PTSD Patrol: Win the battle side by side

"What is behind you, is not as strong as who is beside you."
PTSD Patrol
Kathie Costos
March 18, 2018

Yesterday was St. Patrick's Day.

"The love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my soul was rosed, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred prayers and in the night, nearly the same. I prayed in the woods and on the mountain, even before dawn. I felt no hurt from the snow or ice or rain."

Patrick's captivity lasted until he was twenty, when he escaped after having a dream from God in which he was told to leave Ireland by going to the coast. There he found some sailors who took him back to Britain and was reunited with his family. (from Catholic.org)

Many do not understand that the day they say everyone becomes Irish, is a celebration of a victory. Patrick defeated doubt. He escaped his captors and went on to greatness.

You can escape PTSD holding you as a prisoner by defeating doubt too. Stop telling yourself that this life you are living is all you get. Stop telling yourself that getting numb is coping with PTSD. 

You defeated the thing that sent PTSD into you. Why let it win now?

I love this memorial because it shows two soldier side-by-side, walking forward, ready to face the enemy.

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Honor Flight, Living Proof Vietnam Veterans Are Worthy of Tribute

Vietnam Veterans Moved to Tears on Honor Flight to D.C.

FOX Insider

August 11, 2017

"When I look at those names, they're not names to me," Medal of Honor recipient Gary L. Littrell said in front of the memorial. "Those little 18, 19-year-old faces, they come back to life temporarily in my heart, my soul, my eyes."

Vietnam veterans who got few thanks for their service since the controversial war were finally appreciated on an honor flight to Washington, D.C. to visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

The 107 veterans of the Vietnam War were treated to a plane decked out in patriotic trimmings. In D.C., they headed to spend time looking at the 58,318 names carved into the memorial wall.

"We all know we didn't get a whole lot of pats on the back, didn't get a lot of thank yous," said Army veteran Bruce Farris. "Well, as of today, that changes."

Old Glory Honor Flight flies World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War veterans out to D.C. to visit the memorials of their wars.

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If you think you don't matter to the people of this country, I dare you to watch the video without having to wipe your eyes!

Let me know if you were not touched by all the people there to welcome this group of Vietnam veterans home!

Vandals in Florida Get Less Punishment For Telephones than Veterans Monuments?

Florida Veterans Ask Lawmakers To Increase Penalties For Vet Memorial Vandals
WLRN News 
By SASCHA CORDNER
MAR 14, 2017

“Monuments all over the state have been vandalized in recent years. I have many pictures here of them being vandalized, causing thousands and thousands of dollars worth of damage: World War II monuments…my father’s monuments vandalized, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War, even the 9-11 Monument was vandalized,” he added. “And, the penalties right now for vandalizing these monuments is just a slap on the wrist.”

Did you know it’s worse to vandalize a public telephone than deface a Veterans’ monument in Florida? As one of the most populous states for veterans, Florida lawmakers are trying to correct that.

“My name is Seber Newsome III,” said the Yulee resident. “I’m a veteran. My father was a veteran. He was in World War II in Omaha Beach, and my great-grandfather was a veteran.”

Newsome is normally outspoken on Confederate Veteran Issues. For example, representing the “Save Southern Heritage Florida” organization, he, last year, spoke against a bill to replace a Florida statue of a Confederate general in Washington D.C.

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POW-MIA Day, watchfires for the lost

Trucksville church group will light watch fires for veterans
National POW/MIA Recognition Day is Sept. 19
Times Leader
By Joe Sylvester
September 01. 2014

Ed Zimmerman, seen here, will be guest speaker at a National POW/MIA Recognition Day event in Trucksville on Sept. 19.

In war, watch fires were lit on hilltops and at the mouths of rivers after a battle, so those separated from their units could find their way back.

On Sept. 19, the “Remembering Our Veterans Memorial” group from Back Mountain Harvest Assembly of God Church, Carverton Road, Trucksville, will light a watch fire to spiritually guide home, remember and honor all the POW/MIA from America’s wars and conflicts, said John Tasco, who represents the group.

The lighting of the watch fire will take place on the church grounds at about 5:30 p.m. on that day, which is National POW/MIA Recognition Day. The ceremony will begin at 6:30 p.m. The ceremony will move into the church sanctuary if there is inclement weather.

