magazine.

The Magazine focuses on San Diego resources, support, community, and inspiration for our veterans and the military 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 our veterans, service members, military families, and civilians.

The magazine is supported by a distinguishing list of San Diego veteran organizations, resource centers, coalitions, veteran advocates, and more.

We are honored to share the work of so many committed and thoughtful people.

San Diego Veterans Magazine is a veterans magazine for veterans by veterans.

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

Mike Miller Editor-In-Chief

mikemiller@SDVetsMagazine.com mikemiller@HomelandMagazine.com 4

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019

Collaborative Organizations Veterans Association of North County • Shelter To Soldier • Wounded Warrior Project San Diego • DAV • Father Joe’s Village • VetCTAP • Flying Leathernecks • Give An Hour • UCSD • Courage To Call • Honor Flight San Diego • Veteran Advocates & Guest Writers

San Diego Veterans Magazine 9528 Miramar Road, #41 San Diego, CA 92126

(858) 275-4281 Contact us at: publisher@SDVetsMagazine.com San Diego Veterans 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.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE 8 San Diego - Veteran of the Year 12 Fleet Week San Diego 18 American Legion - VETFEST 20 Alpine Wall Of Honor 22 No Veterans Ever Dies 26 Acts of Courage 28 A Different Lens - Mindfulness 30 Arts & Healing - Power of Creativity 32 What’s Next - Transition 34 Enlisted to Entrepreneur 38 Celebrating Veterans 40 A Veterans Fighting Spirit 42 Veterans New Home 44 Military Money - Savings 46 Legal Eagle - Trademarks 48 Cybersecurity - New Risk 52 Shelter to Soldier 53 Marines in Flight - Art Contest 54 Veteran Service Programs WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019

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Host this National Memorial in your Community

Please contact us to add a Fallen loved one, host the memorial, or make a donation at: info@RememberingOurFallen.org

www.RememberingOurFallen.org www.PatrioticProductions.org

Tribute Towers

Remembering Our Fallen is a national memorial unlike any other -with military & personal photos of 5,000 military Fallen since 9/11/2001 Unveiled at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. in 2017, it has since traveled the nation coastto-coast.

This memorial also includes those who returned from war, but lost their inner battle to suicide, and those who died from non-war zone injuries while serving in their military capacity.

Please contact us to add a Fallen loved one, host the memorial, or make a donation at: info@RememberingOurFallen.org

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WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019

“If the purpose of a war memorial is to help us remember the sacrifices of the Heroes, and to help us heal from our sorrow, then your mission has been accomplished. Thank you for this tremendous gift.”

- 1LT Daniel P. Riordan’s Mother

“There is a ‘disconnect’ between those we ask to serve our military objectives and our society at large. This memorial made that connection very dramatically and helped us understand the magnitude of their sacrifices.

- Ed Malloy, Mayor of Fairfield, Iowa

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019

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SAN DIEGO 2019 VETERAN OF THE YEAR San Diego Veteran of the Year

And the Winners are .....

It is well known that military veterans are excellent employees and citizens. They have outstanding work habits, are motivated, readily accept responsibility, and are team players. The “Veteran of the Year” program was established in 1989 to recognize the contributions of veterans to the San Diego community.

This year’s San Diego County Veteran of the Year is SGT Povas Miknaitis, United States Marine Corps, Retired

In 2001, the program expanded to encourage many civic, government, corporate, and service organizations to honor their veterans by selecting their “Veteran of the Year”. From the pool of Veterans of the Year candidates, only one is selected as the “San Diego County Veteran of the Year”. By honoring a veteran, it shows that the veterans contribute greatly to the morale of the work force, exceed expectations in their duties, volunteer in the community and are good citizens. This program of The Veteran Museum at Balboa Park recognizes our heroes who continue to serve and contribute as our friends and neighbors.

On November 1st we recognize our communities’ veterans at the annual Veteran of the Year Luncheon and then announce the selection of the San Diego County Veteran of the Year from those nominated by agencies, businesses, political leaders and others.

This veteran will represent the veterans in San Diego at many different patriotic and civil events throughout the year.

The Veteran of the Year program is hosted by and supports the Veterans Museum at Balboa Park.

There are three other awardees at this luncheon: The San Diego Meritorious Support of Veterans honoring a for-profit organization; The San Diego Veteran Allegiance Award honoring a nonprofit organization; and the Will Hays Lifetime Achievement Award for and individual with more than 10 years of continued service to the community.

These 4 honorees will be riding in the annual Veterans Day Parade on Nov 11.

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“Povas has personally mentored dozens of injured veterans and interacted with hundreds more throughout San DiegoCounty, from Freedom Station residents to service members in Wounded Warrior Battalion West.

He’s been on the front lines of serving those who fought beside him, as they walk an unfamiliar path he knows all too well. Povas has illuminated what often becomes an incredibly dark place for service members coping with injuries, both visible and invisible, the grueling process of recovery, and the transition to civilian life.

Povas is truly a role model who continues to exemplify the time-honored military values of service, duty, honor, and patriotism long after retiring his uniform in 2012.

He is a source of pride and inspiration to Warrior Foundation Freedom Station and all who are fortunate to know him.

• The Will Hays Lifetime Achievement Award goes to Randall W. Treadway-USA, Retired • The San Diego Meritorious Support of Veterans honoring a for-profit organization goes to Youngren construction (http://youngrenconstruction.com/) • The San Diego Veteran Allegiance Award honoring a non-profit organization goes to Support The Enlisted Project - STEP (https://www.stepsocal.org/)

The Will Hays Lifetime Achievement Award goes to Randall W. Treadway-USA, Retired The Will Hays Lifetime Achievement Award was nominated by VFW 1st District. This veteran has dedicated over 40 years of volunteering with Veterans, Law Enforcement and Youth Groups. Over 11,000 hours of service, 75,000 miles of driving, innumerable movie passes, bus passes and gift cards, significant donations in support of student awards, scholarships and graduations are but a few of the contributions of our Lifetime Award Recipient.

2019 Veteran of the Year Nominations These are your Veterans of the Year from within the San Diego Community. Thank you for your Service!

John Anderson -USMC- Mt Soledad National Memorial John is an invaluable asset to the Mt. Soledad Memorial serving on the board over fifteen years. He volunteers with La Jolla Kiwanis, Crimestoppers, SD Fire and Emergency Foundation, and more.

Corrine Busta -USN- Courage to Call Corrine has always given back to her military family through her position with Supervisor Gaspar, she has taken this opportunity to show support for a multitude of military/veteran non-profits.

Candace Curlee -USN- Navy Nurse Corps Association SoCal Candace has continuously strived to provide the best health care to active duty, reservists, and veterans, She is tireless in her endeavors to improve the care for women with her outreach.

Danelle Harrington -USN- Veterans Village of San Diego Danelle is a beacon of hope to others. She is a tireless volunteer who impacts thousands of lives with her compassion. She loves her children and making life better each day for those she encounters.

Ynez Hicks -USA- UCSD Veterans Staff Association Ynez fills her time working clothing drives, toy drives, food distribution, and Scholarship drives. She is engaged in bringing awareness to others of the human trafficking in San Diego.

Juan David Ortiz Romero -USMC- Triple B Adventures Juan is well known for his dedication in helping plan well attended events for many organizations. His self sacrifice is beyond reproach and exemplify the Marine Corp values.

Brady Pesola -USMC- National Adventure School Brady is an active member at the Encinitas VFW Post, participates in the Silkies hike, promotes fellow military organizations, and engages in public speaking with his Four F’s of Masculinity.

Jack Porath -USAF- Senator Brian Jones Jack is a threetime All American VFW Post Commander, eight time All State Commander, and was twice named the District 1 Past Commander Club’s Commander of the Year.

Todd J. Rehfuss -USMC-Marine Corps League Bulldogs Todd is president of the Rolando Community Council, active in school, community, and park improvement.

He is a 20 year member of American Legion Post 6 and Foundation President.

Kurt Worden -USN-National Defense Industrial Association This retired Master Chief is a voice for the companies in San Diego that support our local military. He’s quick to support veterans entering the workforce in their transition to the local economy.

Chris Yates -USMC-Us For Warriors Foundation Chris is a transformative leader who championed many causes for the Veterans Community while motivating thousands to always seek better solutions to today’s issues .

The Veterans Museum at Balboa Park San Diego County Veteran of the Year Program We encourage all organizations and businesses to take a look at the veterans who are volunteering and serving in their community and remember to honor their service and then nominate them for San Diego County Veteran of the Year 2020!

https://www.sdveteranoftheyear.com/

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019

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10/8/19 2:32 PM

NOVEMBER 4th - 11th

FLEET WEEK 12

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019

SAN DIEGO WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019

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- HISTORY

Fleet Week San Diego

By Jack Chirrick

America’s finest city will get a little finer this November when Fleet Week comes to San Diego’s shores. The annual event forged by a partnership between business, community, and military leaders celebrates the sea services through events that invite the public to come out and see what the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard do to support U.S. national defense.

The event kicks off Nov. 4 with the launch of a softball tournament, newly introduced this year, where teams of first responders and military personnel will compete to be crowned Fleet Week’s 2019 softball champions.

Activities will conclude Nov. 12 with a golf tournament to honor the hard work of enlisted service members for their many sacrifices in defense of America.

“Our enlisted men and women come from many walks of life for one purpose,” said San Diego Fleet Week Foundation Executive Director Larry Blumberg. “And that it to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. Their commitment to this ideal requires them to leave their families and their homes, deploying to many parts of the world to keep all of us here safe. They do this for very little compensation, and the tournament is one of the events that we host to thank them.”

Respect for the commitment of enlisted service men and women has been a cornerstone of the San Diego Fleet Week Foundation’s efforts since its beginnings in 1997.

The organization began as a volunteer group of business leaders banding together to plan and coordinate events to celebrate the U.S. military. The foundation officially incorporated as a nonprofit in 2001 and is hosting its 18th annual event this year.

“We’re really excited about our upcoming 2019 events,” said Blumberg, who is one of the foundation’s chartering members. “There have been a lot of changes through the years and we’ve gained a lot of experience in putting on a great show. That experience is translating into what I believe is going to be one of our best Fleet Week’s here in San Diego, ever.”

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Fleet Week has a rich history in San Diego that predates Blumberg and the foundation’s combined 22 years of hosting the annual celebration of the sea services.

Many in the region would say that San Diego is home of America’s first Fleet Week, which occurred in 1935, coinciding with the California Pacific International Exposition. The front page of the San Diego Union Tribune of the day reported the “arrival of a vast armada,” which consisted of more than 114 ships crewed by 63,000 officers and sailors.

