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Reboot-Refresh: Invisible Wounds Support Group

April 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment

 

This month, Reboot-Refresh is taking a “field trip”.  We have found out that the documentary, Hell and Back Again, will be coming to Lexington, Kentucky, for one night only. Since the documentary is being presented at the same time we normally meet, we have decided to attend the showing of Hell and Back Again, and then meet afterwards to discuss the film.

We hope you will join us. Here are the details:

The movie is 90 minutes. It is being shown at LexArts, 161 N. Mill Street, Lexington, 40507.  It is free and open to the public. It is being presented by KET as part of the ITVS nationwide Community Cinema program.  We will meet in front of LexArts at 6:00 pm, Thursday, April 19.

Here is some information about our Invisible Wounds Care Group, Reboot-Refresh.   We meet on the third Thursday of each month.  We meet at Southland Christian Church, in Room B133.

Our focus is to support one another and learn to help one another through life after combat.  Many of us are playing a role of primary support for someone who has served in combat at some point in their past.

If you know your loved one is dealing with PTSD or a mild TBI, this group is for you.  If your loved one doesn’t have a diagnosis, but you know life is simply not the same anymore since their return from war, this group is for you.  Statistically, at least 20% of returning troops will have PTSD.  Realistically, everyone who serves will come back changed.

PTSD carries a stigma that we don’t speak of outside our homes. The symptomatic behaviors are often nothing to brag about and we prefer to keep problems to ourselves, hoping and praying that the situation will resolve itself in time. Thousands of veterans return home from war finding themselves unable to fit back into society. These men and women now face a battle on the homefront which can result in broken relationships, substance abuse, mental illness, homelessness, and suicide.

Even if your loved one is seeking treatment, there is much that we, as caregivers, need to learn so that we can help our loved one work towards health and healing.  Often times, our emotional reaction to what is happening will make the situation far worse.  You may even find that you are exhibiting symptoms of Secondary Traumatic Stress and you probably feel overwhelmed and at a loss as to how to get any help for yourself.

We are not experts, but we are survivors.  The purpose of this care group is to provide a safe atmosphere in which participants can share their hearts and their struggles. We have all experienced the spiritual, mental, and emotional battles that come with supporting and loving a combat veteran living with war’s invisible wounds.

We welcome anyone who has already walked this path in supporting a combat veteran.  You can show us some of the lessons and techniques you have learned and teach us to be a better support for our own combat veteran.

If you are a veteran who is willing to share your perspective about living with PTSD, we would welcome your participation and suggestions for helping family members learn to be a better support for their combat veteran.

If you are the parent, spouse, family member, or close friend to one of our nation’s veterans suffering with PTSD and TBI, we hope you will join us on the first and third Thursday nights of each month.  The group will meet monthly, on the third Thursday evening of the month from 6:30 – 8:00 pm.  Childcare is provided.  We will be meeting at Southland Christian Church, Room B133, located at 5001 Harrodsburg Rd., Nicholasville, KY For driving directions, click here.  For a building map, click here.

If you have any questions, please contact Beth at beth@military-missions.org.

Filed Under: Invisible Wounds, PTSD, TBI, Veteran Family Support Tagged With: , , , ,

Legacy of Service

February 29, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Not only will this little one grow up to realize that he lives in a free nation, but he will know that it is because of brave men like his daddy who serve and sacrifice for all of us. Military children have the privilege of being American citizens and the honor of knowing their parents are the ones who make it a reality for all of us.

Filed Under: Deployment, Military Families, Veteran Family Support Tagged With: , ,

Help us continue on in 2012

December 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment

2011 brought us the opportunity to support and encourage deployed troops, families here on the homefront, and our veterans in many different ways.  One of the greatest gifts of this past year has been the partnership that we have made with so many of you as we have worked together to support those who have served on our behalf. Words can’t express our gratitude for your support, encouragement, and help throughout the year.

The 3000 names on our Christmas list are now the names on our list for 2012, and it is our hope that we can continue to send packages to these heroes throughout their deployments in the coming year.  We continue to receive new requests every day so your support throughout the year is crucial to allow us to continue our mission to encourage and support our troops and their families.

