This should get interesting! Xx M
Share your thoughts with Senator John Cornyn at http://cornyn.senate.gov/. Contact him whether you live in Texas or not. He is a Senior lawmaker and serves the lead on several committees.
THE LONESTAR WEEKLY
This week we mourn the victims of the horrific terrorist attack in Orlando and their families and friends, and express our appreciation for the first responders who bravely responded to this tragedy. As a country, we now must come to terms with the reality we face: the attack in Orlando was not a random act of violence, but a calculated act of terror. And, the risks of future attacks on American soil are rising, not falling.
It’s not enough to just stop terrorists from buying guns; we must give law enforcement the tools they need to thwart an attack before it happens and take those suspects off the streets. Too often, the FBI and other law enforcement officers have to operate with one hand tied behind their backs because they can’t access key pieces of information in a timely manner.
The President and his national security team think the threat posed by ISIS is something they can merely contain. But ISIS must be destroyed, and it’s long past time the Obama Administration presented a credible, aggressive strategy to do so and prevent future terror attacks on American soil.
TED Talk presents Sebastian Junger. Do you agree or send the topic packing. Be sure to leave your comments on the post. Xx M
I love watching the soldiers going crazy when the USO comes to town. I’m happy to be an American. Sending love to our soldiers. Xx M
WWII Memorial
Important Change.org Petition
Petitioning President Barack Obama
Help the women and girls from my home town who have been kidnapped by ISIS
Feryal Pirali and Yazda, a Global Yazidi Organization.
My name is Feryal. I live in Lincoln, Nebraska, but I grew up in a small town in Iraq called Sinjar. Last August, ISIS kidnapped thousands of women and girls from my hometown. For a year, ISIS has tortured and raped them. Many are teenagers just like me.
Please urge President Obama to help save 3,200 women and children from my community — some as young as 11 — who were captured by ISIS, and have been raped and tortured for the past year.
I and my family are part of the Yazidi, an ancient religious minority who live mostly in Northern Iraq. Because the Yazidi are not Muslim, ISIS extremists want us exterminated. I and my parents were able to escape, but most of my friends and family couldn’t. I think constantly about the girls my age who I was friends with growing up, who are now being raped every day by ISIS extremists.
They can be saved. In fact, 1,800 have escaped or been rescued — but there are still 3,200 Yazidi women and children being held by ISIS. The Yazidi and the local government in Iraq want to rescue them too, but they don’t have the resources they need to get them out. If the United States can step up and provide much-needed support to these groups, they can start to save these women and children. But the more time that goes by, the longer they have to live through this night
If nothing is done, thousands from my community will be doomed to a life of rape and torture by ISIS. Urge President Obama to help save them while there is still time.
Once, one of my friends who had been taken by ISIS managed to get a hold of a phone and called her family, screaming and begging to be rescued. And then she went silent. She, and thousands of other women and girls, desperately need help.
Join me in urging President Obama to support efforts by Yazidi activists, and the local government in Iraq, to rescue Yazidi women and children from ISIS enslavement.
You can see the original petition on Change.org link. Please forgive if translation is incorrect.
XO Melinda
I hope you’re eyes opened as much as mine. This is a tremendous change in policy. A policy now able to see the value of women on front lines. Some mixed feelings are swirling in my head. Time will tell if women are treated as equals. There other thoughts I’m not ready to express now, I need more time for all to sink in. I pray for justice for all and punishment on either sex if disrespectful.
The American flag is a symbol of freedom. Freedom we have enjoyed since the birth of our country. Military families have made sacrifices every time called to duty. If your boots are on the ground, you’re on my mind. We want you on American soil soon. A hug to all who’ve fought for our freedom. You are not forgotten! Sending a laugh. XO Melinda
Help NAMI Tell Congress to Help New Veterans Keep the Mental Health Medications They Need!
When someone is in treatment for a mental illness, it is common to go through several different trials of medication until they find the one that helps them feel better. It can take time to find a medicine that works for you. The slightest change could set someone back or even cause further illness. Now imagine if you are a service member who has found that right combination. You are feeling better and your medication is working. The way things stand now, if you decide to transition out of service and into veteran status, your medication might not transfer with you.
This is unacceptable.
With an alarmingly high suicide rate of 22 veterans dying each day and countless others struggling, we simply cannot allow for delays in treatment, endless appeals or the risk of being switched away from a proven effective medication for serious conditions such as depression, anxiety or psychosis. Our veterans deserve better.
Write a letter to your congressman, ask them to co-sponsor H.R. 2123 the Enhancing Veterans Access to Treatment Act. Tell them it is not ok to take away a medication that works for a service member simply because they transitioned out of service.
Take Action
Thank you for advocating for passage of this important bill!