Led by U.S. Navy Admiral Joseph M. Reeves, the 1935 flotilla demonstrated America’s might in response to military buildup in Germany and Japan. This was the same year that Congress enacted the Neutrality Act, which President Franklin D. Roosevelt believed to be dangerous as it ignored the potential threat of rising autocratic regimes in Europe and Asia. This was not the first time that a U.S. president used the diplomatic deployment of Navy ships to highlight American sea power, though. In 1907, President Theodore Roosevelt enacted a similar tactic with the sailing of the “Great White Fleet,” which was composed of 16 battleships and accompanying vessels making friendly stops around the globe with the intent to protect U.S. holdings abroad and enforce international treaties.

San Diego was one of the “Great White Fleet’s” stops along the way. An article from the Naval History and Heritage Command written by Journalist 2nd Class Mike McKinney reads: “When the fleet pulled in on April 14, the sailors were greeted by thousands of enthusiastic residents as the great ships anchored off the Hotel del Coronado. Small boats of all descriptions surrounded the warships, and sailors were pelted with blossoms by ‘Flower Committees’ and filled to capacity with free lemonade by ‘Fruit Committees.’ For the next four days, San Diego celebrated, and the White Fleet sailors were given the royal treatment that ended only with the fleet’s departure for Los Angeles on April 18.”

A lot has changed since then, and San Diego is now home port to 57 U.S. Navy ships, three major Marine Corps bases, and a robust Coast Guard element. While modern San Diego is no stranger to the sea services, the opportunity to get a public, up-close look at the military forces in the county is a rare occurrence, happening only a couple of times each year.

“San Diego is definitely a military town,” said Gordon Rutherford, 2019 Fleet Week San Diego President.

“But San Diegans and visitors to our city really don’t often get a chance to meet the people and see the technology they use to defend the United States and our way of life. We’re proud of the work our military men and women perform, and Fleet Week is a great way to honor their service!”

Last year, More than 20,000 people visited Broadway Pier, where they had the opportunity to interact with Marine Corps field combat gear and participate in tours aboard the USS Harpers Ferry and USCGC Mellon.

Navy divers were also on site in an interactive dive tank, as part of the Innovation Zone. Additional Fleet Week San Diego activities included a tailgating party for the SDSU vs. San Jose State football game, enlisted golf tournament, enlisted recognition luncheon, and a pregame party and concert with a follow on viewing party to celebrate the annual Navy vs. Notre Dame football game.

Anyone interested in getting involved can also contact organizers via email info@fleetweeksandiego.org or by phone at (619) 858-1545.

Fleet Week San Diego is sponsored by the Port of San Diego’s Tidelands Activation Program, designed to bring the city’s dynamic waterfront alive with events that engage the community and inspire visitors to enjoy San Diego Bay.

Mikki Marie Kimbrell, who attended last year’s Fleet Week, said, “Highly recommend attending Fleet Week events.”

Many of last year’s events, including Navy and Coast Guard ship tours, Marine Corps static displays, the Enlisted Recognition Luncheon hosted by Sea World, Student STEM Days sponsored by Lockheed Martin, and Military Family Day will be back this November in addition to concerts featuring Tim Hurley and Coffey Anderson. There will also be a Veterans Art Exhibit hosted in partnership with the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego.

Rutherford said, “We’re very excited to expand the scope of Fleet Week here in San Diego with the addition of the Veterans Art Exhibit this year. The art exhibit will give artists a public venue to share their artwork, while also providing Fleet Week attendees a unique look into the lives of our military through the artistic expression of those who are serving or have served in one way or another.”

This year, Fleet Week also spans the Veterans Day holiday, and will include the annual Veterans Day Parade on Harbor Drive, which Rutherford and other organizers say is truly fitting.

“What better way to celebrate Veterans Day and the sailors, Marines, and coast guardsmen who have served and continue to serve our great county,” Rutherford said.

A complete schedule of Fleet Week events can be found online at www.fleetweeksandiego.org/events/.

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019

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Sport Clips is Proud to Support Our Veterans Since 2013, Sport Clips has been the primary supporter of the VFW’s Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship program, which provides scholarships for service members and veterans for use at postsecondary schools and trade schools. To date, we have awarded more than 1,400 scholarships totaling $6.5 million.

Our scholarship recipients come from every part of the United States, represent every branch of service and are earning a variety of degrees including engineering, computer science, business, accounting, health care and many more.

From October 14 through November 11, Veterans Day, Sport Clips loations around the country will be collecting funds in-store and 100% of donations will be given to the VFW to ensure we can continue to support the educational goals of our service members and veterans.

“Being chosen to receive this scholarships has been a blessing to me and my family. It has been instrumental in allowing my wife, two young children and I to spend time with each other while I attend college full-time.” – Jack Raliff, U.S. Army

Be sure to visit a Sport Clips over the next month, get the MVP and donate to this worthy cause. Be sure to drop in on Monday, November 11, Veterans Day, when participating locations will donate $1 from every haircut service as well as provide free haircuts for veterans.

“This scholarship is a dream come true and I am the happiest person because of it. I can now save money and provide for my daughter and teenage sister. I am forever grateful to Sport Clips and the VFW.” – Porsche Johnson, U.S. Navy

In 2018, through the generous donations from our Clients and our partners, we collected $1.35 million for the program and were able to present this record-breaking donation to the VFW at their headquarters in Kansas City.

To learn more about the VFW’s “Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship” program, including details on eligibility,visit https://www.vfw.org/scholarship/

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“The VFW and all the supporters of the VFW have been a huge blessing to myself and my family.

Knowing I was chosen as a Help A Hero Scholarship recipient means more than words can express.

This award will put me one step closer to achieving my dream of obtaining my master’s degree as well as being a better role model for my children.”

– Cameron Shanks, U.S. Army Reserves

HOMELAND / November WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / NOVEMBER 201920171753

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICAN LEGION CELEBRATING 1OO YEARS of SERVICE

This year The American Legion is celebrating its centenary. Founded in 1919, the American Legion has served veterans and their families for 100 years.

Equally exciting, Escondido’s American Legion Post 149 is celebrating its centenary as well.

In November of 1919, after the formation of the American Legion in Paris and the first National Convention held in Minneapolis, Post 149 was formed in Escondido and the Post was named after J. B. Clark, an Escondido native and a naval officer who died while on active duty in January of 1919.

J.B. Clark graduated from the Naval Academy in 1904 and served aboard destroyers during the time of President Theodore Roosevelt’s Great White Fleet. He eventually retired from naval service and moved to Escondido to raise chickens, as he told his longtime friend and Escondido resident, Lloyd Woodnut. During his time living on Park Hill, J. B. was pressed into service locally to lead a Home Guard unit to protect the City against Pancho Villa who was raiding towns north of the Mexican border.

When World War I began, J. B. was once again pressed into naval service and served on destroyers until the time of his death. After the war, J. B.’s widow sold the property and moved to Arizona.

Post 149 is located on Park Avenue, next to the Park Avenue Senior Center and National Guard Armory.

Today, the Legion is the nation’s largest wartime veteran’s service organization, committed to mentoring youth and sponsorship of wholesome programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting strong national security, and continued devotion to our fellow servicemembers and veterans.

The American Legion is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization with great political influence perpetuated by its grass-roots involvement in the legislation process from local districts to Capitol Hill.

“There are many fine organizations and institutions out there that provide a wealth of information, assistance, guidance, and services to veterans in need,” states Michael Frank, Commander of Post 149. “A local American Legion Post can provide many of these services or can guide a veteran to an organization which can provide assistance not available locally.”

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Hundreds of local American Legion programs and activities strengthen the nation one community at a time. The Operation Comfort Warriors program supports recovering wounded warriors and their families, providing them with “comfort items” and the kind of support that makes a hospital feel a little bit more like home.

The Legion also raises millions of dollars in donations at the local, state and national levels to help veterans and their families during times of need and to provide college scholarship opportunities.

Once someone joins their local Post, they are instructed in the history of the organization, the Four Pillars, familiarized with the programs in which the Post is involved, the various committees, and Officer billets available.

“The biggest benefit of joining a local Post is the sense of family and belonging. Fitting in with a group of veterans with similar experiences, concerns, and understanding is key; the Post becomes a second home to many. A place to meet with friends, listen to music, be active in the community, have a BBQ, sing karaoke, enjoy a beer, watch a football game, or play a game of pool or darts,” says Commander Frank.

The Escondido Vet Fest is an American Legion Post 149 inaugural event that kicks off this Veterans Day. “Retired Marine Colonel and Escondido Mayor Paul McNamara approached our Post to help organize and run this event and we were honored to step up and make this happen,” said Michael Frank, Commander of Post 149”.

It will be North San Diego County’s only Veterans Day celebration that is combined with a parade that takes place on Veterans Day – Monday, November 11 – the day will be full of activities highlighting 100 years of hometown heroes and their contributions to our city, state and nation. The veterans being honored in the parade range from WWII “Battle of the Bulge,” soldier Raymond L. Deming, Korean War Navy Fighter Pilot, CAPT E. Royce Williams to active duty service members that serve in our continual war on terrorism.

“It is our way of honoring our veterans, telling everyone our story, and letting people know the importance of military service,” stated Commander Frank when asked why the Post was taking on this task. The Post is hard at work to make this inaugural event the “go-to” event in the years to come.

The activities will begin at 8am at Maple Street Plaza with information booths and a performance by a chorale signing patriotic songs. At 9:30am, the VetFest Parade steps off down Grand Avenue, beginning at Escondido Boulevard, making a U-turn at Juniper and returning to Escondido Blvd on the opposite side of the center median.

A static display of various pieces of military equipment is planned at the Maple Street Plaza along West Valley Parkway. Merchants along Grand Avenue are encouraged to decorate their store fronts for the parade and viewers of the parade will be able to vote for their favorite displays via their smart phone.

San Diego Veteran Resources & Organizations

Navigating the resources available to veterans can be confusing, but San Diego Veterans Magazine believes no veteran should have to go it alone.

At San Diego Veterans Magazine you can find Veteran organizations and private nonprofits with resources for veterans that can help ease the process of attaining earned benefits, coping with the lasting effects of service-connected injuries and finding programs and services that meet your specific needs.

The event closes with a brief ceremony and free BBQ at the American Legion Post from 12:30 to 4pm.

Visit SD Vets today at www.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com

For more information about Escondido VetFest, please visit their website: www.escovetfest.org.

San Diego Veterans Magazine A Veterans Magazine for Veterans by Veterans

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019

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Alpine Veterans Wall of Honor

By Holly Shaffner About 30 minutes East of San Diego is the Alpine Community Center and outside the center is a wall called, the “Alpine Veterans Wall of Honor”. On that wall are about 800 tiles of active duty service members and veterans from every era and branch of service. The tiles represent military members locally and from outside the region.