We need YOUR help!  Any gift you give on or before December 31 is tax-deductible for 2011. By visiting our website you can make a  donation via Google Checkout or PayPal, and bless the socks off a deployed hero and support our veterans and military families here on the homefront.  If you prefer to donate via check, you can mail your check to our office, postmarked by December 31, and your donation will be credited for the 2011 year.

Once again, we thank you for your support and look forward to partnering with you again in 2012.

Filed Under: Care Packages, Deployment, Military Support, Veteran Family Support, Veterans Tagged With: , , , ,

Please Don’t Leave Me Homeless

November 18, 2011 By Leave a Comment

If you live in the Central Kentucky area, there is a very unique opportunity for you to attend an event and show your support for our homeless Veterans tonight.  An Evening of Giving Thanks to our Veterans will be held at the Lexington Opera House. Admission is free.

There is a good chance you don’t know anyone personally who is homeless, but these homeless Veterans have served our nation on your behalf and mine.  It may be difficult for you to understand why so many of our veterans are returning from military service only to find themselves living on the streets, but I’ve met many who have ended up without homes, and given their circumstances, it is easy to see why the numbers of homeless Veterans is growing every day.

From 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm, in the lobby of the Opera House, you can view the art exhibit, Please Don’t Leave Me Homeless.  The artwork has been created by Homeless Veterans of Lexington.  Come and meet the artists, hear their stories, and honor their service to our great nation.

Beginning at 8:00 pm, the original, acclaimed play, Please Don’t Call me Homeless….I Don’t Call You Homed, will be performed by men and women who have been homeless in Lexington.  Come and learn about the reality of what life is like for our Veterans who call the streets of Lexington home.

Appalachian Home holiday wreaths will be available to order. These gifts will brighten your home for the holiday and give a home to homeless Veterans.

This event is sponsored by the Catholic Action Center, Central KY Council for Peace and Justice, Christian Appalachian Project’s Appalachian Home, Divine Providence, Inc.’s Lexington Homeless Veteran’s Program, and Friends of Ending Homelessness for Veterans in our Community.

This is a rare opportunity we have here in Lexington to get to know these heroes.  It’s by the grace of God that you and I have a roof over our heads.  Let’s give thanks for what we have, and let’s come out and support this event. We can help our homeless Veterans to get back on their feet.  I think it is the least we can do after all they have done for us.

Filed Under: Invisible Wounds, PTSD, Updates, Veteran Family Support, Veterans Tagged With: , , , ,

A Seat of Honor: Giving Thanks for our Military

November 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, most of us will stop and count our blessings.  Many of us will count living in the United States of America and all the freedoms that come with our citizenship as one of our biggest blessings, but most of us will not feel the sacrifices made for that blessing on a personal level.

For those who have a loved one serving, there will be an empty seat at the table. There will be a missing smile and a void that no one can replace while their loved one is deployed.

For many families, the smile and presence of their hero will be only a memory because their loved one gave their life so that we can continue to live in a free nation and celebrate this annual holiday.

As we pause to give thanks for all of our blessings, let’s set an extra place at our tables this year in honor of those who serve.

Let’s give that place setting the seat of honor at the head of our tables.

Let’s remember that while we are gathered with family and friends, there are many who stand watch over us and our families and ensure that we can continue to celebrate our freedoms and our blessings each year.

We also ask that you consider showing your gratitude by making a donation to ensure that each of the deployed troops on our list can receive a package for Christmas.

Our staff at Military Missions Inc is made up completely of volunteers.  No one gets paid, so every dime of your donation goes to ensure a package gets into the hands of each hero on our list.

You can donate right from our website via Google Checkout or Paypal. You can also mail us a check, or you can stop by our office and make a cash donation.

Here are a few of the faces of those who have received our packages.

Thank you for your continued support of our troops through Military Missions Inc. It is our honor to be able to partner with you in this way.