“This year we will be featuring Ed Zimmerman as our guest speaker,” Tasco said.

Zimmerman, of Bear Creek Township, a Marine Corps and Vietnam veteran, traveled to Khe Sanh, Vietnam with a Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, or JPAC, search team earlier this year to search for the remains of two Marines who were killed during the 77-day siege at Khe Sanh in early 1968. Zimmerman, who fought in the battle, will speak about his trip in June to Khe Sanh, where he helped locate the spot where the remains of the two Marines may be found.
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Also St. Charles Missouri
Second Annual Watchfire to be held on Sept. 19 at the Veterans Memorial


New Jersey
24th Annual POW/MIA Watchfire

Date/Time - 09/20/2014, 7:00 pm
Location Beachside on Heiring Ave, Heiring Ave, Seaside Heights, NJ,
SAL Detachment of NJ – 12 hour vigil. 7pm -7am. Beachside at Heiring Ave., Seaside Heights, NJ.

Vietnam Veterans Monument Dedication in Texas

3/29/2014 - TEXAS STATE CAPITOL
Gov. Rick Perry today paid tribute to Texas veterans who served or gave their lives in the Vietnam War at the unveiling and dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Monument on the Texas State Capitol Grounds.

The ceremony was held on Texas Vietnam Veterans Day, which marks the anniversary of the day the last American combat troops left Vietnam.

Midland Veterans Memorial refurbished to honor veterans of all conflicts

Midland Veterans Memorial refurbished to honor veterans of all conflicts
Michigan Live
By Annie Harrison
November 01, 2013

Lindsey Burgess of Midland hugs Debi Ullom during the Midland Veterans Memorial Dedication Ceremony on Nov. 1, 2013. Ullom lost her son during Aaron who served in Afghanistan. The Midland Veterans Memorial had been put in storage while the fail was being demolished and has now been renovated.
Sammy Jo Hester MLive.com

MIDLAND, MI — Veterans and their friends and family huddled together against the wind and rain Friday, Nov. 1, to honor fallen service members at a dedication ceremony for the Midland Veterans Memorial.

A crowd gathered at 12:30 p.m. in front of the Midland County Courthouse to see the memorial that had been placed in storage for two years while the old Midland County Jail was demolished.

Lindsey Burgess, a Midland County Veterans Memorial Committee member, said the committee set out six years ago to update the original World War II Veterans Memorial, dedicated in 1949, to represent all conflicts. The expanded memorial honors all fallen veterans past, present and future from Midland County.

“What sparked my interest was that there was no recognition of the currently serving fallen,” she said.

Burgess became involved in the formation of the committee in 2007 after her brother, Lance Corporal Ryan J. Burgess of the U.S. Marine Corps, was killed in action December 21, 2006, in Iraq. While she has spent years working to renovate the memorial, she insists this day is not about her.

“This is not about me at all, this is about the big picture,” she said.
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Veterans determined to fix statue at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park

Weymouth veterans vow to repair statue
By Ed Baker
Wicked Local Weymouth
Posted Nov 19, 2012
Weymouth

The vandalism of a concrete Marine soldier statue at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park in North Weymouth is believed to be a random act of malicious damage and not a political statement, according to Vietnam veteran Paul Shinney and District 1 Councilor Frank Burke.

Burke said he discovered the right hand of the statue smashed and its facial features damaged while visiting the site Nov. 9 to get it cleaned before Veterans Day.

“I went down to the memorial to spruce it up and pick up the pine needles,” said Burke, a retired Weymouth Veterans Services director. “I noted pieces of concrete on the ground and the hand to the statue was smashed. This is the first time in 27 years any damage has been done to it.”
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Lake Nona veterans memorial gets $250,000 boost from Massey Services

Lake Nona veterans memorial gets $250,000 boost from Massey Services Corporate giving
July 15, 2012
Matthew Richardson
Orlando Sentinel

Pest-prevention company Massey Services Inc. has pledged $250,000 to the Central Florida Veterans Memorial Park Foundation, bringing the group closer to its goal of $1.5 million for construction of a memorial at Lake Nona.