A dedication ceremony was held on Memorial Day in 2011 to officially open the wall and the vision for the wall came years earlier from U.S. Army veteran Dan Foster. Dan is the current Chairman of the Alpine Veterans Wall of Honor committee and he and his team hold a ceremony on Veterans Day and Memorial Day to honor the new tile recipients for the wall.

“Our #1 goal is to say THANK YOU and that wall is huge thank you to those who wore the uniform,” said Foster. “I want them to know that someone cared.”

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In fact, by holding this recognition ceremony, it often evokes repressed emotions from veterans. Vietnam veterans have told him, “I have never been thanked for my service. You showed me that you care and now I want to share my story.”

On Saturday, November 9 at 9 a.m., there will be 20 new honorees dedicated on the wall. In the one-hour ceremony, there will color guards, special tributes to heroes already on the wall, music and songs, and then the honorees will be “inducted”.

The ceremony is open to public and there is plenty of parking. The Alpine Community Center is located at 1830 Alpine Blvd, Alpine, CA. 91901.

To learn more about the Alpine Veterans Wall of Honor or to purchase a tile for your military hero, go to: www.alpinewallofhonor.org

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019

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“We only have one chance to get it right and create a memory” -Jared Howard

“No Veteran Ever Dies”

By Holly Shaffner

If we continue to honor our veterans, share their stories, and teach the next generation then perhaps our veterans will never truly die. That is one of the goals of the 139 National Cemeteries maintained and operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration.

Here in San Diego County, Miramar National Cemetery is the only National Cemetery open for new internments. It has been open since 2010 and it took more than 20 years of hard work and dedication by San Diego veterans and veterans’ groups to make the idea a reality. There was a growing and dire need as Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery closed to new interment casketed burials in 1966. The only interments that are currently being accepted are for subsequent interments for veterans or eligible family members in an existing gravesite.

Who knew that President Lincoln’s second inaugural address delivered 154 years ago would still resonate with our country today? On March 4, 1865, President Lincoln affirmed the government’s obligation to care for the injured during the war and to provide for the families of those who perished on the battlefield.

The now infamous words are, “To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan.” And our U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has adopted this as their motto.

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One of the people entrusted to take care of our veterans and their families is the new Director of the Miramar and Fort Rosecrans National Cemeteries, Jared Howard.

Jared took the helm in September 2019 putting his years of experience to work here in San Diego County. Jared is a U.S. Army veteran who “came up through ranks” of the National Cemetery system. He started his Veterans Affairs career as a cemetery caretaker and worked hard to become a foreman. He knew he wanted to do more and requested the VA’s one year internship program so that he could be considered for a director position. He graduated from the program, went to Santa Fe, NM as the Assistant Director and later assumed the Director position. And now he lives among our 240,000 San Diego County veterans helping to give them and their families a final resting place.

“We only have one chance to get it right and create a memory,” said Howard. He also remarked that a nation is judged by how they take care of their veterans, elderly and young. It is his duty to keep that promise President Lincoln made by maintaining our two National Cemeteries in San Diego County. He knows the public expects lush green turf and white pristine head markers that are lined up like soldiers in formation.

Howard knows that he cannot do this alone. Howard has VA employees, volunteers and relationships with various organizations in order to have nearly 4,000 services last year at the two cemeteries.

He also has the Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation, a nonprofit organization which is responsible for coordinating memorial events, and providing patriotic monuments and other enhancements at the cemetery.

Over the years, they have funded the Veterans Tribute Tower & Carillon, established various monuments at the cemetery and installed the focal point of the cemetery, the Avenue of Flags. In July this year, the foundation launched a campaign for donations for construction of a large amphitheater at the cemetery which will include permanent seating for audiences attending the Veterans Memorial Service, Veterans Day ceremony, Wreaths Across America, and other events.

The two National Cemeteries have a few public opportunities each year to really honor the veterans and families who are interned there and to show the community they are maintaining that promise made over a century ago. Coming up yet this year is the annual Veterans Day Service and Wreaths Across America.

At Miramar National Cemetery, they will host a Veteran’s Day Service which will pay tribute to Vietnam era veterans.

The free service begins at 3:30 p.m. on Monday, November 11. The public is invited to attend and there will be plenty of parking.

Both cemeteries will participate in Wreaths Across America on Saturday, December 14 when beautiful pine wreaths are place on veteran’s graves throughout the country.

The community is invited to both cemeteries for the morning ceremony followed by the laying of wreaths on graves for the holidays. A disheartening fact is that due to the number of graves and lack of donations, not every headstone will receive a wreath.

The goal for the wreaths events is to “Remember our fallen U.S. Veterans, Honor those who serve, and Teach your children the value of freedom.” For more information about the ceremonies or to purchase a wreath, go to: www.wreathsacrossamerica.org In San Diego County in 2018, 14,386 veterans passed away within a 75 mile radius of Miramar National Cemetery and of those, only 2,451 veterans were laid to rest there.

Howard believes that families may not know if their loved one is eligible for services at the National Cemetery and knows he has a big job to reach the veteran and their families about their EARNED benefits. He stressed the importance of the VA’s Pre-Need Determination of Eligibility program. The program will assist anyone who would like to know if they are eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery and will encourage veterans and their eligible family members to use VA burial benefits. The VA offers more than burial services for eligible veterans and family members; they can also assist with memorials, allowances, etc... For more information about eligibility and pre-need determination, go to: www.cem.va.gov To learn more about Miramar National Cemetery, their events, or to donate to the foundation to further their projects, go to: www.miramarcemetery.org

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019

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Caring for our veterans

Veterans facing the challenges associated with a life-threatening illness can rely on The Elizabeth Hospice for the medical, emotional and spiritual support they need and deserve.

Our skilled, compassionate caregivers are trained to address PTSD, depression, anxiety, survivor’s guilt, and soul injury.

Complementary therapies, including physical therapy, music therapy, aromatherapy and pet visits, are used in combination with medical support to help alleviate pain.

We celebrate and thank our patients for their service at bedside pinning ceremonies officiated by a veteran or active duty service member.

Since 1978, The Elizabeth Hospice has touched the lives of more than 100,000 people in San Diego County and Southwest Riverside County. To learn more about our hospice care, palliative care and grief support services for veterans, call 800.797.2050 or visit www.elizabethhospice.org.

The Elizabeth Hospice is proud to be a We Honor Veterans Level 5 Partner, the highest level of distinction.

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HONOR OUR VETERANS! Invest in the future of Miramar National Cemetery Hundreds of veterans, active duty military, families, businesses, and the public have invested in the future of Miramar National Cemetery.

Thanks to their generous contributions The Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation sponsors: • The Avenue of Flags • Veterans Tribute Tower & Carillon • Annual Veterans Memorial Services • Annual Veterans Day Observances • Coordinates Veterans Memorial Monuments

Honor our past, present, and future military veterans!

Send your donation, today, to the Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation All contributions are fully tax deductible.

Help the Foundation Support Miramar National Cemetery.

Please go to www.miramarcemetery.org and click on “Contribute” for information about how you can donate to the Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation.

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019

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ACTS OF COURAGE

By Janet Clancy, Communications Officer, The Elizabeth Hospice The word courage often evokes images of the brave men and women who serve in the military and dedicate themselves to protecting us from harmful acts both near and far.

People who are fearless and willing to take large risks.

People like James Adair, Naval Aviator and Lieutenant in the United States Navy, who is currently serving as an instructor pilot at Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron Four One, located at Naval Air Station North Island, and has completed two tours of duty aboard a nuclearpowered aircraft carrier in the Arabian Gulf.

When James uses the word courage, though, he’s referring to children as young as 7 years of age who boldly stand in front of a room and share their grief story with an audience of 200 kids and adults (strangers) on the first night of Camp Spero, a children’s grief camp hosted

by The Elizabeth Hospice.

For more than 40 years, The Elizabeth Hospice, a nonprofit organization, has been providing comfort and counsel to children and adults facing the challenges associated with a life-threatening illness and restoring hope to grieving children and adults who are feeling lost and alone. In addition to providing hospice care and palliative care, the organization offers the most comprehensive children’s bereavement services in San Diego County and Southwest Riverside County. These services include: on-campus grief support groups in 20 school districts, peer-based support groups in Children’s Bereavement Centers in Mission Valley and Escondido, and Camp Spero, a weekend summer grief camp.

Childhood grief is more prevalent than many people realize. One in five children under the age of 18 will experience the death of a significant person in their life.

Losing a loved one is painful at any age. For children, this loss can have a lifelong impact. Research shows that grieving children are at risk of depression, anxiety and isolation which often lead to poor school performance, behavior problems and substance abuse. If their grief is addressed early, though, the risk of engagement in maladaptive lifestyle choices can be reduced.

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James was approached by his friend Samira Moosavi, Children’s Group Coordinator for The Elizabeth Hospice, about volunteering his time as a camp counselor. She knew James had a personal experience with childhood grief and felt that he would be a wonderful role model for the young boys who attend camp, especially those who were grieving the death of their dad.

“When I first met Samira through my wife, Jenna, and she pitched the idea to me of helping with grief camp, I was skeptical. I didn’t know that grief camp was a thing,” said James. “My dad died from a brain tumor when I was eight years old, and after the fact, my three younger siblings and I never received any counseling.

As a result, I unknowingly spent the next 21 years of my life internalizing the death of my dad and thinking this was the norm.”

Not only did James submit an application to serve as a volunteer camp counselor, but he helped recruit seven other Navy buddies to serve as camp counselors and logistics experts.

Camp Spero is a weekend camp for youth, ages 7 to 17, who are grieving the death of their significant person.

At camp, children and teens honor and memorialize their loved one, make friends with others who are facing similar challenges, learn coping skills, and have lots of fun. There’s no cost to attend and camp is open to everyone in the community, including those who have not received hospice or palliative care from The Elizabeth Hospice.

“One of the first most impactful activities at Camp Spero is the Remembrance Ceremony. One at a time, every camper walks onto a stage to ‘introduce’ the person they came to honor,” reflected James. “These kids have all experienced significant loss at far too early of an age. They are incredibly brave and mature for how old they are. Sitting in that room, listening to a 7-year-old girl explain how her parents died is gutwrenching but on the other hand, you get to see all of her newly made friends put their arms around her and lift her up. The feeling you get when you witness all of these emotions at once is hard to describe; all I can say is that it is incredibly powerful.”

James and a fellow instructor pilot at HSM-41, Lieutenant Kenny Garrison, were the counselors for a group of five 8 and 9-year-old boys. Over the three days, the kids engaged in grief related activities, such as the Remembrance Ceremony, as well as traditional camp fun, including swimming, arts and crafts, ice cream social and more.