On behalf of Military Missions Inc., we want to thank each one who is currently serving, and all who have worn the uniform in the past.  We also want to thank the families who serve here on the homefront.

We are forever grateful for your service and your sacrifice.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Filed Under: Deployment, Military Families, Military Support, Updates, Veteran Family Support, Veterans Tagged With: , , ,

Secondary PTSD discussed on VOW Talk Radio

November 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Have you heard of Secondary PTSD?  If you haven’t, it’s time that you did. If your Veteran has PTSD, there is a good chance that you may develop Secondary PTSD.  You may already have symptoms and not even realize that you do.  Secondary PTSD can affect spouses, children, parents, and any other significant person involved in the lives of our nation’s combat veterans.

Click here to listen to our latest VOW Talk Radio show airing tonight at 9:00 pm. Shawn Gourley, author of The War at Home: One Family’s Fight Against PTSD, talks about her book and how Secondary PTSD has affected her family. During the interview, VOW Radio hostess, Beth Pennington, will also be sharing about her own battle with Secondary PTSD.  If you think this is something that can only happen to someone else, you are wrong.

Click here to read more.

 

Filed Under: Invisible Wounds, PTSD, Updates, Veteran Family Support, VOW Talk Radio Tagged With: ,

Reflections on Veterans Day

November 11, 2011 By 1 Comment

I wonder how different our lives would be if someone wasn’t always willing to serve.  Since the birth of our nation, there have always been brave men and women standing in the gap to protect our nation and ensure our freedoms.

I spent the first 40 some years of my life enjoying all the sacrifices given on my behalf without ever feeling as if I was affected personally. It wasn’t until my oldest son chose to serve in the United States Marine Corps, during a time of war, that my eyes were opened to the reality of what people were really willing to do so I could continue to live in a free nation.

My life has changed quite drastically in the past eight years since my son stepped out of our house and onto the yellow footprints on the soil of Parris Island, South Carolina. I have now lived through three combat deployments, from the homefront, of course, and I have watched my son struggle after being injured and disabled.  I have watched him slowly, but surely, begin to put his life back together, and I have been overwhelmed and amazed at the number of challenges he always seems to face.  More amazing is that he manages to overcome them, one at a time.

If most of us really gave it some thought, we could all try to imagine how challenging a combat deployment must be for our troops, but I don’t think we ever try to foresee how difficult and challenging life is for our veterans once they return home from combat.  For those of us who are civilians, we think that once our Veterans are home, and out of the service, they can just go back to life as it once was before their days served in the military.

Nothing could be further from the truth.  Life will never be the same for anyone who serves in our Armed Forces.  As the saying goes, you can never go back.  For better and for worse, our Veterans are forever changed.

I have watched my own son go through more obstacles and challenges than anyone should ever have to endure in a lifetime, let alone three short years, and he is just one Veteran walking down one path of this life.  There are many who face much bigger obstacles and many more challenges.  Frankly, I don’t know how they all do it.

I would have never believed anyone if they had told me that being the mother of a veteran would be far more difficult than being the mother of a kid deployed to a combat zone. I’m here to tell you, those days during my son’s deployments were easy compared to way things have been since he has returned.

One thing is for sure, our Veterans are not just strong and courageous on the front lines.  They are brave and resilient right here at home.  Our civilian way of life does not make things easy for them when they return home.  It’s not easy on their family members either.

These brave men and women have served on our behalf. The least we can do is get to know them and get to know what they need. We need to make the transition to life after combat easier for them, rather than more difficult.

If you are fortunate enough to know someone who has served, do yourself a favor and do more than just say thank you.  Ask them to share their story.  They have done something that most of us will never do. They have been willing to sacrifice their lives so that we could live ours.  There’s a great chance that you will be blessed by getting to know the Veterans in your life. Don’t ever miss that opportunity.

I think Veterans Day is one of the most important days of our calendar year, but as we set today aside to honor and thank our veterans, let us be mindful that we should do this every day of the year and not just one.

