22nd District
“The Nation that forgets its Defenders, will itself be forgotten.” San Diego County American Legion www.ALD22.org
Monday, May 27, 2019 MEMORIAL DAY 1
“Serving San Diego County Communities”
C OM MA N DE R 2 0 1 8 - 2 0 1 9 :
PA ST AU X I L IA RY P R E SI D E N T:
CHRIS YATES
MOE GIACALONE
Courage to Call is a veteran-led, San Diego Countyfunded program that serves active duty, veterans, reservists, guardsmen and their families. They can help find supportive information, access resources and provide referrals to services throughout San Diego County. The organization’s mission focus is to offer prevention and early intervention services to improve mental wellness. The Courage to Call veteran peer line is available 24/7 to offer confidential care. When a caller is in need of assistance, a veteran peer specialist and a family support partner are also available to meet in person or by phone. For veterans that are facing multiple barriers, their Veteran Peer Navigators provide guidance and support for up to 18 months.
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Types of assistance may include: Food, Housing, Employment, Transition Support, Clothing, Legal Resources, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse services. Currently, Courage to Call provides weekly mental health services to student veterans. Organization members provide training and resources for the re-entry of incarcerated veterans. Courage to Call coordinates the Veterans Treatment Court mentor program, where veteran mentors generously give their time and dedication in supporting a veteran getting a second chance. In addition, Courage to Call organizes food distributions twice a month, which provide food to approximately 200 households at various locations countywide. The Courage to Call program has partnered with the VFW, San Diego American Legion and many other organizations in hosting food distributions. Notably, through their partnership with SDVC FLAG and the Chula Vista American Legion Post 434, Courage to Call distributed over 500 scooters from Razor USA to military and veteran families. We hope to continue this valuable partnership in serving the military and veteran community. For more information about Courage to Call or to chat with a veteran please visit www.courage2call.org.
Chris Yates, Commander San Diego County District 22
Celebration of Life for Honored Post 460 and District 22 Tireless Volunteer
PLUS INSIDE...
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PVA Rift...........................Page 5
This is a beautiful and healing funeral ceremony, much like a celebration of life. When a death happened in a Choctaw family, the eldest male relative would go out and cut 28 sticks, corresponding to the 28 days in a lunar month, and stick them in the eaves of the deceased's house. Each morning, the relative would remove one stick and burn it in a fire, until 10 sticks remained. At that time, the relatives and friends were notified of the exact time and place of the funeral cry. The people attending the funeral cry would show up on the day that the last stick was removed, bringing food for a feast. The family and guests would sit in circles, the immediate family in the innermost circle, the close friends and distant family in the next circle, and acquaintances in the outer circle. All would eat, and then the funeral cry would begin. The eldest male relative would begin. He would stand, and tell all of the good things that he remembered about the diseased person. Only good things could be spoken, and after he finished, the rest of the family in the innermost circle would do the same. Then the people in the second circle would share their memories of the deceased, and finally the outermost circle would speak. If this went on for long, breaks would be taken to eat again. The funeral cry would go on until everyone who wanted to had the chance to speak. Part of the beauty of this ceremony is that it happens after family and friends have had time to deal with the immediate grief of losing someone. The memories and good things shared at the cry help the grieving to deal with the loss, and to regain some of the good feelings that the person brought to them. As only good things may be spoken at a funeral cry, it is a positive ceremony, and incredibly healing.
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A PROUD CALIFORNIA AMERICAN LEGION PRESS ASSOCIATION AWARD WINNING PUBLICATION
Boys State Candidate........Page 7
American Legion Baseball.....Page 14
Veteran of the Year......... Page 16
Greatest Generation....... Page 20