CRITICAL UPDATE FROM NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS (NAMI)
The Clay Hunt SAV Act Passed! Thank Your Members of Congress!
Thank you for your mental health advocacy! Thank you for contacting your Senators and Congressmen to make your voice heard. Thank you for your support of suicide prevention for our military and veterans community.
Your phone calls, emails and tweets helped to pass the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans (SAV) Act unanimously through both the Senate and the House. The bill is now on its way to be signed by President Obama.
Among other things the Clay Hunt SAV Act requires an annual assessment of mental health care and suicide prevention programs at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and implements a pilot loan forgiveness program for psychiatrists that agree to serve in the VA.
Please pass the thanks along to your Senators and Congressmen.
Senate VA Committee Approves Clay Hunt Act! Share Our Petition!
Anthony Pike with Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
Jan 27, 2015 — Last week the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee unanimously approved the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans (SAV) Act as its first legislative action of the 114th Congress. Now we’re headed to the full Senate and need your help.
Can you share the petition to your networks on Facebook and Twitter? We’ve made it easy — all you have to do is click the links below:
Share on Twitter: http://bit.ly/1JBA2sy
Share on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1CGlbZw
Over 30 Senators are now sponsoring the Clay Hunt SAV Act! So please continue sharing our petition so that more sign on and the Senate brings this important bill to a vote as soon as possible.
Thank you for your support!
NAMI, National Alliance on Mental Illness Needs your help. Call your Senator and tell them to support the Clay Hunt SAV Act.
Tell Your Senators To Support Suicide Prevention For Our Nation’s Military and Veterans
In one of the first actions in the new Congress, the House passed HR 203, The Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans (SAV) Act. This legislation requires annual assessment of mental health care and suicide prevention programs at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and implements a pilot loan forgiveness program for psychiatrists that agree to serve in the VA. The bill passed unanimously – demonstrating the strong bipartisan support for addressing gaps in mental health and suicide prevention programs at the VA.
NAMI strongly supports the Clay Hunt SAV Act.
We are asking you to keep this momentum going by calling your Senators today. Tell them how important this bill is to the mental health care system for our country’s military and veterans.
Our nation’s military and veterans have protected us for decades; it’s time we help protect them. Contact your Senator today,
Take Action
Gramps would skip my nick name “Pud” and go straight to first name asking why I wrote this. Because I love you and want to thank you for being the father I never had. You taught me thru love when I needed it most. Your rules strict and set in cement. You taught me responsibility by setting an example. The nuggets we learn and realize when we’re older. I work to live by your example except for telling dirty jokes and I cuss way more.
I went to work at 15 years old and drove his car. He had me pay $50 for yearly insurance and $8.00 a week for gas, gas cost 0.89 at the time. My first car was a puck green Dodge Duster, the car was ugly but the tunes blared out. I was jamming. The rules were clear-cut, I could only drive my car to school, work, journalism, girls basketball and granny to mall. Granny told me years later he checked to make sure I was working on school paper, I was, he never checked again. When I started dating at 17 years old my curfew was 12:00, not 12:05. No phone calls after 9:00 PM, no leaving the house after 9:00PM, “you could get into no good if leaving after 9:00PM”. If not working I was home by 4:30PM for supper. Both of my grandparents showed me their love. He only raised his voice one time. His temper a slow burn, when it blew there was no convincing him, he might be wrong. He and granny were both stubborn and I didn’t fall far from the tree.
Being raised by the generation who faced the great depression, dust bowl and WWII was a blessing. I heard how poor most people were, you took any job you could get because there went many. How the war effected businesses, many jobs were frozen which meant you could not leave for another job. All efforts at home focused on supporting the war, granny became a riveter, some women worked in large sewing areas and most struggled to keep their head above water. It seems hard to think about today, my grandmother cut tin cans to use for curlers, she had two dresses, every night she had to wash one.
I didn’t have designers clothes, phone in my room, Atari, pool or new car. I never expected nor did I care what others wore or drove. I thought everyone lived this way. Was I naïve.
I miss my grandparents everyday and blessed by the lessons taught. Most important was their love, showing me their love.
“Love is a verb, it ain’t a thing” John Mayer
XO Warrior
Gramps would skip my nick name “Pud” and go straight to first name asking why I wrote this. Because I love you and want to thank you for being the father I never had. You taught me thru love when I needed it most. Your rules strict and set in cement. You taught me responsibility by setting an example. The nuggets we learn and realize when we’re older. I work to live by your example except for telling dirty jokes and I cuss way more.
