Friday's Photo

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words.

A high five after the bike tour.

It's Time to Fight for Them--What Do You See?

I love this new flyer.  I love the photo and the powerful headline.  I love the red strip that immediately captures the eye.  I LOVE the little girl, clinging to this man.

Yesterday, we posted this flyer on our Facebook page and asked that people repost.  It was amazing to track. 

From the moment I gazed at this photo, a story immediately unfolded in my mind, evoking an emotional response.  However, it occurred to me that each of our stories are unique.  We each make assumptions of who the man and little girl are, their relationship, where they are, where they've been and why this little girl is hugging him so tightly. 

The first story that came to my mind is that this father has returned from a combat deployment and his little girl is hugging him so tightly--making up for the year he was not home. 

But really, this could be the moment the two are saying good bye, before the deployment.  Or it could be Memorial Day or Veterans Day or some other occassion that this little girl is holding a flag, honoring our military.

I made the assumption that this man is her Father, but he could easily be her Uncle or an older brother.  The hardest story for me to grasp--he could also be the best friend of her Father--a man who did not return home. 

Regardless of who they are, the headline fits.  It is time to fight for our military families, to support their needs and to restore their lives.  Restore the family unit, their goals, their dreams and their hopes.

I invite each of you to share this flyer.  You may share it electronically or print it off and post where you work, go to school, church or other places.  Invite people to support our military families and Hope For The Warriors®.

Bicycles Built For Two

This weekend, I made the short drive to beautiful Tyler, TX and attended the Beauty & The Beast Bike Tour.  The tour is organized by the Tyler Bicycle Club and included distances ranging from 13 to 67 miles.  The tour began at the KE Bushman's Winery & Celebration Center and took cyclists along miles of Tyler countryside (Beauty) and one, really challenging hill (The Beast).

This year, proceeds from the event went to a local nonprofit, Texas Wounded Warrior Foundation.  They are a great organization, lead by Dick Goetz--a man with a talent in golf and a heart of gold.  The group holds a golf event each fall for wounded service members and the entire city of Tyler has done a great job honoring the warriors who attend.

For the bike tour, Texas Wounded Warrior invited Team Hope For The Warriors® to attend.  One warrior who attended was a Marine currently in rehabilitation at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio.  He is a single arm amputee and an avid athlete who likes to run and now cycle.

To support this warrior's recovery, Texas Wounded Warrior donated a recumbent bike to the Marine.  However, the group took a step further too.  It is their belief, and our belief too, that a key component of supporting the service member means that we also support his family.  And with that in mind, the group also generously donated a bike to the Marine's wife.  Now this Marine can train and compete in races, or just enjoy a leisurely ride, with his wife by his side.

Hope For The Warriors thanks Texas Wounded Warrior Foundation for their generous donation and ongoing support.  We also thank the Tyler Bicycle Club for their commitment to our military families.  They put on a great event that gathered hundreds of cyclists from near and far.

Our warrior and his wife loved the bike tour, the Tyler countryside and the bikes.  Cycling will definitely become a new part of the warrior's recovery and the couple's life.

Friday's Photo

A picture is worth a thousand words.

Hell and Back Again, Oscar Red Carpet

Suicide Prevention Follow Up

Yesterday, I posted about the outstanding Suicide Prevention Training class that our staff attended.  As a follow up to this posting, I would like to share our trainer's information:

Yvette Branson, PhD
Suicide Prevention Coordinator
VA Medical Centers
New York Harbor Healthcare System
718.836.6600 x6807
212.686.7500 x7456
yvette.branson@va.gov

If you are located in the New York City area and interested in local traning, please contact Yvette.  In her training, she stressed that everyone that comes in contact with veterans can benefit.

If you are not in the NYC area, every VA Medical Center has a Suicide Prevention Coordinator on staff.  Please call your local center for more information.

Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make me a Match....

Walter G. O'Connell Copiague High School on Long Island recently lost one of their own.  Sean Lapersonerie, a 2005 graduate, died when he was hit by a vehicle on New Year's Eve.  Sean had enlisted in the Army in 2006 and was a combat veteran.  He served honorably and earned four meritorious service awards.  Most importantly, he was loved by his fellow soldiers, family and friends.

The Key Club, which focuses on community service, held a fundraiser to honor Sean's memory and to raise funds for other military families.  And although they are serious about their service, the fundraiser was a lot of fun.

The students raised $500 through a Matchmaking Survey.  Students took the survey and then paid for the results and to find their "perfect match."

Two representatives from Hope For The Warriors® came to the high school to accept the donation.  One is Nicole, our program coordinator and the other is Sean DeBevoise, a wounded Marine and veteran who has worked with Hope For The Warriors®.  Sean and Nicole spoke with the students about the challenges faced by wounded service members and their families, the recovery process and the transition into a new life.

I am always impressed with the creativity and generosity of high school students.  I love this fundraiser and I have a special invitation to those who took the survey and paid for their match.

Prom season will soon be here.  If you attend the prom with your "match," send me a photo.  Include your first names and share with us why you participated in the fundraiser and why it was important to support our military families.  I will create a photo gallery on this blog with any of the photos that people send to me.  (awoods@hopeforthewarriors.org)

Suicide Prevention

 

This morning, several members of our staff attended Suicide Prevention Training with Yvette Branson, a Suicide Prevention Coordinator with the Department of Veterans Affairs, New York Harbor Healthcare System.  The training was both helpful and eye opening.  Some of the statistics that she shared:

• 91 suicides occur each day; 18 are veterans
• Suicide is the second leading cause among 25-34 year olds
• Suicide is the third leading cause among 15-24 year olds

What is more disturbing are some of the statistics connected with Vietnam veterans. Although reports vary, all agree that the numbers are high. According to Win Over PTSD, since 1975, three times as many Vietnam veterans have committed suicide than were killed in the war.  This tells us that long after this war is over, we will need programs and services in place to support our veterans.

Men and women approach suicide differently and although men are more likely to commit suicide, more women attempt suicide.  However, among veterans, the numbers change a bit.

• Female veterans are 3x more likely than civilians to complete their suicide attempts.
• Male veterans are 2x more likely than civilians to complete their suicide attempts.

One number that everyone should keep is the Veterans Crisis Line number (800.273.8255, press 1).  The crisis line can be used by the veteran, even if the veteran is unsure of what they are experiencing.  It can also be used by their family members who need help--either for the veteran or for themselves.

 

The Veteran Crisis Website offers a number of important services including online confidential chat line, self-check quiz and other resources.  There is also an important list of warning signs. If you are part of an organization that works with veterans, materials can be downloaded from the site with the logo above.

 

The VA is working very hard to help our veterans.  My final statistic:  although 18 veterans commit suicide each day, among veterans affiliated with a VA, the number drops to 5 suicides/day.  We would all like to see those numbers lower, but the VA is moving in the right direction.