All of the campers were invited to participate in Boot Camp on Saturday morning. “Samira really wanted me and some of the Navy guys to run Boot Camp so we decided to act the part. We ran the kids around in formations, had them compete in relay races and saw who had the longest wall sit,” explained James. “Everyone gave it 100% which was really cool to see.”

Prior to camp, James and the other Camp Spero volunteers attended a training session to learn about childhood grief and how to create a safe space for children to do their grief work. “During the training session, I realized that I had internalized everything about my dad’s death and had never addressed my feelings of loss. I now realize how important it is to receive proper care following the loss of a loved one by tackling the grief head-on instead of shying away from it.”

“James’ experience with the death of his father, resonates deeply with the children we serve,” said Melissa Lunardini, Children’s Bereavement Manager and Camp Director for The Elizabeth Hospice. “As a camp counselor, he is able to talk to campers and exchange grief stories, as if they were war stories, sharing the many battles that happen as you navigate through the trenches of grief. In these conversations, children are able to see that it takes courage to talk about grief and it takes courage to go on living in the midst of grief.”

“We feel very honored to have active and retired military men and women serve our community’s bereaved children and teens,” continued Melissa. “Service men and women make exceptional volunteers because they understand grief, hope, healing and courage on a personal level. They understand the feeling of ‘missing’ someone and they know deeply how important support, comradery and family are to our well-being.”

The experience of being at Camp Spero was so rewarding to James that he has now volunteered at three sessions and plans to help out as long as he is stationed in San Diego. He also plans to continue recruiting more and more Navy friends.

“In my opinion, San Diego is a best place a servicemember can ever hope to live and work. Volunteering at Camp Spero is just one small way that my Navy buddies and I can show our appreciation for all that San Diego does for the military,” said James.

If you are interested in learning more about how you can support our community’s grieving children, contact Melissa Lunardini, Children’s Bereavement Manager for The Elizabeth Hospice, at Melissa.Lunardini@ehospice.org or 760.796.3705.

San Diego

Community Events SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com What’s Happening?

• Community Events • Community Press Releases • Entertainment & more...

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GET CONNECTED! A Veterans Magazine for Veterans by Veterans Visit SD Vets Today at SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com San Diego Veterans Magazine Your best source for San Diego military, veteran breaking and local news, press releases, community events, media, entertainment and more…

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019

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A Different Lens Mental Health Monthly

By RanDee McLain

MINDFULNESS Maybe it is the crazy busy lives we lead or the hectic fast paced schedules we juggle but we could all be a little more mindful.

What is mindfulness and how can we achieve it?

In graduate school it seemed Mindfulness was the cool new thing and as budding clinicians we must incorporate it into our practice. Honestly, it was torture. I hated every minute of it and could not wait to be done. The thought of sitting still and being one with my thoughts was both physically and mentally painful for me. At that point in my life I was still recovering from some physical injuries and did not truly understand mindfulness or the various ways it could be achieved.

It took years for me to fully understand mindfulness and begin to enjoy it’s benefits in my life.

On the most basic level mindfulness is all about being present in the moment. Mindfulness is allowing ourselves to focus fully on the present moment, acknowledging and accepting one’s thoughts and feelings. It creates a clear awareness of the present moment.

When you are mindful you set the intention that you will pay attention to the present moment and return to the present moment if you mind starts to wonder. It is natural when you first begin to practice mindfulness that your mind will wonder. It is important to acknowledge the passing thoughts without judgement and return to the present moment.

There are many ways one can practice mindfulness in their day to day lives. Mindfulness is specific to each person but can be practiced through meditation, sitting and walking meditation, breath awareness and yoga.

Mindfulness brings a sense of calm that can be done almost anywhere.

Mindfulness is its most basic form is paying attention to what is happening as it is happening. This requires you to use all five sense. Let’s try a simple exercise: 28

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Hearing: Close your eyes and listen to what is going on around you. Let the sounds come to you. What do you hear?

Touch: Keep eyes closed and focus on the feeling of your body meets the chair or your feet meet the floor.

Sight: Open your eyes and allow your eyes to have a wide gaze. Notice what you see.

Taste: Notice if you have any taste in your mouth at this time, perhaps from the last thing you ate or drank.

Smell: Put your hand up to your nose and notice the smell of your skin.

Reflect: Take a moment to reflect on what you experienced. How did it make you feel? How are you feeling now?

Mindfulness gives us mental space and with that comes the ability to choose how we respond to a situation.

Mindfulness takes practice but can start small with just a few moments.

The practice of mindfulness can improve health and reduce stress.

One of my colleagues shared with me how she practices mindfulness while rowing. She walked me through how she stays in the present moment by focusing on her senses, the feel of the water hitting her skin, the smell of the ocean and the sound the light crashing of the water against the boat. She feels a sense of calm as she can truly focus on the present and nothing else.

I hike weekly and I find mindfulness in nature. I feel the crisp morning air, smell the outdoors, hear the wildlife rustling in the woods and sense the sun on my skin. I still struggle with passing thoughts, but I try my best to let them pass and return to the present moment.

Mindfulness can be practiced anywhere at any timewhile you are brushing your teeth, walking your dog or drinking a good cup of coffee.

Start small. Maybe, start with a few minutes over your morning coffee and you will begin to see the benefits of this practice and the benefits of taking a few moments for you!

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019

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Arts & Healing Arts for Military Veterans

By Amber Robinson

The Power of Creativity The power of creativity; insights from local icon, “Tony the Vet” There are many artists within our veteran community who promote, educate about and share art. Out of them all, Tony the Vet is probably the most recognizable. Always sporting his classic black beret, you have most likely seen him at different art festivals, theater and gallery events throughout San Diego.

Formerly a Vietnam Army officer who served on active duty, then with the Texas National Guard and finally as a reservist, Tony now focuses all his time immersed in the San Diego arts community.

Out of the service for many years, Tony is still on a mission to promote and educate about the power of art in our daily lives. He feels that art is a healer and has used it as a means for his own healing and transition. Veterans often have trouble integrating themselves back into a civilian life, struggling to feel present, connected and happy. For Tony, art can address all these issues. “(Art promotes) present time immersion; holistic integration of body, mind and spirit; social skills improvement; self-empowerment and lifeaffirming joy,” said LoBue, about the ways in which art has helped him.

LoBue has graduate and undergraduate degrees in art, theater and creative writing.

In his time post-Army, he has worked as a real estate broker, developer and investor, as an insurance and securities agent, and as an English teacher. In the last decade he has used his arts education to provide volunteer arts classes at The Veterans Museum at Balboa Park, San Diego Veterans Village and within other arts organizations and facilities throughout the county.

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Of all LoBue’s arts objectives, his own project, Arts for Veterans, is his most focused. Through this program he brings arts education and arts opportunities to his fellow San Diego veterans. When asked how his project and art can help his fellow veterans, he has a vindicated answer. “(I believe) the healing power of the arts is at least equivalent to the doctor’s scalpel, the psychiatrist’s drug and the psychologist’s talk as effective selfintervention,” said LoBue, “nothing else provides the same therapeutic whole person engagement, selfempowerment and positive social interaction 24/7.”

LoBue’s main objective is to spread the power of art within the veteran community, but shared his thoughts on how veterans’ art can educate and inspire the non-veteran population.

“Military-themed art by veterans can educate civilians to the artist’s unique experience of that world,” said LoBue. LoBue not only works to promote and educate through Arts for Veterans, but is an artist himself.

His particular type of art deeply encompasses the concepts of “being in the moment” with the focused intention to connect with the world within his immediate vicinity.

“My favorite art form is mixed-media ephemeral art made in the moment with whatever materials, media or persons are at hand,” said LoBue. But, to LoBue, all people are artists in their own right.

“We are all creators of our daily realities,” he often says.

For LoBue, art is present in all his daily activities. He hopes to continue to inspire and educate his fellow veterans to understand and apply art in the same way. He believes that intentional creativity can have a revolutionary effect on our veteran community.

“Art changes lives. Art heals. Art saves lives. Art is the answer,” concluded LoBue.

San Diego Veteran Resources & Organizations

Navigating the resources available to veterans can be confusing, but San Diego Veterans Magazine believes no veteran should have to go it alone.

At San Diego Veterans Magazine you can find Veteran organizations and private nonprofits with resources for veterans that can help ease the process of attaining earned benefits, coping with the lasting effects of service-connected injuries and finding programs and services that meet your specific needs.

Visit SD Vets today at www.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com

San Diego Veterans Magazine A Veterans Magazine for Veterans by Veterans

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019

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WHAT’S NEXT Transition to Civilian Life

By Eve Nasby

Giving Thanks for Transitioning Families In our last article we interviewed Colonel Ted Studdard whose heart attack served as the unwelcomed impetus to exit the Marines. After our chat about transitioning “must dos” for the service member we spoke about how the supporting families play a big role in helping their loved one transition well.

to understand this fact – it’s not just about them. It’s important for the family to recognize that the love, care, support and encouragement that made other transitions (moves, deployments, changes in schools, leaving family and friends, etc.) a success will require the same support when leaving the military.”

Identity Crisis

John acknowledges, “The transition can be a period of frustration, anxiety, fear and uncertainty about finances, employment, stability and security. Families should recognize that these feelings are normal.

But they don’t have to go through it alone. There are many wonderful transition support services to help them get through this period and achieve success on the other side.”

After he came home from his new role with Home Depot, Marine Colonel Ted Suddard’s wife said that the kids were struggling with the transition.

“What does Dad do?”, they asked.

“It’s a transition for the whole family”, Colonel Studdard remarks. “Spouses and kids go through an identity crisis just as the service member does.” As he now meets with Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Coasties and Marines, he hears the same lament. “I’m no longer a Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Coastie or Marine.” “What am I?” The whole family needs to acknowledge and recognize this identity crisis is normal. He goes on to say, “Understand that there is no need to coddle the transitioning member. Sometimes ‘tough love’ is needed.”

He mentions he often connects with veterans who wallow in self-pity and warns it’s ‘time to get out’.

Your Transition Is Not Just About You John Funk , Director of Operations, Bob Hope Veterans Support Program who spent over 28 years as a US Naval Officer adds to Ted’s comments.

“It is important for everyone to understand that transition out of the military is different, but just as challenging, as all of the other transitions that the family has experienced.

