10 Things You Can Do to Help Veterans with PTSD

Another lead up to PTSD Awareness Day, June 27.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is one of the signature medical issues for returning combat veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. So, it’s important that the civilian community from employers to educators understand and know how to help those living with PTSD.

Vietnam veterans have been instrumental in pushing for PTSD awareness among the military hierarchy, government officials and civilian communities. For veterans, understanding the symptoms and seeking early treatment is critical for successfully living with the disorder. But, civilians can help too.

10 Ways community members can help:

1. Understand that anyone can experience trauma, such as accidents, assault, war, or disasters.
2. Think broadly. When trauma happens, the survivor’s family, friends,coworkers, and community are affected.
3. Learn about common reactions to trauma and readjustment to life outside a war zone.
4. Be aware of where get help for trauma survivors, Veterans, and people with PTSD.
5. Expand your understanding of how PTSD is identified and treated.
6. Know that treatment for PTSD works.
7. Ask a Veteran or trauma survivor if talking would help, but do not push if someone is not ready to discuss things.
8. Realize that stigma is a barrier to getting treatment. Getting people to talk orseek help is not always easy. Your encouragement matters.
9. Know the facts. More than half of US adults will experience trauma in their lifetime. About 7% of adults will deal with PTSD at some point. For Veteransand male and female sexual assault survivors, the figure is higher.
10. Connect with self-help resources, apps, and videos about PTSD.

The list is courtesy of the VA National Center for PTSD. You can stay informed about PTSD through the PTSD Monthly Update.

If you feel you have symptoms of PTSD and are looking for help the Veteran's Crisis Line is always open. You are never alone, call 1-800-273-8255 to talk to someone who knows what you are going through and can help you get the treatment you need.

The Crisis Line is available to anyone who needs help 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. There is always an understanding and caring voice on the other end of the phone who will help you with questions, concerns, treatment options and talk as long as you need to. 

Please do not hesitate to call at anytime for any reason, you are important to a lot of people and getting help with your PTSD is what your loved ones want for you, you are not alone!

                                                                        Posted by... 

America’s Last Prisoner of War~Sgt. Bowe Robert Bergdahl, US Army

Sgt Bergdahl was captured in Afghanistan on 30 June 2009, He is being held as a POW.

Three years ago, a 23-year-old soldier walked off his base in Afghanistan and into the hands of the Taliban. Now he’s a crucial pawn in negotiations to end the war. Will the Pentagon leave a man behind?

The mother and father sit at the kitchen table in their Idaho farmhouse, watching their son on YouTube plead for his life. The Taliban captured 26-year-old Bowe Bergdahl almost three years ago, on June 30th, 2009, and since that day, his parents, Jani and Bob, have had no contact with him. Like the rest of the world, their lone glimpses of Bowe – the only American prisoner of war left in either Iraq or Afghanistan – have come through a series of propaganda videos, filmed while he's been in captivity.

In the video they're watching now, Bowe doesn't look good. He's emaciated, maybe 30 pounds underweight, his face sunken, his eye sockets like caves. He's wearing a scraggly beard and he's talking funny, with some kind of foreign accent. Jani presses her left hand across her forehead, as if shielding herself from the images onscreen, her eyes filling with tears. Bob, unable to look away, hits play on the MacBook Pro for perhaps the 30th time. Over and over again, he watches as his only son, dressed in a ragged uniform, begs for someone to rescue him.

"Release me, please!" Bowe screams at the camera. "I'm begging you – bring me home!"Private First Class Bowe Bergdahl arrived in Afghanistan at the worst possible moment, just as President Barack Obama had ordered the first troop surge in the spring of 2009. Rather than withdraw from a disastrous and increasingly deadly war started by his predecessor, the new commander in chief had decided to escalate the conflict, tripling the number of troops to 100,000 and employing a counterinsurgency strategy that had yet to demonstrate any measurable success. To many on Obama's staff, who had been studying Lessons in Disaster, a book about America's failure in Vietnam, the catastrophe to come seemed almost preordained. "My God," his deputy national security adviser Tom Don­ilon said at the time. "What are we getting this guy into?" Over the next three years, 13,000 Americans would be killed or wounded in Afghanistan – more than during the previous eight years of war under George W. Bush.

For more information and the full story behind Sgt. Bergdahl's capture go to this link: 

http://supportbowe.org/

To print a brochure for distribution to raise awareness go to this link: 

http://supportbowe.org/bowe_bergdahl_brochure/ 

These soldiers must not be forgotten.

Tell your friends about them. Contact your Members of Congress.

Leave no one behind.

Sergeant Bowe Robert Bergdahl, United States Army 

Captured in Afghanistan 30 June 2009.  Current Status:  Prisoner of War

Please join the BOWE TUESDAY movement, a way that would reach more people than could be reached via email chains and word of mouth.

More ways to support the safe return of Sgt. Bergdahl can be found on his Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/supportbowe/info

Folding our flag & the meaning behind it.

Why we fold our country's flag the way we do?

As Americans we take great pride in our country's flag. If you have ever seen the flag being folded you probably have wondered why we fold it so perfectly and precise each and every time. Below is the process of folding the American Flag and the meaning behind each fold. I think some of you will be surprised, I was when I discovered all the little details that go into folding the flag.

Before I go on with the folding process I would like to add in a few other facts about our flag.