The $250,000 from Orlando-based Massey boosts the foundation's total to $900,000. Once the $1.5 million goal is met, the group's all-volunteer board will seek another $1.5 million for an upkeep endowment for the memorial.
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Chicago Veterans memorial no place for peace

Veterans memorial no place for peace
By LISA BLACK
Chicago Tribune
Published: November 21, 2011
CHICAGO - Shortly after 19-year-old Geoffrey Morris died in 2004 as a Marine fighting in Iraq, his father considered turning the family's sprawling backyard in Gurnee into a memorial wildlife sanctuary.

It would be only fitting, Kirk Morris thought, since his son had spent so much time there playing paintball with friends, several of whom joined the military in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The father's idea soon grew into something much larger after village officials offered the use of public land for a veterans memorial and then celebrated the groundbreaking with an appearance by then-Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn in spring 2005.

But today, work on the Heroes of Freedom Memorial has stalled and is the subject of a lawsuit that some blame on a political dispute between Mayor Kristina Kovarik and Kirk Morris, now a trustee on the village board.

After private donors contributed an estimated $270,000 in materials and services toward the memorial, Kovarik stopped the project, saying the foundation's plan was not in the village's "best interests." The village turned off the lights and removed flags from nine flagpoles at the site, 4580 Old Grand Ave. That was two years ago.
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Veteran's Wall Vandalized With "Kill Them All"

This happened last week but I have not been able to find any follow up stories on this.

Veteran's Wall Vandalized With "Kill Them All"

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A tribute to fallen American heroes from the First Coast was vandalized sometime over the past few days, and was discovered on Friday evening.

A Jacksonville Sheriff's Office police report said an EverBank Field Security guard noticed the graffiti Friday on the Veteran's Memorial Wall in downtown Jacksonville.
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Veteran's Wall Vandalized

Orlando VA plans to build a memorial

A 3D model of the new Orlando VA Medical Center at Lake Nona. A local veterans group will announce a fund-raising campaign to create a Central Florida Veterans Memorial Park adjacent to the new VA hospital. (CENTRAL FLORIDA VETERANS MEMORIAL, Orlando Sentinel / September 8, 2009)

As VA med center design revealed, veterans plan memorial park
A sneak peek today at the design of the $665 million Orlando VA Medical Center at the emerging "medical city" at Lake Nona will also include a major announcement just in time for Memorial Day: a plan to build an adjacent park honoring Central Florida's fallen veterans.

During the unveiling this morning at Orlando City Hall of a 3-D model of the 65-acre Veterans Affairs medical campus, a local veterans group will announce a fundraising campaign to create a memorial park for the approximately 1,100 Central Florida service members who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

The group hopes to raise $4.5 million — half of which will be used to construct the 4-acre park and the other half for maintenance and upkeep.

"This park will serve as a reminder to other veterans and the general public that this country is not free by accident," said Lt. Col. Earle L. Denton, a decorated veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars and a vice president of the Central Florida Veterans Memorial Park Foundation. "Everybody today needs to know what's happened in the past in order to enjoy the freedoms they have today."
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As VA med center design revealed

Design Chosen For Veteran's Memorial

Design Chosen For Veteran's Memorial

By AMANDA FALCONE, afalcone@courant.com

10:54 p.m. EDT, May 24, 2010

ROCKY HILL —A design has been chosen for a statewide veterans' memorial. Now all that's needed is about $1 million in donations to build it.

The state chose a design featuring an amphitheater, a remembrance wall and ample parking, submitted by landscape artists Dean Adam Johnson and Robert Schechinger Jr., both of the Collinsville section of Canton.
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Design Chosen For Veterans Memorial

60-Foot Wall In Lake County Will Honor Veterans

60-Foot Wall In Lake County Will Honor Veterans
Sunday, May 23, 2010 2:11:09 AM
Reported by Dave D'Marko

LEESBURG-- Following bagpipes, a Color Guard carried the flag of every foreign war involving U.S. soldiers.

In the crowd were veterans from almost every war of the past century, including World War II’s Tom Donahoe, who waited 65 years to see his service recognized.