Filed Under: Military Families, Military Parents, Military Spouses, Military Support, Veteran Family Support, Veterans Tagged With: ,

Supporting our troops can sometimes mean taking a stand

October 18, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Please don’t mistake my disinterest in allowing another child to enter the Corps as a lack of support for our military. Our family will continue to serve and support our military, their families, and our veterans by giving our time and our talents to meet the needs here on the homefront.  We will fight this battle for those who can not stand alone and we will not stop until every veteran is back home and receiving the support and care needed to move forward and live a fulfilling life.

A letter to Sergeant Major, Marine Corps Recruiting Command

Michael A. Logan

Sergeant Major, United States Marine Corps

Sergeant Major, Marine Corps Recruiting Command

3280 Russell Road, 2nd Floor

Quantico, VA 22134-5103

 

Dear Sgt Maj Logan,

Today my youngest son, a 17 year old high school senior, received two more pieces of recruiting material in the mail.  You have been sending him mail since he was a sophomore, but I found receiving this mail even more appalling today because I completed the Military Recruitment Opt-Out Parent Form on August 4, 2011.  I will admit that it was a choice that felt strange and almost foreign to me, but there was no hesitation in my decision the day I signed my name on that form.

I feel that military service is one of the most honorable professions one can choose.  I am grateful for those who are willing to serve and sacrifice on my behalf so that I can continue to live in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.  I know that it is imperative that our nation have a strong military, and with no draft, we need people to step up and serve.

So why, you ask, did I sign the Opt-Out form?  Basically, I want to make a point.  I have already given one child to the Marine Corps.  He served three combat tours for our nation.  He gave his heart and soul to the United States Marine Corps.  He believed that Semper Fidelis meant ALWAYS faithful.  He believed that when the Marines say that they will never leave anyone behind, they keep that promise.

Unfortunately, some who wear the uniform of the United States Marine Corps did not follow through and they were not faithful to the end.  These men let my son down.  These men let our family down, and we all know that my son is not the only one of this path of rejection, despair, and deplorable health care.

First he was denied quality care by the Wounded Warrior Battalion, and now he has all but given up on the local VA Medical Center, as the employees are apparently too overburdened to have an ounce of care left in them to take care of our disabled combat veterans.

Until the military, and specifically those who wear the uniform of the United States Marine Corps, can take care of their own and live up to their promises, you are not welcome to send your recruiting materials to my home.  If you can’t take care of these men and women when they return home from war, broken and unable to serve, then do NOT come knocking at our doors to take our remaining children away.

Instead of promising teenage boys that they can be among the “greatest heroes this country has ever known, forever belonging to an elite brotherhood of specially trained warriors”, perhaps you should be promising our injured Marines that you will take care of them no matter the outcome.  Forever belonging is a term which is obviously used loosely.  Apparently it is only meant for those who dodge the bullets and the IED’s, and come home without living through anything remotely traumatic.

It is my opinion that you should not bring one more person into military service unless you can guarantee that you will take care of them once they return home from the war zone.  I would imagine that you expect every Marine to do his job to the best of his ability.  You, Sir, are a Marine, and you are not doing your job to the best of your ability if you and other Marine Corps leaders can not take care of each one recruited into the Corps assuring them the best possible care when they return home from combat with injuries.

As a member of the Corps leadership, you spent over a quarter of a million dollars training my son to be a part of Marine Corps Special Operations Command.  I would think you would be more careful with your investment and insist on quality health care and rehabilitation programs that have more to offer than drug cocktails and three month waits between appointments.

I would love for my youngest son to have an opportunity to take his place among the elite few who have come before him.  The first one he would stand beside would be his oldest brother, who served honorably for three combat tours. He would stand next to his brother who was chosen, who trained, and who served honorably in MARSOC.

We all bought the recruiter’s promise back in 2003.  I trusted you, a Corps leader, to take care of my boy.  I signed him over at the age of seventeen to the Delayed Entry Program because you said that the “self-discipline, self-confidence, and the respect my oldest son would receive would be more than worth the sacrifice of training and service.”  We caught a glimpse of that for a few short years until his injuries deemed him unfit for service and apparently, unfit for the Semper Fidelis package promised at Parris Island.