It can be hard on everyone in the family. John goes on to say that, “The transitioning service member needs

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It’s Time to Lean In Jennifer Santis, military spouse and Co-Chair of the San Diego Military Family Collaborative and Community Liaison at Courage to Call, MHS insightfully notes, “Sometimes families distance or isolate from each other in an effort to save the other person from being stressed or worried. This is really a time when families should be leaning in and not distancing. “ “Fear of the unknown haunts many transitioning Service Members”, Jennifer says. “Many have spent years having everything planned out and decided for them by the military. Now they are free to decide what comes next and for some that can be a scary place. An avalanche of options without a sure direction can be overwhelming for service members and families. There can be great uncertainty about employment, self-worth, financial stability, relationship dynamics, and more.” She wisely emphasizes that, “It’s important to remember that they will get through it.“ Danny Romero, Senior Program Director, San Diego Military Family Collaborative & SAY San Diego adds, “Families can best support their loved one in transition by understanding that transition may lead to stressful decision-making.”

He continues, “My best advice is to have conversations on transition as far out as possible. It is not atypical to see spouses come to transition courses 2 years out from transition. Additionally, families should work as a team and utilize shared calendars to ensure that all parties are informed of critical deadlines before the exit from service.”

Where Can Families Get Help?

“There are many great resources available to support military families in San Diego. The San Diego Military Family Collaborative www.sdmilitaryfamily.org is the first place I recommend every family go. “, says John.

“The Collaborative is a group of non-profit, government and private industry service providers that work together to ensure military families receive the support and resources to succeed.

Many of the Collaborative’s resource providers focus on transition and all the concerns associated with separating from the military. “ Outside of San Diego, where can you turn? Danny Romero says, “Many on-base providers like Fleet and Family Support Center or Marine Corps Community Services will have knowledge of these transitional resources/resource providers, which is a good place to start learning about transition.”

Remember that reaching out for help is a sign of strength and maturity. Transitioning is not for cowards and is a time for families to rally!

Thankful for You This month, as we celebrate Veterans Day and then gather around the Thanksgiving table, we reflect on what’s important.

We thank God for our families and for you, our men and women who served our country well. We are grateful for your service and for your sacrifice.

We look forward to the opportunity to see how you will now use the next chapter of your life to continue to change the world and be a part of something bigger than yourself.

Need help transitioning?

LinkIn with Eve Nasby (Given) to connect.

Eve Nasby is a hiring expert with almost three decades invested in these topics. Join her on LinkedIn today. www.linkedin.com/in/eve-nasby-given-0050452 WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019

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ENLISTED TO ENTREPRENEUR

By Vicki Garcia

How to Become a Wealthy, In-Demand, Wildly Successful Consultant Want the freedom to walk your own path? Take time off whenever you want? Make boatloads of money? Maybe being a consultant is the way to go.

I’ve owned a marketing consulting firm for over 33 years, so I know a little about it. Let me say first that the term “consultant,” isn’t without baggage. People have lots of prejudices about consultants…they are expensive, just tell you what you already know, are money-driven, can (or can’t) solve all a company’s problems, etc.

My favorite definition of a consultant is “a person who can sit on ice cream and tell you the flavor.” The term consultant has been used so often, usually signifying an opportunistic outsider coming in, getting paid more than they are worth, and come to conclusions everyone who works at the company already knows.

I think it works better to call yourself an “expert.”

This works very well because it is less intimidating to prospective clients. Historically, an expert was usually a profound thinker distinguished for wisdom and sound judgment.

Who works the least hours and gets paid the most money?

Experts. Who garners universal professional respect?

Experts. Who has extensive knowledge and ability?

Experts. Language is very important, so be careful.

If you want to be a successful consultant, how you package yourself is important. Stay away from terms such as “coach” and “freelance” whatever. Coach is a hare’s breath away from therapist. Freelance is a dated term sounding like someone who is unemployed, trying to make a little money until the right job shows up. Don’t use it.

An expert can be believed, by virtue of credential, training, education, profession, publication or experience.

It’s someone who has special knowledge of a subject beyond that of the average person, enough that others may officially (and legally) rely upon the individual’s opinion. It’s a pretty flexible term.

The Good News It’s relatively easy to set yourself up as a consultant (or expert). All you really need is a computer, a phone, and a desk. In many fields it is not always necessary for an individual to have significant professional or academic qualifications for them to be accepted as an expert.

Depending on your field of expertise, prospects can be very accepting. If you want to say you’re an expert on XYZ and say it often enough in a variety of places, you will be taken at your word until you start disappointing the wrong people. Unless you’re doing harm, and you’re producing results for your clients, everyone will be happy.

Best of all…marketing yourself as a consultant is cheap compared to other businesses.

Getting Started The bad news is you must put in a considerable amount of work to package yourself as an expert consultant and have a clear idea of what you’re offering. The below is a short review of how to start.

1. Find a Niche That is in Demand All kinds of businesses, governments, non-profit agencies and even individuals use consultants. They hire consultants because they need specialized skills. In most cases, they hire consultants because they only need the skills or knowledge for a short period of time or for less than a full-time basis.

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Do your homework. Companies tend to hire experts that can increase the bottom line rather than experts in employee stress reduction.

Starting a Business as a Veteran?

2. Make Sure Your Niche Matches Your Skill Set. Successful consultants have some abilities in common.

Just a few include strong analytical abilities to see through what is on the surface and can conclude what is needed. Excellent interpersonal talents, confidence, writing and speaking skills are critical. The ability to be persuasive and make recommendations you can support are important.

3. Be Willing to Specialize.

Are you a shotgun or a rifle? The more you constrict, the more potent you become. Companies want experts, not generalists. Consider this: If you have a nursing home and need certification, do you want a “Management Consultant,” or a “Nursing Home Expert?” If your 7lb Shiatzu is aggressive with other dogs, do you want a “dog-trainer” or a “small dog authority?”

Much More to Explore There is so much more to say about starting and marketing a successful consulting business.

Operation Vetrepreneur has put together a 2-hour veteran-focused workshop and roundtable on How to Become a Wealthy, In-Demand, Wildly Successful Consultant on Monday, November 18 at 5:30pm.

We’ll cover starting up, picking a niche that pays, sales & marketing, what to charge & much more! Tell your friends! Bring your spouse! Join us!

A City of San Diego grant has paid for Operation Vetrepreneur to help launch and support veteran (Military & Spouse) startups and growing businesses.

See our ad in Homeland Magazine and San Diego Homeland Magazine. Working with highly experienced entrepreneurs, and using a unique brainstorming hightouch model, you get mentoring and info while in the company of other like-minded veterans.

Tell us about yourself at www.veteransinbiz.com, sign up and RSVP for the above workshop at www.meetup.com/Operation-Vetrepreneur-San-Diego/

Vicki Garcia is the Co-Founder of Operation Vetrepreneur & President of Marketing Impressions, a 30+ -year- old marketing consulting firm.

The transition from military service to civilian life can be a difficult one, especially when it comes to your career.

That’s why a growing number of veterans choose to forge their own path and become entrepreneurs after leaving the Armed Forces.

While starting a business comes with numerous challenges, former service members do have one distinct advantage: the veteran community.

“The strength and power of veteran entrepreneurs comes from other veteran entrepreneurs” Unlike most highly competitive entrepreneurial environments, veteran entrepreneurs share information much more easily.

If you or someone you know is a veteran looking to start a business, please feel free to contact Vicki Garcia.

Vicki is the Co-Founder of Operation Vetrepreneur & President of Marketing Impressions, a 33+ -year- old marketing consulting firm. If you want support for starting up a business, email her at vicki@veteransinbiz.com.

For advice, tips and programs you can read Vicki’s monthly column at Homeland Magazine or visit www.HomelandMagazine.com and click on the banner:

ENLISTED TO ENTREPRENEUR

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019

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New Brainstorming Cohorts Starting NOW! Register at www.veteransinbiz.com for schedule Want Info? www.operationvetrepreneur.vet Questions? Email veteransinbiz@gmail.com Operation Vetrepreneur is a Project of the National Veterans Transition Services, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit

*A small “skin in the game” fee is refundable when you attend all 4 meetings.

Certification & Supplier Diversity Concept Review for Startups Perfecting Your Pitch Speaker Training Brainstorming with Experts Publishing Knowhow Personal Branding Mind Mapping Crowdfunding Writing a Business Plan Branding, Graphics & Visuals Internet Marketing Social Media & SEO Legal Issues Budgeting Where & How to Get Money High Velocity Growth Strategies Employees & Contractors

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019

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Veterans Chamber of Commerce

By Joseph Molina www.vccsd.org

CELEBRATING VETERANS Veterans Day is a day of celebration for all those who served. Veterans Day is observed on November 11 (since 1918 that signaled the end of WWI (11/11/11) known as Armistice day, but in 1954 the name was changed to Veterans day by President Eisenhower) Veterans day is a day that Honors the men and women who served in the US Armed Forces.

Who are these Veterans: Veterans are excellent students: Veterans make education a priority and bring their military discipline into the classroom. Veterans for the most part complete assignments on time, work well in teams and tend to finish courses a higher rate. Many veterans who attend college tend to be older than your typical college student, but on the other hand, veterans complete their course work while holding a job and, in many cases, while taking care of a family.

Veterans are Great Employees: Veterans tend to have strong work ethic and a strong sense commitment to the job. Employers value the strong sense of loyalty, the strong sense of teamwork and the willingness to help fellow workers. These are traits veterans learned while in the military.

Civilian employment may bring some challenges to the newly transition veterans. One of these challenges for veterans seem to be the “less structured environment” of the private sector. Veterans are used to a more structure environment so it may take time to adjust to this new way of work.

Employers on the other hand, may also encounter some challenges when working with veterans. One common challenge is in the “Communication style” - Veterans tend to be more direct while civilian employers tend to use a more “open style” of communication.

Some organizations are implementing the “Veteran Mentorship Program” This is a program that brings a Veteran Mentor (company sponsored) who facilitates group sessions with veterans employed by the organization.

Veterans in Homeownership: Veterans are more likely to be current in their mortgage and have lower default rates. This may be due to the high sense of family and the importance for veterans to be true to his/her obligations. Home ownership is also very attractive for veterans due to the support received from the VA Home Loan program.

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Veterans are Great in Business: Statistics have shown that veteran owned businesses support local communities and contribute to a stronger economy. Statistics from the SBA show that, the primary businesses owned by veterans tend to do better if these are in the professional fields, Procurement and or Franchising A total of about 9 percent of the businesses in United States are owned by veterans. Together they contribute about $1.14 trillion to the economy and creating employment opportunities for over 5.8 million people.

Veterans developed certain skills while serving in the military that allows them to be more prepared, take more risks and think more strategically. These set of skills transfer well to Business Ownership. Leadership, problem solving, solution driven and the urge to complete the mission are some of the soft skills that translate well and are a big advantage when moving from service to entrepreneurship. Veterans who developed Leadership skills, manage subordinates, completed difficult projects are more likely to venture and do well in the world of entrepreneurship.