"Nothing is ever easy and I'm sure it was brought up many times," Donohoe said.

"The governments don't seem to want to give money to build the monuments, so the veterans have to come up with the money,” said Don Van Beck, Executive Director of Veteran’s Memorial Committee. “The only time they want veterans is when there’s a war."
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60 Foot Wall In Lake County Will Honor Veterans

San Jose Veteran's Memorial damaged

San Jose: Veteran's Memorial damaged; vandalism suspected
By Mark Gomez


mgomez@mercurynews.com

Posted: 05/14/2010 01:50:03 PM PDT
Updated: 05/14/2010 09:59:14 PM PDT

San Jose officials think vandals are responsible for shattering an 8-foot-tall pane of glass that is part of the Veteran's Memorial — and the damage probably won't be repaired by Memorial Day.

The shattered glass was reported Tuesday to the city's Office of Cultural Affairs, according to Jennifer Easton, a manager for public art. Easton said a big piece of metal was found near the shattered glass.

"We think it was probably vandalism," she said.

A city employee who noticed the broken glass Tuesday called San Jose police at 2:11 p.m., according to police spokesman Dirk Parsons. The broken glass was from a panel measuring about 8 feet by 4 feet, Parsons said. Police reported that the glass appears to have been broken by "an undisclosed hard object that was found at the scene." Police said they have no suspects and are investigating the case.

Easton estimated that a replacement will cost more than $15,000.
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Veterans Memorial damaged

Saddleback College commemorates veterans memorial

College commemorates veterans memorial
By Joseph Espiritu


Behind every monument are its thinkers, builders and admirers. When the plans to build a Veterans Memorial at Saddleback College first came to light over 8 years ago, few saw the potential of the once-bare lot nestled in the corner of the campus’ quad.

But for former college president Richard McCullough and the hundreds of veterans who call the campus home, there was no better way to honor the brave men and women who fight for our freedoms than to erect the biggest veterans memorial found in any college campus in the nation.

With every shuffle of paperwork and each drop of sweat the foundation grew and took form. As time progressed, each brick laid, slowly modeled the final product, until an evident silhouette of earth tones from the bricks reflected back during the golden hours of the afternoon sun.

“I can fondly remember talks with [former Saddleback College president] Rich [Mcullough] – I was so impressed with how every time I visited the campus they had built a little more on the memorial, brick by brick,” said Irvine Valley College President Glenn Roquemore.

As the crowd sang to our nation’s anthem, eyes fixed on the flags held up by the Joint-Services Color Guard; it became apparent that the memorial was missing a flag of its own. It wasn’t until later in the ceremony will a flag that carried so much history be raised filling the gap that made the structure a true symbol of freedom.
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College commemorates veterans memorial

Veterans prepare memorial for 5,434 servicemembers killed OIF and OEF

Veterans prepare memorial for 5,434 servicemembers killed in Afghanistan, Iraq
By Rosalio Ahumada, McClatchy Newspapers
Stars and Stripes online edition, Sunday, April 25, 2010
RIVERBANK, Calif. — National Guard Staff Sgt. Mike Gamino didn't think twice when he was asked to help paint more than 5,000 crosses to honor those who have died while serving in the U.S. military in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Along with 17 other war veterans, Gamino, 41, grabbed a paint brush and got to work building a ceremonial display for next month's Memorial Day activities.

"It's a form of remembrance," said Gamino, a Salida, Calif., man who has served in Afghanistan and Iraq. "It's also a way for us to come together and bond; like a brotherhood."

About 10 other volunteers joined the veterans Saturday at Bruce Gordo's Riverbank, Calif., home to paint the crosses. Each one is meant to represent a soldier, Marine or sailor who died in Afghanistan and Iraq.

While the crosses offer a tribute to sacrifice, the display will also provide a stark reminder of the number of lives lost, said Gordo, who served in the Marines in Vietnam.
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Veterans prepare memorial for 5,434 servicemembers killed

Veterans' memorial dedication set

Veterans' memorial dedication set
Buzz up!By Jeff Pikulsky, VALLEY INDEPENDENT
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Last updated: 11:09 am

NEW EAGLE - Borough officials and residents Saturday will unveil a rebuilt veterans' memorial that's been five years in the making.