I went to work at 15 years old and drove his car. He had me pay $50 for yearly insurance and $8.00 a week for gas, gas cost 0.89 at the time. My first car was a puck green Dodge Duster, the car was ugly but the tunes blared out. I was jamming. The rules were clear-cut, I could only drive my car to school, work, journalism, girls basketball and granny to mall. Granny told me years later he checked to make sure I was working on school paper, I was, he never checked again. When I started dating at 17 years old my curfew was 12:00, not 12:05. No phone calls after 9:00 PM, no leaving the house after 9:00PM, “you could get into no good if leaving after 9:00PM”. If not working I was home by 4:30PM for supper. Both of my grandparents showed me their love. He only raised his voice one time. His temper a slow burn, when it blew there was no convincing him, he might be wrong. He and granny were both stubborn and I didn’t fall far from the tree.
Being raised by the generation who faced the great depression, dust bowl and WWII was a blessing. I heard how poor most people were, you took any job you could get because there went many. How the war effected businesses, many jobs were frozen which meant you could not leave for another job. All efforts at home focused on supporting the war, granny became a riveter, some women worked in large sewing areas and most struggled to keep their head above water. It seems hard to think about today, my grandmother cut tin cans to use for curlers, she had two dresses, every night she had to wash one.
I didn’t have designers clothes, phone in my room, Atari, pool or new car. I never expected nor did I care what others wore or drove. I thought everyone lived this way. Was I naïve.
I miss my grandparents everyday and blessed by the lessons taught. Most important was their love, showing me their love.
“Love is a verb, it ain’t a thing” John Mayer
XO Warrior
I can think of no better day to receive news Congress heard our call from the Change.org petition. AMERICA HOME OF THE BRAVE XO Warrior
Thank You For Helping Veterans
Matt Zeller
Fairfax, VA
Nov 11, 2014 — I hope this finds you well.
Last summer, you helped us get Congress to pass an additional 1,000 visas for our Afghan allies. Thank you – you helped us save countless lives.
You may also recall the story of how Janis, the Afghan translator who saved my life in combat, finally got his visa to America last year.
Janis’ story was only the beginning. There are thousands more like him.
Together, we started No One Left Behind, an organization that helps Afghan and Iraqi translators gain their U.S. Visas and provides them assistance getting resettled in America.
Here’s a quick video about our organization:
This Veteran’s Day, we wanted to thank you for your support.
Since January we’ve helped resettle over 40 Afghan families in the United States. Your generosity allowed us to pay for their housing, furnish their homes, help them gain employment, and in several cases, even buy cars. You helped fulfill America’s promise to take care of those who so graciously took care of us. For that, we remain forever grateful.
We hope to resettle another 30 families by January. With your help, we will.
To help us resettle these families, please contribute today:
https://nolb.nationbuilder.com/contribute
-Cheers,
Matt
No One Left Behind
I can think of no better day to receive news Congress heard our call from the Change.org petition. AMERICA HOME OF THE BRAVE XO Warrior
Thank You For Helping Veterans
Matt Zeller
Fairfax, VA
Nov 11, 2014 — I hope this finds you well.
Last summer, you helped us get Congress to pass an additional 1,000 visas for our Afghan allies. Thank you – you helped us save countless lives.
You may also recall the story of how Janis, the Afghan translator who saved my life in combat, finally got his visa to America last year.
Janis’ story was only the beginning. There are thousands more like him.
Together, we started No One Left Behind, an organization that helps Afghan and Iraqi translators gain their U.S. Visas and provides them assistance getting resettled in America.
Here’s a quick video about our organization:
This Veteran’s Day, we wanted to thank you for your support.
Since January we’ve helped resettle over 40 Afghan families in the United States. Your generosity allowed us to pay for their housing, furnish their homes, help them gain employment, and in several cases, even buy cars. You helped fulfill America’s promise to take care of those who so graciously took care of us. For that, we remain forever grateful.
We hope to resettle another 30 families by January. With your help, we will.
To help us resettle these families, please contribute today:
https://nolb.nationbuilder.com/contribute
-Cheers,
Matt
No One Left Behind
A special shout out to my gramps who served the Army with pride. Happy Birthday from Pud.
XO Warrior
A special shout out to my gramps who served the Army with pride. Happy Birthday from Pud.
XO Warrior
My heart overflowed with joy to read Andrew was released from prison. I heard about his imprisonment thru a Change.org petition from his mother. Her pain growing everyday, her resolve grew even stronger, she was a true fighter. She fought for her son, the way I imagine any loving mother would do. We will never know their pain, we can feel overjoyed and celebrate his release. She is a Hero to me, she didn’t sit back, she fought everyday to make the boulder start to roll. Thank everyone who signed the petition, we made a difference. XO Warrior
Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi freed from Mexican jail, immediately returns to US
U.S. Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi, jailed more than 200 days in Mexico, was freed by a judge Friday and immediately returned to the U.S., his family said.
Tahmooressi, 26, who served two tours of duty in Afghanistan, had been held since March 31, when he said he mistakenly crossed into Mexico with three legally-purchased and registered guns in his truck.