We gave you a child full of promise and potential, but what was returned home to our family was a wounded combat veteran for whom there is no system in place to provide quality care.

Thousands of troops come home physically wounded or suffering with the invisible wounds of Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Traumatic Stress each year.  This war seems to have no end.  The numbers of injured are increasing and the health care system for our troops and veterans is already overwhelmed.  There are too many who need help and not enough services and providers who can treat them.

When sending out future recruiting materials, for every Marine you show pictured in his Dress Blues, perhaps you should also show a photo of the many homeless Marines living under the bridges across this country.  Give these teenagers an opportunity to look at both sides of the coin before they sign their lives away.

I have already given one son for the cause and I have watched the system, as it currently exists, do nothing but further destroy his life. Our family will Opt-Out of military service until the Department of Defense and the Veteran’s Administration are both willing to uphold their end of the bargain and take care of those who serve.

Please don’t mistake my disinterest in allowing another child to enter the Corps as a lack of support for our military. Our family will continue to serve and support our military, their families, and our veterans by giving our time and our talents to meet the needs here on the homefront.  We will fight this battle for those who can not stand alone and we will not stop until every veteran is back home and receiving the support and care needed to move forward and live a fulfilling life.

Respectfully submitted,

Beth Pennington

 

cc: Fayette County Public Schools

Filed Under: Invisible Wounds, Military Families, Military Support, PTSD, TBI, Updates, Veteran Family Support, Veterans Tagged With: , , , ,

Post Traumatic Stress – Learn More!

October 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Listen to the podcast below to learn more about the upcoming class sponsored by Military Missions, Inc. and NAMI Lexington.  This four week class on understanding and coping with Post Traumatic Stress is something you do not want to miss.

Join us and become educated on PTSD, learn communication skills, problem solving skills, empathy, and self care. Hear testimonies from veterans and family members who are dealing with life after combat.  We will also be viewing the HBO documentary, Wartorn 1861- 2010.

Classes will meet on October 14, 21, 28, and November 4 (Fridays) from 6:30 – 8:00 pm. We will be meeting at Participation Station, 869 Sparta Court, Lexington, KY 40504.

To register, call 859-272-7891 or send an email to beth@military-missions.org. 

Click here to view and print out the event flyer. Please forward this information to anyone who might be interested in participating.

If you are a veteran who has weathered the storm of PTSD and is willing to share your story, your expertise, or your support, please contact Beth at beth@military-missions.org.

 

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Filed Under: Invisible Wounds, Military Families, Military Parents, PTSD, Updates, Veteran Family Support Tagged With: , , ,

Joining Forces Community Challenge

September 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Have you heard about the Joining Forces Community Challenge?  In April, when First Lady Michelle Obama and Second Lady, Dr. Jill Biden, launched the Joining Forces initiative to support and honor America’s service members and their families, we were excited to hear that this effort was launched. All of us, here at Military Missions know that there is always so much to be done for our heroes and we can use all the help we can get to make sure our troops, veterans, and their families know how much we appreciate their service and sacrifice.

In July, the Joining Forces Community Challenge was announced and we decided that we were interested in entering Military Missions in the challenge. We think we have some of the best volunteers on the planet and decided this would be a great way to make people aware of our unsung heroes who are so dedicated to helping us with our efforts.  We also thought we might be able to share some great ideas for supporting our troops and veterans which we have found to be very successful.

To be considered for recognition, we were required to submit a narrative explaining what our organization does for our military and veteran community, and it was suggested that we submit a video and some photos, as well. We hope you will take a few minutes to watch our video submittal, read our narrative, and spend some time on our website.  Get to know us and find out how you can can support our troops, our veterans, and their families beyond the yellow ribbon.  YOU can make a difference in the life of an American hero!

You can click here to read our narrative.

 

Filed Under: Military Families, Military Support, News and Headlines, Updates, Veteran Family Support, Veterans, Volunteers Tagged With: , , ,
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