WOUNDS WE CANNOT SEE

Veterans are more likely to succeed in businesses that have a system, a clear structure and a set of policies that demand completion. One example of this type of business module is Franchising. These businesses have a defined structure, quantitative outcomes and a system that promotes achievement of goals.

San Diego Veterans Magazine works with nonprofit veteran organizations that help more than 1 million veterans in life-changing ways each year.

The “International Franchise Association� states that about 203,890 veterans have started in franchising since 2011. The research also showed that veteran franchise owners are nearly a third (30%) MORE likely to hire other veterans. Veterans who take the challenging step of starting their own business contribute to our economy in a big way.

In Summary: Veterans bring a set of skills that make veterans more likely to succeed in the many facets of life. Because of the discipline, training and mindset acquired while in the military veterans tend to do better in school, better at work and in business.

People and Communities who want to support veteran owned businesses have difficulty finding them. The Veteran Chamber of Commerce has a free app that helps you (The Veteran Owned Business) Stand out.

Create your profile www.vccsd.org/app The app will show your Customers how to find you!

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder does not always allow the affected to seek help. Lend a hand and provide them with methods of help, listen and be a friend.

Resources.

Support.

Inspiration.

At SD Vets Magazine you can visit our website for all current and past articles relating to PTSD, symptoms, resources and real stories of inspiration.

Resources & Articles available at:

www.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com

FIGHTING PTSD

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Father Joe’s Village A Veterans Fighting Spirit

By Hart DuBois San Diego is home to one of the largest veteran populations in the nation. Unfortunately, San Diego also has the second largest homeless veteran population. Father Joe’s Villages is committed to protecting the health and well-being of San Diego’s veterans. Their programs give veterans the opportunityto benefit from support catered to their specific experiences and to connect with other service men and women. By providing housing, comprehensive services and support, Father Joe’s Villages gives hope to our heroes that they won’t be left behind.

With a vision to prevent and end homelessness for veterans in San Diego, Father Joe’s Villages provides customized solutions to address each veteran’s unique needs. Veterans like Dorothea, an Air Force veteran living with a disability who found herself living on the streets after her husband passed away.

When Dorothea and her husband, Carl, met in the Air Force in 1974, they were ready to share a lifetime of joy, love and happiness. After retiring from the Air Force, Dorothea worked as a nurse’s aide and went back to school to become a Licensed Vocational Nurse. Carl was sick on and off, but she supported him faithfully in his times of illness. However, eventually, diabetes and extreme back pain made it more and more painful for Dorothea to walk or stand for long periods of time. Her diabetes progressed and she lost her left foot, confining her to a wheelchair and impacting her ability to maintain work.

“I find that some people do not want to hire disabled people. They think we should be in nursing homes. They don’t stop to think that there are [those] who want to try and turn around and get back to work,” Dorothea explained.

Losing their income and housing, the couple moved into a van. Nevertheless, Dorothea saved every penny she could and she and Carl were eventually able to move off the street and into an apartment. Just four months later, Carl passed away.

Dorothea was left alone— grieving and struggling with her disability. Shortly thereafter, she lost her housing.

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Worker with the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs referred Dorothea to Father Joe’s Villages, where she was welcomed into their transitional housing program for veterans.

At Father Joe’s Villages, Dorothea was given the care and support she needed to get back on her feet. With a roof over her head, daily meals, immediate access to medical care and grief counseling, Dorothea had a safe space to heal.

“You can feel safe here. You can get yourself back to where you were before you were homeless. If you follow things through and make plans, you can get back to work,” Dorothea said.

On any given night, there are more than 1,300 veterans experiencing homelessness in San Diego—many of them living with disability and/or mental illness. When veterans don’t have access to secure housing and integrated services, we deny them the chance to prosper in civilian life. Father Joe’s Villages offers services to ensure that our heroes are able to enjoy the freedoms they fought to preserve. Thanks to these services, veterans like Dorothea can gain self-sufficiency.

Now, Dorothea finally has a home of her own and a bright future ahead of her. Despite her past struggles and current disability, Dorothea would still drop everything to defend her country. “If my country needed me again, if I could make sure my country remains free, even though I’m disabled, then I would do so. There’s a lot of us veterans that would do the same thing.”

(619) HOMELESS (466-3537) www.neighbor.org

Meet Mark.

Marine veteran Living with multiple sclerosis Unbelievable falsetto Was homeless (found hope)

It’s been one battle after another.

But thanks to Father Joe’s Villages, Mark has a roof over his head, his health under control, and a song in his heart.

Help people like Mark leave homelessness behind.

neighbor.org (619) HOMELESS (466-3537)

#HomelessNotHopeless

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019

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A New Home

A Veteran’s Success Story Easterseals Bob Hope Veterans Support Program

For most families, having to relocate and find a new job is an extremely stressful experience. For 17-year Coast Guard veteran Maria, this process was no exception.

The newly-single mother had lived in a small town in Arkansas since exiting the service in 2014. She was the head of her household and going to college, but was not able to find consistent employment. Lacking the steady income needed to sustain her family, Maria made the difficult decision to relocate with her child to San Diego, California, in search of better employment opportunities, and by extension, a better way of life.

On a hot, humid summer afternoon, she packed her sedan with as much as it could hold and began the journey from Arkansas to California.

“San Diego is a military town. I had been here before and I was looking forward to returning and starting a new life.”

After almost a 3-day drive, Maria was welcomed into the home of a friend in San Diego who offered her a temporary stay. Like many skilled, resourceful veterans she felt she would soon be standing on her own two feet, but she still had to face the challenges of finding employment and a stable home.

“When I got to San Diego, providing for my son was my priority. I wanted to work. But I didn’t know where to start.”

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Maria’s friend, who is familiar with the veteran community, referred Maria to the Easterseals Bob Hope Veterans Support Program.

Built on a customized employment model, the Easterseals Bob Hope Veterans Support Program provides one-on-one employment services, referrals, and connections to the resources necessary to support the unique needs of veterans and military personnel in a successful transition to the civilian workforce.

This may include addressing barriers to employment such as housing, mental health, transportation, financial assistance, etc. The veteran works inperson with an Employment Specialist who assists in determining interests, skills, needs, and goals in order to develop an employment plan.

After calling to set up a meeting with an Easterseals Employment Specialist and preparing her resume, Maria was ready to discuss her employment search.

The discussion inside a local café began as a typical employment-related chat: Introductions, a cup of coffee, and small talk, but it soon evolved into something more personal, involved, and caring.

Various questions regarding her interests, skills, needs, and goals led to a more in-depth conversation that resulted in the realization that other resources, beyond those basic to employment, were necessary for her successful transition in San Diego.

“When I met the Easterseals Employment Specialist, I immediately felt that I had someone on my side,” Maria shared. “That was not what I had experienced with other resource programs I had encountered in San Diego.”

Based on the California Health and Safety Code, Maria was potentially eligible for housing assistance programs, so during the process of developing Maria’s employment plan, her Employment Specialist facilitated connections to housing assistance organizations.

“When my Employment Specialist realized that I had housing needs, she started calling all her contacts to try to get things into place.”

Through those connections, Maria was accepted into a subsidized housing program. She and her son were officially San Diegans and she could now fully focus on her search for employment.

Equipped with her professional experience in program operations, a degree in the field of community functions, a tailored resume, and a source for professional attire also received through her Employment Specialist, Maria felt more confident applying and interviewing for jobs.

It wasn’t long before Maria received an ideal job offer and today she is employed as a Housing Outreach Specialist for a behavioral health service provider. The position not only allows her to provide for her family, but it also allows her to provide compassionate and helpful assistance to families in her community. It is a meaningful job that she feels fortunate to have. Her son is enrolled in school and is thriving in his education.

As a final thought, Maria added, “I don’t know where I would be. I felt that all my time in the service didn’t count for anything. I was reminded I belonged here. I am forever in debt to Easterseals.”

Thanks to Maria’s resilience, determination, and a veteran community of service, this family’s relocation to the sunny beaches of San Diego ended happily.

San Diego Veteran Resources & Organizations

Navigating the resources available to veterans can be confusing, but San Diego Veterans Magazine believes no veteran should have to go it alone.

At San Diego Veterans Magazine you can find Veteran organizations and private nonprofits with resources for veterans that can help ease the process of attaining earned benefits, coping with the lasting effects of service-connected injuries and finding programs and services that meet your specific needs.

Visit SD Vets today at www.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com

San Diego Veterans Magazine A Veterans Magazine for Veterans by Veterans WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019

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MILITARY MONEY MINUTE A Monthly Financial

By Lara Ryan, Daniel Chavarria & Michael Biemiller

DO YOU WANT TO SAVE MONEY? 10 FREE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES THAT IF YOU’RE MILITARY, YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT While our column usually focuses on managing and planning around your finances, this issue is all about saving money! In honor of the season, here are {“lucky”) 13 products and services you should know about.

Many businesses pride themselves on their military discounts, but some offer FREE products for military families which can make the high ops tempo life a little easier for servicemembers and their families.

1.BuildASign.com If your loved one is (finally) coming home from deployment, BuildASign.com will donate a free homecoming banner to your family. The company started doing this in 2008 and has given away more than 337,000 welcome home banners. 337,000!

Find out more by clicking here: www.buildasign 2. Tutor.com Tutor.com offers free tutoring. You can connect with a live tutor if you need immediate help with something or you can schedule a 20-minute tutoring session, drop off an essay or resume, and take diagnostic quizzes to test your knowledge and find out where your problem areas may be. They also offer ASVAB tutoring for those that are looking to take (or retake) it. They offer a wide variety of subjects including high school subjects, college-level subjects, and foreign languages. Click here to get signed up: https://military.tutor.com/ home 3. Free Wedding Dresses for Military Brides Through the Brides Across American program, military brides can get a free wedding gown from a bridal shop near them that’s participating in this annual event that takes place in July. The bride or their fiance will need to have been deployed within the past 5 years or about to be deployed and have not had a formal wedding.

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4. GreenCare (or SnowCare!) for Troops Military families face many challenges when their loved one is deployed. Project EverGreen’s GreenCare for Troops connects military families across the nation to complimentary lawn and landscape services. Meanwhile, our sister program, SnowCare for Troops, provides basic snow removal. They are now also offering this service to wounded and/or disabled veterans.

Click here to sign up: https://projectevergreen.org/greencare-for-troops/.

5. Veteran Tickets Individuals and organizations donate tickets to events like sporting events and concerts and then active duty military members, veterans, and their families can use these tickets to attend the event for free. Check the website to see what free tickets are available for events in your area: www.vettix.org/.

6. Reading a Story – 3 Options!

Every year, more than 100,000 military parents deploy leaving nearly 250,000 children at home. A conservative separation is about 6-months — that means these military children have 180 nights without their parent home for a bedtime story. That’s 40 million bedtime stories missed each year by military children. United Through Reading connects military families through the read-aloud experience, so that every military child has the opportunity for bedtime stories. Click here to learn more: https://unitedthroughreading.org/.