A dedication ceremony will take place 11 a.m. at the monument on Main Street outside of the Ringgold School District administration building.

Borough residents formed the New Eagle Veterans' Memorial Committee in 2004 to raise $50,000 so the monument could be expanded and updated.

The original memorial, built in 1948, showed names of New Eagle residents that served in World War I and II.

Plaques on the old memorial recognized that soldiers from the area served in the Persian Gulf, Korean and Vietnam wars - but their names were not listed.

Those names - and many more - are on the new memorial wall.

Memorial committee member Arch Caseber, a Vietnam veteran, said there are more than 2,000 names on the new monument, with room for 500 to 600 more.

The names of those involved in such smaller military engagements such as the conflicts in Grenada and Panama are included.

Coast Guard member names are also displayed - a tribute Caseber said some memorials miss.

"They really didn't get much recognition from World War II," he said.
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http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/valleyindependent/s_646852.html

New memorial dedicated to veterans

New memorial dedicated to veterans
A dedication will be held today to honor veterans with a new memorial. Our Kaitlyn Ross has more from Colonie Veteran Memorial Park.


Noonie Fortin is a friend of mine. Please click the link to see this tribute she was behind. She worked very, very hard to see this day come.

http://www.nooniefortin.com/

Veterans Memorial in Duluth MN up and down in a day over wrong names

Veterans Memorial Controversy
WDIO-TV - Duluth,MN,USA
A memorial in Koochiching County is lined with names, difficult for any veteran to see.

"I hate to see these guys names up here, they've given a lot more than we ever did," said Brian Linvall, a Vietnam War veteran from Little Fork.

But some names listed, stirred a different emotion.

The newly constructed veterans memorial in International Falls honors those who fought and died in World Wars I and II and the wars in Korea and Vietnam.

But when the plaques were errected last week, veterans say they were shocked to also see a plaque with the names of six county commissioners.

"It's a memorial for the veterans, not the memorial for the county commissioners," said Linvall.

"This memorial is to honor to the veterans who have lost their lives," said Terry Randolph, a Vietnam War veteran from International Falls.

"I don't know why they did that," said Mergarte Kostiuk, a widow of a WWII vet.

Just as perplexed, is one of the commissioners, who's name is on the plaque. Commissioner Mike Hansen says that part of the memorial was a mistake.

There are plans for a replacement plaque that will be dedicated to all men and women who have served or are serving.

The memorial is not completed yet, the county hopes to have most of it done in time for July 4th.

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http://www.wdio.com/article/stories/S972627.shtml?cat=10335

Veterans Memorial in Clinton OH, a tribute to all who have served

Veterans Memorial in Clinton, a tribute to all who have served
By Ann Kagarise
The Suburbanite
Sat May 09, 2009, 05:08 PM EDT

Clinton, Ohio -
“We didn’t get the red carpet treatment when we came home,” Vietnam veteran, John Maurer, said.

The Canal Fulton resident served in the Marine Corp, delivering top secret documents.

“This is personal,” he said as he stared at the newly resurrected Vietnam Memorial Wall in Clinton.

“It’s about time to pay tribute to those who didn’t get to come home.”

Three-thousand-ninety-five Ohioans died in Vietnam.

“Ohio is either the third or fourth largest state to have lost casualties in Vietnam,” said builder Ken Noon from Summit Memorial.

Noon, a veteran, gave the lowest bid for the job and designed the layout.

“Other companies estimated the project,” he said. “I took the time to map it out. My wife put all the names in alphabetical order so I could be exact in how big the wall would be.”

The wall is 125 feet long, using 50 panels 30 inches wide and six feet tall. Each weighs a ton are eight inches thick.

This is the largest veteran monument in Ohio. The back of the wall depicts the history, cause and number of soldiers from Ohio who fought in each war, beginning with The War of 1812.

“This is actually a veteran’s park to honor all who served,” Noon said.

There will be 16 other momunents, one for each branch of service, canine units, Operation Baby Lift and D-Day.

A collage of local heroes will be set on a Heroes of Ohio Memorial wall for all those who served in some capacity since Vietnam.
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Veterans Memorial in Clinton