~The stars symbolize the 50 states of the Union and the stripes signify the 13 original colonies that made up the United States of America.

~The Continental Congress defined the symbolic meanings of the colors as used in the flag, “White signifies Purity and Innocence; Red, Hardiness and Valor; and Blue, Vigilance, Perseverance and Justice .”

~The 21 gun salute stands for the sum of the numbers in the year 1776. 

Now onto the flag folding:

Have you ever noticed how the honor guard pays meticulous attention to correctly folding the American flag 13 times? You probably thought it was to symbolize the original 13 colonies, but we learn something new every day!

The 1st fold of our flag is a symbol of life.

The 2nd fold is a symbol of our belief in eternal life.

The 3rd fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veterans departing our ranks who gave a portion of their lives for the defense of our country to attain peace throughout the world.

The 4th fold represents our weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace as well as in time of war for His divine guidance.

The 5th fold is a tribute to our country, for in the words of Stephen Decaur, "Our Country", in dealing with other countries, may she always be right; but it is still our country, right or wrong.

The 6th fold is for where our hearts lie. It is with our heart that We pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, Indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.

The 7th fold is a tribute to our Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that we protect our country and our flag against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of our republic.

The 8th fold is a tribute to the one who entered into the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day.

The 9th fold is a tribute to womanhood, and Mothers. For it has been through their faith, their love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great has been molded.

The 10th fold is a tribute to the father, for he, too, has given his sons and daughters for defense of our country since they were first born.

The 11th fold represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon and glorifies in the Hebrews eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

The 12th fold represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in the Christians eyes, God the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit.

The 13th fold, or when the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost reminding us of our nations motto, "In God We Trust." 

After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it takes on the appearance of a cocked hat, Ever reminding us of the soldiers who served under General George Washington, and the Sailors and Marines who served under Captain John Paul Jones, who were followed by their comrades and shipmates in the Armed Forces of the United States, preserving for us the rights, privileges and freedoms we enjoy today.

There are some traditions and ways of doing things that have deep

meaning. In the future, you'll see flags folded and now you will know why. Share this with the children you love and all others who love the symbol of "Liberty and Freedom." 

http://www.hopehavengospelmission.org/13_folds_of_the_american_flag.htm 

A historical look at the US Flag on this Flag Day!

A look at each version of the American Flag.
Are you looking for a quick American flag history lesson? You've come to the right place! You can learn a little history about American flags here, and see what each version of the historical American flags looked like.

Some people display their American flags every day, while others display it on patriotic holidays - Flag Day, Independence Day, Memorial Day and others. There is just something about seeing the American flag waving in the breeze, it is so beautiful!

The next time you see the stars and stripes flying, take a moment to think about the American flag history and the sacrifices that have been made protecting it.

"Resolved, that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field representing a new constellation."

The American Flag history began with the words above. These words were written on June 14, 1777, when the Marine Committee of the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution establishing a new flag design for the United States.

History of Flag Day
In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation making June 14th National Flag Day. We now celebrate Flag Day each year on June 14th. Many local and state celebrations occurred on that day prior to 1916.

That year it was proclaimed an official national holiday. In 1949, during Harry Truman's term, Congress signed a law making June 14th national Flag day every year, with a flag day proclamation to be given annually.


History of American Flag
The first United States flag was the Stars and Stripes flag. Prior to June 14th, 1777, the Grand Union Flag still bore the Union Jack in its design.

The resolution signed on June 14th, 1777 gave no instruction as to how many points the stars should have, nor did it mention how those stars should be arranged on the blue union. Because of this, stars were arranged in various ways on the blue background. One of the popular designs during this time was the Betsy Ross flag.

Fun Fact: The earliest known depiction of a U.S. flag was found at an old encampment at Pluckemin, New Jersey. This camp was occupied by troops in 1778-1779. The plate was mistakenly engraved with 14 stripes instead of 13.

Another popular flag in America's history was the Bennington flag. It was used by the American militia during the Battle of Bennington, August 16, 1777.

In 1795, the number of stars and stripes was increased from 13 to 15 to reflect the entry of Vermont and Kentucky as states of the union. It was this flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the Star Spangled Banner.

Five more states had been admitted to the Union by 1818, and legislation was passed by the United States Congress requiring that the stripes on the American flag be fixed at thirteen, one stripe for each of the 13 original colonies. The stars would number how ever many states were admitted to the Union, with each star representing one state. The last star was added on July 4th, 1960, after Hawaii became the 50th state. This 50 state flag is the one that is still used today.

American Flag Colors and Flag Color Meanings
While there are differing opinions on rather the colors in the American flag represent anything, some believe that they represent the same things as the colors in the Great Seal.

White signifies purity and innocence
Red signifies hardiness & valor
Blue signifies vigilance, perseverance & justice


"The colours of the pales are those used in the flag of the United States of America; White signifies purity and innocence, Red, hardiness & valor, and Blue, the colour of the Chief signifies vigilance, perseverance & justice. The Olive branch and arrows denote the power of peace & war which is exclusively vested in Congress. The Constellation denotes a new State taking its place and rank among other sovereign powers. 

The Escutcheon is born on the breast of an American Eagle without any other supporters to denote that the United States of America ought to rely on their own Virtue."

Charles Thompson, Secretary of the Continental Congress, in his Remarks and Explanation of the Great Seal – June 20, 1782