Military with PTSD Places 3rd in #FailForward Contest

Happy Veterans Day! A few weeks ago, GlobalGiving challenged Military with PTSD to share our #failforward moment from our Explosion of Kindness Program. We are proud to announce, Military with PTSD placed 3rd in the Fail Forward contest with the Explosion of Kindness Success and Failure Report. We have learned so much from our Firework Sign program and from GlobalGiving. By teaching and challenging us, we have been able to grow as the military education finance options. We appreciate and value all that GlobalGiving has done and continues to do. We would also like to say a huge THANK YOU!!! to our members, our supporters, and our contributors. Without all of you, none of this would be possible.

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Firework Sign Donation in Honor of Mike Kreft

Valdosta Volunteers to Distribute ‘Combat Veteran’ Signs to Raise PTSD Awareness

Eyewitness News
July 17, 2015 6 pm

Valdosta, GA – On July 4th, just days after fireworks became legal in Georgia, a young veteran took his own life, after fireworks triggered his Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

In response to Mike Kreft’s passing, the Valdosta community is now sending an important message with yard signs.

‘Combat veteran lives here. Please be courteous with fireworks’, the signs read.

We covered Kreft’s story, and the result has been an outpouring of support. One group, called ‘Military With PTSD’, has donated yard signs for local combat veterans to help raise awareness about the disorder.

200 of those signs will be distributed in the Valdosta community at an event on Saturday.

Eyewitness News Reporter, Winnie Wright, covered the Mike Kreft story, and is hosting the event. “This event was all promulgated by the fact that people wanted to support Mike Kreft. They wanted to support his memory, they wanted to support his family and other veterans in our community. So we will be out here on Saturday from 10 to 1 at the American Legion Post 13”, she says.

The combat veteran signs are free to the public.

If you cannot make Saturday’s event, they will be available at the Lowndes County Courthouse, the Georgia State Patrol in Valdosta, the American Legion Post 13, and the VSU Office of Adult Military Programs.

Veteran Suicides

Tri-State News, Weather

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United States Flag Rules

The Flag Code, which formalizes and unifies the traditional ways in which we give respect to the flag, also contains specific instructions on how the flag is not to be used.

The flag should never be draped or drawn back in folds. Draped red, white and blue bunting should be used for decoration, with the blue at the top and red at the bottom. The flag may be flown at half-staff to honor a newly deceased federal or state government official by order of the president or the governor, respectively.

• On Memorial Day, the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon.
• Other Things Not to Do with the Flag Out of respect for the U.S. flag, never:
• Dip it for any person or thing, even though state flags, regimental colors and other flags may be dipped as a mark of honor.
• Display it with the union down, except as a signal of distress.
• Let the flag touch anything beneath it: ground, floor, water, merchandise.
• Carry it horizontally, but always aloft.
• Fasten or display it in a way that will permit it to be damaged or soiled.
• Place anything on the flag, including letters, insignia, or designs of any kind.
• Use it for holding anything.
• Use it as wearing apparel, bedding or drapery. It should not be used on a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be attached to the uniform of patriotic organizations, military personnel, police officers and firefighters.
• Use the flag for advertising or promotion purposes or print it on paper napkins, boxes or anything else intended for temporary use and discard.

During the hoisting or lowering of the flag or when it passes in parade or review, Americans should stand at attention facing the flag and place their right hand over the heart. Uniformed military members render the military salute. Men not in uniform should remove any headdress and hold it with their right hand at their left shoulder, the hand resting over the heart. Those who are not U.S. citizens should stand at attention.

Please don’t forget about our Veteran Firework Signs on Sale until Tuesday. Or you can make a donation to give a sign to a veteran in need. We still need to raise $2,000 by 5/26/2015 to get every veteran who signed up a free sign by July 4th.

Memorial Day Meaning

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Resolve of a Caregiver

What does the Resolve of a Caregiver  video series teach and how can they help?

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Combat Vet 

By: Brandi Green

A year overseas, pulling guard, fighting for everything back home, avenging every fallen brother, this is the life they’ve come to know.

The day has come, to go back home, who would have known another battle has just begun. It creeps up slowly disguised as a selfish man. Never changing diapers or cleaning up the house. An argument that gets to heated or when he stops interacting and just sits around watching TV. But It progresses so quickly and you begin to get angry and eventually it tricks you into resenting your brave man.

Why is he so selfish, lazy and so mean? This isn’t the man who stole your heart away. Someone cuts them off in traffic, he looses it in a fit of rage. Diving into a bottle or feeling numb with the pills from the VA.

The kids won’t stop crying and he can’t stop himself from screaming. No more laughing tickling or playing, daddy just sits in silence or yells and walks away. He’s having flashbacks now and everything reminds him of the battle grounds he knew to well. Why can’t he control himself punching and throwing everything in sight?

His children become afraid and his marriage is torn to shreds. He begins to loose emotion preparing himself to loose again, he puts a wall of steel and pushes his family away. Why is being a civilian harder then fighting for your life. He couldn’t wait to come back home but now nothing but war feels familiar. He was trained to be a U.S. soldier, but never taught how to shut it off. Is this our life now, or will it ever go away. When PTSD takes over the life of of your combat vet.

Hero411 Warm-line for Caregivers of Veterans

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PTSD

Video made by Marine Veteran Frankie Hill Pluviose.

Showing PTSD from a Veterans view.

Video made by Marine Veteran Frankie Hill Pluviose. Showing PTSD from a Veterans view.
 

I had to shoot a flash-film last week and only had a lil bit of time to do it and I was a one-man crew. I called up my good friend, Mike Hoover, who is an awesome actor to help me out. We knocked all of this out in about 2 hours. This is dedicated to all my veterans. I know what some of you go through. I hope you enjoy it.

Posted by Frankie Hill Pluviose on Tuesday, March 10, 2015

PTSD Caregivers Hinder Recovery?

Partners have a number of challenges when living with a veteran who has PTSD. PTSD caregivers feel that they must take care of us veterans and attend closely to the veteran’s problems. PTSD caregivers may respond in ways that worsen the problem rather than help recovery. They may have difficulty understanding, become angry with us veterans, communicate poorly, and/or fail to provide support. (Julia M. Whealin, Ph.D)

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