Team RWB - Creating a Community for Veterans

Veteran's Day is always an important day for my family but with the impending deployment of my youngest sister in a couple of weeks it seems to have even more of an impact.  On this Veteran's Day I can't help but think of our newest Veterans like my sister and my brother-in-law.

My sister before her Iraq deployment ceremony

My youngest sister joined the Iowa Army National Guard at the age of 17.  Following graduation from High School she went through Basic and AIT.  Because of the duration of her trainings she started college late.  You might not think this is a huge deal but it was hard to start school during the spring semester versus the fall.  People had already made friendships and connections during the fall semester and it was just hard for her to really find and connect with a group of peers. Already at the age of 18 she was starting to feel the effects of being a soldier going back to the civilian world.

Also while in college, my sister was deployed to Iraq.  The deployment began part way through a semester and she would then be gone for a year, missing two more semesters.  After she returned from Iraq she returned to school a year older, a year wiser, a year of more real-world experience under her belt.  She also returned to taking classes with students usually one or two years younger than herself and most of the students she had taken courses with before had graduated.  She just couldn't relate with this new group of peers.  While she may have not been injured or seen any casualties, I do believe my sister came back with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  She had low ambition following her return and I think it was because she felt like she couldn't relate to others and she felt no recognition or understanding of what she had been through.  Luckily, she found a Veterans Club on campus that helped with the transition.  She could relate with others in the group.  And in the end, her best friendships from college, were those of other Veterans.  Once she entered the workforce I believe her symptoms of PTSD came back because she didn't have that peer group of Veterans anymore and she had a difficult time getting settled in employment.  But I am happy to report that I feel like she has found her place and has been working for the Iowa Army National Guard for the past year.

My brother-in-law during one of his
deployments to Iraq

I've known my brother-in-law (he's married to my other sister) for a long time.  In fact, my sister and him were high school sweet hearts.  He wanted to be a Marine ever since he was a little boy and when he graduated from High School he entered the Marines and was stationed at Cherry Point, North Carolina for four years.  During that time he was involved in two deployments to Iraq.  Following his active service he returned to Iowa, married my sister and began going to college with others of a different generation.  My brother-in-law was married and was living in a different town than the university and his classmates were recent graduates of high school and lets just say had different priorities and values then he did.  Just like my sister, he too didn't get injured while in the service, but he had just finished living, eating, breathing the life of a Marine for four years.  My brother-in-law figures it took him about five years to really find a network of Veterans.  He hopes that for future Veterans, this only takes a week and that is why he is now involved with Team Red, White & Blue.

I think Veterans for the last 100 years have always found it difficult to transition back to civilian life after the life of active service.  Team RWB's goal is to help all Veterans with that transition.  This national organization does this by creating Veteran communities around the country.  These communities focus on both social and physical activities, or as my brother-in-law says, a group to "workout and hangout" with.  Team RWB becomes a peer support network that I know both my sister and my brother-in-law were in need of.

Team RWB also provides leadership opportunities for members involved by getting involved in Veteran Athletic Camps.  Team RWB communities around the country train for marathons, triathlons, etc.

Team RWB chapters also associates themselves with a local VA hospital.  Members travel and visit with the Veterans at the hospitals to hopefully help them work through anxiety, PTSD, medicine refusal, etc.

If you know a Veteran returning to civilian life, tell them to check out Team RWB.  My Brother-in-law is the Captain of the Des Moines chapter and feels very rewarded to be apart of the community.

Operation Thank A Hero

Even though it may not feel like spring outside, I have been busy thinking through how fast the next couple of months are going to go by - spring planting, birthdays, baby showers, wedding showers, weddings, Mother's Day, graduations, Father's Day, and the arrival of MP (just to name a few).  An important holiday to add to that list, that came to mind to me today, is Memorial Day.

How many of you plan on celebrating Memorial Day?

Our flag flying at my home last Memorial Day

I celebrate Memorial Day every year by visiting graves of past loved ones and by thinking of all the men and women in the armed forces.  I haven't talked about this topic too much on my blog in the past, but I am a proud to be in a military family.