A Story Before Bed will provide a free recordable storybook to a family whose parent is deployed or who will be getting deployed. It lets you record a children’s book online with audio and video. Kids can play back the recording as often as they like on iPad, iPhone, Mac, or PC. They have given away over 304,000 recordable storybooks. Click here to take advantage of this opportunity: http://www.astorybeforebed.com/.

If you are an actively deployed military member, Baby’s Brilliant will provide you with a free recordable read-tome story to send home. Record yourself reading one of their read along books, and they will edit your voice in, and send the servicemember the link to share with your family back home. Add a personal message at the end of the book.

This is offered at no charge, as a thank you from us to all the men and women in uniform serving our country away from home. You just have to email them at support@babysbrilliant.com. Learn more at: www.babysbrilliant.com 7. Blue Star Museums Did you know that between Memorial Day and Labor Day, active military members and their families can visit any Blue Star Museum for free? You can find out if there is a participating museum near you by visiting www.arts.gov

12. Blue Star Theatres Blue Star Theatres is a collaboration between Theatre Communications Group and Blue Star Families.

Through this initiative, more than 150 theatres and playhouses around the country offer free or discounted admission to the military, their families and veterans. Visit: https://www.military.com/discounts

8. Amusement Parks While there are many amusement parks throughout the country that offer significant discounts to military families, Sea World, Busch Gardens, and Sesame Place offer military members one free admission per year.

Visit here to see the available Park discounts: https://www.military.com/discounts 9. USPS: Mili-Kit Whether you are PCSing or looking to send care packages, USPS will provide free Mili-Kits.

You will be allowed up to 10 free kits per phone call (1-800-610-8734) and the kits will be delivered within 7-10 business days. The kit includes: • Two large priority flat rate boxes (12 x 12 x 5-1/2), • Two medium priority flat rate boxes (11 x 8-1/2 x 5-1/2) • Two medium priority flat rate boxes (13-5/8 x 11-7/8 x 3-3/8) • Priority mail tape • Priority mail address labels • Customs forms and envelopes to attach the forms to the package.

Click here to learn more or call the number above: https://about.usps.com 10. National Parks Active military members and their families can obtain a free annual park pass. There are more than 2,000 national parks all over our country, so this is definitely something you should look into! The military member will be the pass holder but their family (up to 3 adults) will be able to get in for free as well. Children under 15 are always free. Click here to find out where you can get your free pass: https://bluestarfam.org/family-life/blue-star-parks/.

11. Coupon Books Outlets! The Simon Premium Outlets, Tanger Outlets, and Williamsburg Premium Outlets give away free coupon books for military personnel with valid ID. Just visit the outlet service center to obtain your coupon book to save some money.

13. Military-Focused Financial Planning We provide non-fee based financial advisors, and we specialize in working with military – active duty, retired, veteran, and military-connected individuals, families and businesses. We work with you to create a financial plan that focuses not only on the basics but provides a deep understanding of military pay and benefits so you can understand and then best leverage them. Among other things, we address: transition, VA process, education benefits for you, your spouse and children, tax implications, TSP and retirement savings, credit card debt and SCRA, student loans, VA home loan.

Lara, Dan & Michael work with a team and run a comprehensive financial planning practice that specializes in working with active duty, retired, veteran and military-connected individuals, families, and businesses. They are not fee-based planners and don’t charge for their time, but believe every servicemember needs and deserves a financial plan.

Lara.ryan@nm.com (307) 690-9266 Daniel.Chavarria@nm.com (702) 497-3264 Michael.biemiller@nm.com (858) 663-4296

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legal Eagle Straight-forward legal tips for Military and Veteran Business Owners

By Kelly Bagla, Esq.

TRADEMARKS – WHAT’S IN A NAME? Intellectual property law impacts every business, whether you know it or not. For example, the moment a name is used in relation to your business, your goods or services, certain trademark rights are created. Similarly, as soon as your website or other promotional materials are created, certain copyright rights arise. By arising automatically through everyday business activities, these basic intellectual property rights can become valuable assets of your business.

Unfortunately, these same everyday business activities can also create substantial legal headaches if the creation and use of your intellectual property is not handled properly. Your investment in a new company or product brand name could be wasted if your chosen name is not protectable as a trademark.

Even more frightening, your new name could pose infringement risks and liabilities if not properly researched prior to implementation and use.

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A trademark is any word, name, or symbol used in commerce to identify and distinguish your business, product or service. A trademark can be considered a business’s brand name and use of a trademark without permission can be considered infringement of the trademark holder’s rights. Trademarks are registered with and granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

The good thing about trademarks is that common law trademark rights can be created by simply using a name or logo as a trademark, such as using the mark to identify your business. Any time you claim rights in a mark, you may use the “TM” (trademark) designation to alert the public to your claim, regardless of whether you have filed an application for registration of the mark. It is the use of a mark that creates the common law rights. Broader protection may be available through other means and is usually advisable.

The bad news about trademarks is that this ease of creating trademark rights means that almost all businesses own trademarks, making it very ease to inadvertently violate or infringe on the trademark rights of others.

www.golegalyourself.com

Such trademark infringement can be very costly for your business.

Alternatively, your business may invest significant time and money in a name that you perceive to be a trademark, only to later discover that the name is not protectable as a trademark. Therefore, is it important to carefully consider, as early as possible, what trademark to use, both to ensure your investment is protectable and to avoid infringing upon the rights of others.

So why trademark your name, product, service or brand?

• Trademarks are an effective communication tool with your customers • Trademarks make it easy for customers to find you

NOTHING COMPARES at this price to Go Legal Yourself ® Startup Essentials Package. This specialized, customizable package of legal contracts and documents includes everything a startup company needs to protect its assets from the beginning. You won't find these contracts online anywhere but here.

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• Trademarks allow businesses to effectively utilize the internet and social media • Trademarks are a valuable asset $

• Trademarks are inexpensive to acquire • Trademarks never expire There are many considerations that you must think about before selecting a name and the filing for a trademark and seeking profession advise should always be your first step.

-4 E m ployer Identification N um ber

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For more information on how to legally protect your business please pick up a copy of my bestselling book: ‘Go Legal Yourself’ on Amazon or visit my website at www.golegalyourself.com

x

Disclaimer: This information is made available by Bagla Law Firm, APC for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, and not to provide specific legal advice. This information should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state.

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019

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CYBERSECURITY Credit Monitoring, Identity Theft Protection, and Data Breach Management

By Scott Hermann, CEO and identity theft protection expert www.identityiq.com/SDVets

New Synthetic Identity Theft Con Targets Everyone with Children and Seniors Especially at Risk Identity thieves have come up with a new method of fraud that can target you and your loved ones. This relatively new modern con is known as synthetic identity theft and puts children and seniors particularly at risk.

Unlike traditional identity theft that involves a criminal taking over your identity and posing as you to obtain a new credit card, open a new loan, or commit other fraud, synthetic identity thieves take bits and pieces of your personal information and create an entirely new false identity. This synthetic identity can be used to commit not only financial fraud but other crimes such as medical identity fraud or obtaining employment with false identification.

While individual criminals can commit synthetic identity theft, many times a large criminal enterprise will create the synthetic identities and spend years building up credit to maximize the amount they can borrow before taking off with the money or goods.

Often, all criminals will need is a Social Security number (SSN) to create these synthetic identities. They need a real SSN so financial institutions can validate the number, although the SSN isn’t matched to a name.

While everyone is at risk for synthetic identity theft, children and seniors are especially vulnerable because they might not be using or actively using their credit.

While children are assigned a SSN when they are born, they have no credit history and can only apply for credit when they hit age 18. By then, a criminal could be using their SSN for years in a synthetic identity fraud.

Using children’s SSNs for synthetic identity theft also might have been made easier in 2011 when the Social Security Administration changed the way it assigned SSNs. Numbers were previously assigned by geographic area, group number, and age.

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With the change, SSNs are now randomized to help prevent identity theft and accommodate the growing number of people needing numbers. However, the randomized numbers now make it more difficult for risk managers to determine if SSNs on applications are legitimate.

Criminals also can target the senior population because, in general, they don’t use their credit as much as younger adults, especially if they own their home or are living with relatives and don’t have a need for credit.

What can you do to protect yourself and your loved ones?

There are steps you can take to help protect yourself and your loved ones from synthetic identity theft.

• Monitor credit reports – Make sure you keep an active eye on your credit reports. If you see anything suspicious, you can freeze or lock your credit in order to protect it.

• Freezing or locking you or your children’s credit – If you aren’t actively seeking a loan or other credit in the foreseeable future, you can freeze or lock your credit, meaning you’re blocking credit companies or other lenders from viewing your credit report and providing a line of credit. Since your children shouldn’t have a credit history or need credit anytime soon, you can freeze or lock their credit as well to prevent fraud. A credit freeze restricts access to your credit report and has to be removed in order to open up new accounts while a credit lock can be added and removed through the use of a PIN. • Watch out for phishing and other scams – Scams such as phishing emails and phone calls are just some of the ways criminals can obtain your SSN and other personally identifiable information (PII). Never give out your SSN or other PII over the phone or via email.

Also, don’t click on links in suspicious emails. Always go directly to the business or organization’s website or contact them through their official phone numbers with questions or concerns.

• Protect your SSN – Don’t carry your Social Security card or your children’s cards with you in your purse or wallet. Instead, keep the cards in a lockbox or other secure location. If a business or organization requests you or your children’s SSNs, ask if there are any alternatives to providing that information. Also, don’t be afraid to ask how they store your PII. • Be on the lookout for any suspicious communications – If you or your child receives any correspondence from debt collectors, credit card companies, employers, or insurers that are unfamiliar to you, investigate further and freeze or lock the credit if needed.

• Get identity theft protection – Monitoring and protecting your identity is essential. Credit and identity theft protection services can provide credit reports, alerts for suspicious activity, restoration assistance, and identity theft insurance for peace of mind.

Synthetic identity theft is just one new way criminals are using your PII to commit fraud.

Protect yourself and your loved ones!

For more information, visit www.identityiq.com/military ©2019 IDIQ℠ provider of IdentityIQ℠ services

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Honoring Shelter to Soldier Service Dog Trainer, Perry Chapman

By Eva Stimson As a child, Perry Chapman was required by his mother to attend training lessons with their family dogs, a task that would inspire a lifetime passion of dog training. Today, Perry (a US Navy Veteran and graduate of Starmark Academy, Austin, TX) is a certified dog trainer who is just scratching the surface of his dog training career goals.

