Don't forget Moms deployed on Mother's Day

U.S. troops serving overseas salute mom on Mother’s Day
By Kristina Wong
The Washington Times
Saturday, May 11, 2013

Troops serving in Afghanistan go for months without the comforts of home and seeing loved ones regularly — something that can be felt more deeply on Mother's Day.

This will be Army Staff Sgt. Alisa Ballard’s first Mother's Day away from her 11-month-old son, Christian.

“My mom tells me that everything that I’ll miss, I could miss when I’m home. He could walk at daycare, and I could be at work. So that gave me a little bit of comfort,” said the 31-year-old Woodbridge, Virginia, native.

Air Force Tech Sgt. Sonja Parks said she’s missed multiple Mother’s Days, in her more than 12 years as an Air Force medic, but it doesn’t make being away from her daughters any easier.
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"Post Traumatic Stress Disorder" by Laszlo Gyulai, Ph.D.

"Post Traumatic Stress Disorder" by Laszlo Gyulai, Ph.D.
Published on Apr 29, 2013
On Monday, April 22, Laszlo Gyulai, Ph.D., emeritus associate professor of psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, presented a lecture entitled "Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): The Emotional Toll of Violence in Military and Civilian Populations." The lecture was sponsored by the Schemel Forum.

Remains of USS Mayaguez fallen to be buried together at Arlington

Remains of Vietnam veteran killed in 1975 will be buried at Arlington
Originally Published May 10, 2013
Lancaster Online
By JACK BRUBAKER
Staff Writer

Lynn Blessing probably thought he was home free when the Vietnam War officially ended in the early spring of 1975.

But a month later — May 15 — the Lancaster Marine died with 12 other American servicemen when their helicopter crashed while trying to recapture the SS Mayaguez in the Gulf of Thailand.

Private First Class Blessing, 19 years old, was Lancaster's last casualty of the war.

On Wednesday, 37 years to the day after Blessing died, his remains and the remains of others who died with him will be buried in a common grave at Arlington National Cemetery.

Lynn Blessing's mother, Thelma Blessing, of Lancaster, knew nothing about the ceremony when informed by a reporter Friday morning.

The Marines did notify her when the first remains of her son were found.
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Fallen Floridians Memorial Cross Tribute coming to Oviedo

St. Paul firefighter, combat veteran fired after hiding DWI

St. Paul firefighter, combat veteran fired after hiding DWI
By Mara H. Gottfried
Twin Cities.com
Posted: 05/10/2013

A combat veteran diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder -- who once praised his fellow St. Paul firefighters for helping him to pull through dark days -- has been fired from the department.

Billeigh Riser Jr. lost his driver's license after DWI arrests but didn't tell anyone. He went on to drive an ambulance on 63 medical calls before he was caught, according to an order last month from the St. Paul Civil Service Commission, acting as the city's Veterans Preference Board, which upheld his termination.

A psychologist hired by Riser's attorney testified that Riser's post-traumatic stress disorder was "severe" and that his failure to report the loss of his driver's license to the fire department, as required by city policy, "was due to the impact of PTSD on his ability to make good decisions," said the board's findings of fact.
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