The Best Movies About the Gulf War: A Military Connection Top Ten List
Top Ten Movies about the Gulf War – Greatest War Movies by Era, a Military Connection Series
Top Ten Movies about the Gulf War – Greatest War Movies by Era, a Military Connection Series
Happy Birthday U.S. Navy! A brief history of the Old Navy in honor of the U.S. Navy Birthday 2021.
Team Red, White, and Blue (Team RWB) and their local chapters support service members through the challenges of transitioning from military to civilian life, by providing opportunities to connect with the community through physical and social activity. From the annual WOD for Warriors hosted by CrossFit communities around the country to 2021’s Eagle Expeditions which provide outdoor adventures of every kind, Team RWB can be the antidote to feelings of isolation and health challenges experienced by transitioning veterans.
Volunteers for Team RWB host regular fitness activities, social gatherings, and community service events in an effort to facilitate strong local connections with members and community organizations.
The Old Glory Relay began in New York City on the 20th anniversary of 9/11 and will end on Veterans Day (November 11th) in Atlanta. The relay allows Veterans and their supporters to walk, run, or hike together, carrying an American flag. Team RWB created the relay as a patriotic way to pursue their mission – helping Vets find fulfillment and connection to a community after separation from the military. This epic journey will include roughly 5,000 Veterans and civilian supporters, each moving the American Flag along a portion of the course – which spans 2,000 miles and 9 states.
It’s not too late to participate in the Old Glory Relay! On-course registration, which starts at just $10, is still available for legs in North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia. Alternately, participants can join the relay virtually and move Old Glory in their hometown, favorite outdoor locale, or any other location desired. There is also an opportunity to combine virtual participation with the camaraderie enjoyed by on-course attendants. Many local chapters are hosting group shadow runs, which is the perfect option for those who can’t make it to the east coast to move the flag, but still want to enjoy the experience of working with a group.
There are several ways you can stay up to date on the Relay’s progress:
Check out these 10 military children’s books on Veterans Day or any time before or during a parent’s deployment.
Caring for an injured Veteran or service member can be a challenge to say the least. Regardless of whether their injuries are physical, emotional, or psychological, learning to live with and help a loved one effectively manage their disability is a journey – for both the service member and the caregiver. Enter: Operation Family Caregiver (OFC).
Caregivers don’t always have the time needed to adequately prepare when a loved one returns from service with an injury or illness. In the end, many families simply dive into caretaking mode without the ability to take a step back and evaluate everyone’s needs (themselves included). When this happens, the quality of life for the entire family can decline.
Operation Family Caregiver coaches families of returning service members and Veterans as they take on the role of caregiver. This free, confidential support is provided by specially trained coaches who help families develop strategies to get through the immediate hurdles as well as plan for the future.
The beauty of Operation Family Caregiver is that the 8-session program is tailored to the specific needs and challenges of each service member and their family. OFC headquarters is located at the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers in Americus, GA; however, most coaches and caregivers meet via video conference or phone call.
The term “caregiver,” as defined by OFC, describes anyone – family, friend, or professional – who regularly takes on any of the following tasks in support of an injured Veteran or service member:
If you think OFC might be right for you or someone you know, complete the OFC referral form to speak with a representative.
Military flags and symbols displayed by civilians in support of U.S. Armed Force
The American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. was officially established as an organization in 1928, but its dates to more than a decade earlier.
Grace Darling Seibold volunteered much of her time during WWI visiting stateside military hospitals. She provided a friendly face as well as a comforting presence, easing the pain of the many servicemen who returned with injuries. She did this not just for their benefit, but for her own as well. Grace said goodbye to her 23 year old son, George, when he left to take an aviation assignment in France just as the United States entered the war in 1917. By early 1918, letters from George stopped arriving, and in October the Seibold family received the terrible news that he had lost his life almost a year before.
Grace, fearing the self-destruction that can come with grief, devoted her time and efforts to working in the hospitals and extending a hand of friendship to other mothers whose sons lost their lives in military service. She organized a group of these special mothers, and together they provided loving care to hospitalized veterans far from their homes and their own mothers.
She named her organization after the Gold Star Service Flag that families displayed in honor of a deceased veteran. Ten years later, twenty-five mothers met in Washington, DC to establish the national organization, American Gold Star Mothers, Inc.
Membership to this organization again opened after World War II and the Korean War. Today, membership is open via application to any natural, adopted, or step mother who’s child lost their life as a result of military service. Gold Star fathers, siblings, and grandparents are also able to join as associate members.
Gold Star Mother’s Day was established by Presidential Proclamation in 1936 and is celebrated on the last Sunday in September every year. Recently, the day of recognition was designated Gold Star Mothers and Family Day to honor all who have lost a child, grandchild, or sibling as a result of their military service. (Note: Gold Star Spouses Day is honored separately, on April 5th, each year.)
The organization credits its success to the bond of mutual love, sympathy, and support of Gold Star Families who have channeled their grief to help lessen the pain of others. Visit the American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. fundraisers page to help support gold star families.
Top Ten Cold War Movies – Greatest War Movies by Era, a Military Connection Series
Did you know that as of this writing, there are still over 1,500 Americans missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War?
National POW/MIA Recognition Day was established via presidential proclamation by Jimmy Carter in 1979. Every president since has issued a similar proclamation commemorating the third Friday in September as National POW/MIA Recognition Day.
The purpose of this day of recognition is to honor those who were POW or MIA, meaning former prisoners of war or those still missing in action. POW/MIA Day is geared towards those who were POWs or went MIA during the Vietnam War, but certainly does not cast aside those who met similar fates during other conflicts.
POW/MIA Recognition Day shouldn’t be confused with National Former POW Recognition Day, which is celebrated on April 9th. This day commemorates the beginning of the Battan Death March, where over 10,000 American soldiers were surrendered as POWs to the Japanese during WWII.
The POW/MIA flag was created for the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia. It was adopted in 1972, even before the first day of recognition was established.
In most cases, the POW/MIA flag is only flown on the following dates:
The POW/MIA flag flies continuously over:
A national-level ceremony is held on every National POW/MIA Recognition Day at the Pentagon, and features members from each branch of military service and participation from high-ranking officials. Additional observances of National POW/MIA Recognition Day are held across the country on military installations, ships at sea, state capitols, schools, and veterans’ facilities.
No matter where they are held, these National POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremonies focus on honoring those who were held captive and returned, as well as those who remain missing.
The Military Connection Blog is a great reference for learning about other holidays and days of recognition with military significance. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter to ensure you don’t miss a post!
A brief aerial history in honor of the U.S. Air Force birthday, 2021.