Perry has been training service dogs for Shelter to Soldier since early 2018, and has since poured his heart into the mission, serving dozens of veterans and training even more rescue dogs to live a life of greater purpose.

His impact has helped the program to grow and save more lives. There’s no doubt that the mission has had a mutual impact on him.

Perry states, “My time at STS has been the most fulfilling job I’ve ever had. When it comes to work, never in my life have I made such a difference in people’s lives that really need it. I’m a veteran myself that was lucky enough to depart military service without mental or physical problems. To enable my veteran brothers and sisters on a daily basis, and to provide them a tool to do a task as normal as grocery shopping, makes my cup fill with joy and passion everyday.”

During his time training dogs for the Shelter to Soldier program, Perry has helped many veterans cultivate a bond with their animals that supports them through their struggles with invisible wounds. On October 28, Perry said “goodbye-for-now” to the Shelter to Soldier program as he embarks on a journey to canine (scent) detection school in North Carolina. His dogs, Mika and Crash, will join him as he expands his repertoire as an elite dog-training professional.

Shelter to Soldier Founder and Training Director, Graham Bloem, is very proud of his team member and sees a similar passion in Perry that has led Graham from his early days of dog training to the lifesaving program he has built today in Shelter to Soldier. Bloem elaborates, “While I’m very excited for Perry to continue his journey in the dog-training field and I admire his passion to continue to learn and grow, he will be deeply missed by our team. Perry’s work ethic, talent, passion for dogs and dog behavior, and his ability to work with our veteran clients has been an ongoing joy to watch.

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Perry Chapman and Mika Photo by, Allison Shamrell Photography

We sincerely appreciate his passion for being so dedicated to our mission, our dogs in training and our veteran recipients.” The Shelter to Soldier training team has been inspired by Perry’s dedication to serve his fellow veterans and help them realize their full potential as service dog handlers and they will continue their great work at Shelter to Soldier training headquarters “Saving Lives, Two at a TimeTM”.

“Thank you for everything. Working for STS has shown me an incredibly fulfilling life path that I never thought would be attainable for me. Although I’m excited to dive-in and learn another aspect of dog training, the opportunity and knowledge that I have gained teaching dogs to help veterans that you and your family have imparted to me is priceless,” remarks Chapman.

Every day, 3200 dogs are euthanized nationwide. Shelter to Soldier rescues dogs that are better suited for a life with a job or may otherwise be overlooked, providing them a future with a purpose and a life that is fulfilled by their bond with a veteran in need. Every 69 minutes, a U.S. veteran commits suicide. 20 Veterans and one Active Duty military personnel commit suicide on a daily basis. These veterans sacrificed everything to protect our freedom, and Shelter to Soldier is dedicated to giving back to them.

To contribute to Shelter to Soldier’s mission, visit www.sheltertosoldier.org to make a tax-deductible donation.

“Marines in Flight”

Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum 2019 Student Art Contest Winners Annual art contest gives students a platform to express their artistic and creative skills as they learn about U.S. and aviation history and the contributions, courage and sacrifices of the men and women who designed, built, flew and maintained these iconic aircraft. The time and effort students put into their entries was evident, making selection of winners difficult.

Winning entries will be on display in the galleries of the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum until January, 2020.

Prize-winning student artwork from the first annual “Marines in Flight” art contest will be on display through January 2020 at the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum at MCAS Miramar in San Diego.

Students winners...L-R Sylvia Paredes, Veronika Smolina, Stephan Talantov, Charlie O’Bryan, Jiaying Zhu with retired USMC MajGen Bob Butcher, Chairman of the Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation.

Missing from photo: Roma Ghanekar.

Students from throughout San Diego County were asked to depict USMC aircraft past or present “in flight”. There were two categories of entries: grades 6-8 and grades 9-12. Judging was done by the nationally known panel of artists and illustrators Gary Johnson, Lee Kromshroeder, Herb Prokse and Robert Watts.

Winners in the High School Division: First: Sylvia Paredes, Eastlake High School (now at SDSU) Second: Jiaying Zhu, Westview High School Third: Roma Ghanekar, Poway High School.

Winners in the Middle School Division: First: Veronika Smolina, Santa Fe Christian School Second: Stephan Talantov, Del Mar Elementary School (now at Bishop’s School) Third: Charlie O’Bryan, home school student.

The students received cash awards and were feted at a ceremony by Miramar base commander, Col Charles Dockery, and the leadership of the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum’s foundation including retired Marines, Chairman of the Board, MajGen Bob Butcher and Executive Director, BGen Mike Aguilar.

The Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum is open on Tuesdays through Sundays from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm.

It has 31 historical aircraft on display as well as uniforms, patches, medals and artifacts from WWI to present day.

Admission is free.

See the winning entries and inspiration at www.flyingleathernecks.org

“Flying in Peace” by Sylvia Paredes, 1st place High School Division.

Thank You To Art Contest Donors and Judges The Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation and the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum gratefully acknowledge the financial support of its education program provided by Major Glenn Ferguson (USMC-retired).

We were fortunate to have as judges four nationally recognized professional artists and illustrators: Gary Johnson, Lee Kromshroeder, Herb Prokse and Robert Watts and gratefully acknowledge the time and expertise they donated to make the program a success.

The Museum is located at 4204 Anderson Ave, San Diego, CA. For more information call 858-693-1723 or visit www.flyingleathernecks.org.

WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019

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San Diego Developers Aim to Raise $100,000 for VeteranServing Programs

By Honorable Tim S. McClain, Chairman, America’s Warrior Partnership Every yard of concrete poured at a construction site in Otay Mesa is generating donations to fund community programs for military veterans, their families and caregivers. This has been made possible by a campaign called Patriot’s Pour, which was started by our team at America’s Warrior Partnership to enable businesses with a pourable product, such as construction companies with cement or restaurants with drinks, to “pour with a purpose” in support of local resources for veterans.

L to R: The Honorable Tim McClain, Chairman of America’s Warrior Partnership; R. Michael Murphy, President of Murphy Development; William Potter, Volunteer at America’s Warrior Partnership; and Erinn Leonhardt, Marketing Director at Murphy Development

Dozens of representatives from local businesses, veteranserving organizations and other groups involved in the construction of the industrial park joined us for the kickoff luncheon, which featured a ceremonial concrete pour to commemorate San Diego’s first official donation to Patriot’s Pour. To date, the companies have raised nearly $79,000, and they aim to raise $100,000 by the time they complete construction on Building 3.

A ceremonial concrete pour commemorates thefirst donation to Patriot’s Pour in San Diego.

All of the funds raised through Patriot’s Pour will directly fund initiatives and programs that support veterans, with 80 percent of the proceeds specifically going to San Diego veteran programs while the remainder goes to national veteran programs conducted by America’s Warrior Partnership.

The two companies that have brought Patriot’s Pour to San Diego are Murphy Development Company and Lusardi Construction Company. Murphy Development drafts master plans and develops state-of-the-art corporate industrial parks throughout the greater San Diego area, and Lusardi Construction has completed thousands of buildings covering millions of square feet across Southern California.

America’s Warrior Partnership was honored to join Murphy Development and Lusardi Construction for a kick-off luncheon in early October to introduce Patriot’s Pour to the local community at the Building 3 project of The Campus at San Diego Business Park.

The companies have pledged to provide a donation to the campaign for every yard of concrete that they pour at this construction site. Additionally, the companies have offered their vendors, subcontractors, tenants and brokers the opportunity to donate funds in support of local veteran programs.

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Contractors, vendors and tenants of The Campus at San Diego Business Park gathered to kick off Patriot’s Pour.

To maximize the impact of the campaign within San Diego, the America’s Warrior Partnership team is already hard at work collaborating with community leaders to identify the local organizations that would most benefit from the funds raised through Patriot’s Pour.

San Diego Community Events

One of our most valuable partners on this front has been 2-1-1 San Diego, a local nonprofit that provides a 24-hour lifeline to connect San Diego residents with support services.

On a national level, Patriot’s Pour is supporting programs such as our Community Integration service model, which provides community organizations with a framework for connecting with the resources they need to create more proactive, holistic support programs for local veterans, their families and caregivers.

There are many creative, impactful ways that a community can empower local veterans to achieve the higher quality of life they have earned through their service.

As the Giving Season approaches, we encourage more individuals and organizations within the San Diego area to follow the example of Murphy Development and Lusardi Construction by participating in programs such as Patriot’s Pour to draw community support for veteran programs.

More information about Patriot’s Pour is available at AmericasWarriorPartnership.org.

About Tim McClain The Honorable Tim McClain is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of America’s Warrior Partnership, a national nonprofit dedicated to empowering communities to empower veterans.

Mr. McClain is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and served on active duty for over twenty years as a Surface Warfare Officer and JAG Corps officer. He has over forty years of leadership and management experience in the public and private sectors.

Mr. McClain is a former General Counsel for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, DC, a Senate-confirmed position, and former President of Humana Government Business in Louisville, KY

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Receive a $1,500 design studio credit and/or closing cost credit, plus make only a $1,000 earnest money deposit, when you purchase an eligible home at one of Pardee Homes’ participating new home communities, while supplies last. Please visit the community New Home Gallery to learn which homes are eligible for the incentives. Actual amounts and value of incentives may vary. Certain loan programs may not qualify for the full incentive value. Incentives may not be applied to the purchase price of the home. The offer to pay closing costs may be subject to a cap and does not include payment of prepaid taxes, property or mortgage insurance, or mortgage installments. Certain features and design studio selections may not be available on all homes. Any unused portion of the incentives will be forfeited. Incentives applied upon close of escrow. May not be exchanged, redeemed in cash, or combined with other offers. Subject to availability and change without notice. Additional conditions or restrictions may apply. See New Home Advisor for details. Federal and state taxes are the responsibility of the recipient. Void where prohibited. The prices of our homes, included features, plans, specifications, promotions/incentives, neighborhood build-out and available locations are subject to change without notice. Stated dimensions, square footage and acreage are approximate and should not be used as a representation of any home’s or homesite’s precise or actual size, location or orientation. No information or material herein is to be construed to be an offer or solicitation for sale. Any photographs used herein reflect artists’ conceptions and are for illustrative purposes only. Photographs of people do not depict or indicate any preference regarding race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, familial status, or national origin. Some amenities may not yet be constructed. Builder reserves the right to change the size, design, configuration and location of amenities not yet constructed and does not warrant the suitability thereof for any use or for any person.

No warranty or guarantee is made regarding any particular area public school/school district or that any particular public school/school district will service any given community. Schools/school districts may change over time. Our name and the logos contained herein are registered trademarks of TRI Pointe Group, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. CA Contractor’s License No. 251810. CA DRE License No. 02027320. © 2019 Pardee Homes, a member of the TRI Pointe Group. All rights reserved.

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