If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
Memorial Day barbecues are being planned as we prepare to remember the millions of veterans who have served our nation, protecting and defending those less fortunate as well as our way of life. For some of these veterans, the idea of a backyard barbecue is far from their reality.
Veterans are superbly trained, diverse, innovative, reliable, hardworking, dedicated citizens, and many possess skills that are highly transferable.
People care about more than numbers. They care so much about subjective well-being that they are willing to trade years of life for improved quality of life. Cold reason is really not sufficient to assess anyone's quality of life. That evaluation requires a robust application of empathy.
When you think of it, "holiday" isn't exactly the right phrase for what began as a day of remembrance, a day to honor those who gave their all for this country. What began as a solemn occasion has somehow morphed into something very different.
From talking with soldiers, I know that combat can leave a mark upon the soul. They have lost more, given more, than most people could ever imagine. Telling that story to a songwriter, then writing a song about it, is a way of honoring that loss.
The vast majority of these are worthy and noble endeavors, showing veterans their service is appreciated. And yet, far too many veterans struggle with the transition to civilian life. With all these organizations offering help, how can this be?
For generations, seniors have been making a powerful impact in their communities, and their service is more important now than ever. Let us pay a special tribute to these remarkable seniors, who do so much to improve our communities and nation.
Having a Bad Day? The U.S. Military certainly is having a very bad day. It is reeling from a spate of very public and embarrassing sexual assault and...
I went to NYC a few months back for a Vanity Fair photo shoot with DonorsChoose.org staff, board members, and advisers.
Nothing can prepare you for the loss of a child, which is why I never would have guessed that allowing my son's organs to be donated, and thus, letting him live on through the lives of total strangers, would provide the comfort to get through my toughest days.
Captain James Van Thach was wounded twice in the line of duty in Iraq. Vincent Ficarrotta was born with a condition that results in stiff joints and abnormally developed muscles. Jeff Brosi is paralyzed from the waist down. These men each received a dog from Canine Companions for Independence.
The complexity and mystery of the number seven has inspired me to explore its connections to human nature in a series of upcoming blog posts, each geared toward the unique experiences of post-war Veterans.
How to protect Social Security, in two easy steps: Step One: enlist an army. We've done that -- 3,000,000 people have signed petitions demanding "No ...
May is Military Appreciation Month, and this Friday, May 10th is Military Spouse Appreciation Day. As if we need a special day to thank the military and military spouses for the service and sacrifice to the Nation, but I guess for some, they actually do have to be reminded.
Tattoos and a checkered past do not automatically make you a bad example for your children, just as a blemish free life and ink free skin does not automatically make you a good one.
My own symptoms of post traumatic stress had faded within six months or so of coming home, and I was relieved. Then came my delayed reaction to a 10-year passage of time from the day I drove over the berm into Iraq as a soldier, sparked by that photo, and it all washed away.
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