My sister (and her dog) visiting us at our house
after a weekend guard training in February

My youngest sister joined the Army National Guard when she turned 17.  Now at the age of 25 she is employed by the Army National Guard full-time, has been deployed to Iraq and is deploying to Kosovo this fall.  I am so proud our her service and to be her sister.

My other sister and my brother-in-law at the
Marine Corp Ball in November 2012

My other sister's husband, aka my brother-in-law, joined the Marines when he was 18.  Now at the age of 26 he is now enlisted in the Marine Reserves after serving two tours in Iraq and two stays in Japan.  I too am proud of his service and to be his sister-in-law.

So, you can see a couple big reasons why I think everyone should celebrate Memorial Day.

An easy way of celebrating Memorial Day and honoring our military heroes is by joining me in participating in Operation Thank A Hero.  This project is being led by a friend, and Thirty-One consultant, who is asking people to donate a Thirty-One Zippered Pouch to a veteran in an Iowa VA hospital.  Each donated pouch will be filled with items to make the veteran's hospital stay more comfortable, such as puzzles, toiletries, books, magazines, a get well card, etc.  If you are interested in bringing a smile to a veteran's face this Memorial Day, contact Joslyn Stock (joslyn.stock@gmail.com) about ordering and donating a Zippered Pouch for just $18, or you can personalize a pouch for $26 (ideas include:  Thank You, Veterans Are Heroes, God Bless America, Service, Courage, Brave).  Orders are due May 10th and all pouches will be delivered on Memorial Day.

I thought this was such a great idea, I just had to share the message with all of you.  I donated two pouches, one in honor of both my sister and brother-in-law.  I hope you will join me in celebrating Memorial Day this year!

***Update May 15, 2013***

Thank you to everyone that supported this effort.  This Memorial Day 18 pouches will be given to veterans staying at VA Hospitals in Iowa.  Thanks once again to everyone that helped!

Remember Our Fallen Heroes On Memorial Day

As you enjoy your Memorial Day today, please remember those that have died in battle so we can celebrate today and all year long, because of the freedom our military have given us.  Also, pay respect to those that have served or are serving in our armed services.  I am especially giving thanks for my sister Rachel and brother-in-law Brandon who both are currently serving in the Army National Guard and Marine Reserves respectively.

In honor of Memorial Day I'd like to share a photo and a moment that My Farmer and I experienced earlier this year.  In March, My Farmer and I travel to Washington DC on a legislative trip with the Iowa Farm Bureau.  While on the trip we had some time to do some sight seeing, so one night we went on a bus tour.  One of the stops was at the Vietnam Memorial.  The travel guide said that there was a book near the memorial that listed every name on the Vietnam Memorial wall but that it would be hard to find a person's name at night, because they don't have very much light on the memorial in the evening.  My Farmer and I decided that we'd try anyway.  My Farmer's Mom's brother died in Vietnam.  He was my Mother-in-law's only sibling.  So we looked up Roger's name in the book, and it must have been meant to be that we find his name, because we counted to which section of the wall he was on and as soon as we got there we immediately found his name.

I'd like to end today's post with the litany from our church service out at the cemetery yesterday:

Let us give thanks to God for the land of our birth with all its chartered liberties.  For all the wonder of our country's story:

We give you thanks, O God.

For leaders in nation and state, and for those who in days past and in these present times have labored for the commonwealth:

We give you thanks, O God.

For those who in all times and places have been true and brave, and in the world's common ways have lived upright lives and ministered to their fellows:

We give you thanks, O God.

For those who served their country in its hour of need, and especially for those who gave even their lives in that service:

We give you thanks, O God.

Almighty God and most merciful Father, as we remember these your servants, remembering with gratitude their courage and strength, we hold before you those who mourn them.  Look upon your bereaved servants with your mercy.  As this day brings them memories of those they have lost awhile, may it also bring your consolation and the assurance that their loved ones are alive now and forever in your living presence.

Amen.