A court-appointed psychiatrist confirmed that Tahmooressi has Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Family spokesman Jonathan Franks said the judge released him without making a determination on the charge against him. He had been held initially at a prison outside Tijuana, then was moved to a prison outside Tecate.
His family released a statement Friday night saying, “It is with an overwhelming and humbling feeling of relief that we confirm that Andrew was released today after spending 214 days in a Mexican jail. He is back on American soil and will shortly resume treatment for both his pre-existing combat related PTSD and the residual effects of months of incarceration – which has taken a toll on him far worse than his two tours in Afghanistan.”
Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is said to have played a major part in the release efforts, according to a statement released by the Richardson Center for Global Engagement Friday night.
Governor Richardson was instrumental in the release efforts and will accompany Andrew and his mother, Jill Tahmooressi, following his release, on a private flight back to Florida,” the statement said.
Tahmooressi and his mother will return to Florida late in the day Tuesday, the statement also said.
The Florida man said he got lost on a California freeway ramp that sent him across the border with no way to turn back. His long detention brought calls for his freedom from U.S. politicians, veterans groups and social media campaigns.
In Mexico, possession of weapons restricted for use by the Army is a federal crime, and the country has been tightening up its border checks to stop the flow of US weapons that have been used by drug cartels.
Tahmooressi reportedly had three weapons, all registered in the U.S., including a .45 caliber pistol, a 12-gauge shotgun and an AR-15 rifle.
Tahmooressi’s lawyers have maintained the weapons in the truck were there because he had recently moved from Florida to San Diego, and had all of his possessions, including the legally-purchased weapons, in his vehicle when he was stopped at the border.
Members of Congress were quick to react to the news of the release.
Rep. Ed Royce, R-Calif, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, immediately issued a statement saying, “I am elated that Sgt. Tahmooressi has been ordered released from jail in Mexico. This is great, but overdue, news. I am pleased that both Attorney General Jesús Murillo Karam and the judge on the case recognize that Sgt. Tahmooressi did not intend to violate Mexican law, and that his combat-related PTSD should be treated by specialists in the United States.”
In Florida, Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who represents the district where Tahmooressi’s’ mother, Jill, lives, said in a statement, “I am thrilled that Sergeant Tahmooressi has been released from prison in Mexico. We have waited long enough. As a mother, my heart is with Jill Tahmooressi tonight and I can only imagine the many emotions she must be experiencing, namely the relief in knowing her son is coming home and that they will soon be reunited without prison bars, without handlers and without unnecessary travel.”
Rep. Matt Salmon, R-Ariz., chairman of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, said, “I am truly overjoyed to hear the news that our Marine Sgt. Tahmooressi is finally coming home to America. During my last visit with Andrew in a Mexican prison, I told him the next time I saw him would be during his release to America; I am grateful that I will be able to keep that promise and be with him and (his mother) Mrs. Tahmooressi as he returns to the United States tonight.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Many of you know I’m a huge James Blunt fan. How many converts will sway to his new song. I love the black and white video, fit’s perfect. Men may enjoy the babes shaking it. I find the men dancing and kicking up the dust quit satisfying. James married Sofia in September, I believe his music will show a happier man. He comes from a long history of military officers and James takes pride in serving. He’s dated some of the most beautiful women. He met is match with Sofia, who comes from long line of royalty. I wish them the best. Warrior
Let me know what you think??
Many of you know I’m a huge James Blunt fan. How many converts will sway to his new song. I love the black and white video, fit’s perfect. Men may enjoy the babes shaking it. I find the men dancing and kicking up the dust quit satisfying. James married Sofia in September, I believe his music will show a happier man. He comes from a long history of military officers and James takes pride in serving. He’s dated some of the most beautiful women. He met is match with Sofia, who comes from long line of royalty. I wish them the best. Warrior
Let me know what you think??
CHANGE.ORG
Improve veterans employability to reduce suicide.
Petition by
BATTLE-BRO
**URGENT. PLEASE SHARE – WE NEED 10,000 SIGNATURES BY OCT 18TH** Every signature sends an email directly to the personal inbox of the Secretary of the VA, Robert A McDonald.
There are an average of 22 veteran suicides each day in this country: it’s staggering and a shameful indictment of us as a society. These men and women have risked and lost their lives for the freedoms we enjoy. One of the principal factors in bringing a veteran to this tragic decision is unemployment and the inability to support their family. Though veterans re-enter civilian life amply qualified for a host of jobs, there has been no bridging mechanism that translates their military skills to employer-friendly vernacular.
This from the Washington Post is a perfect explanation of the problem:
“Today, unemployment for veterans who’ve served since September of 2001 hovers just over 8 percent. For the economy at large: 6.1 percent. The gap between those two numbers speaks to several challenges: The military trains service members in many jobs with close but imperfect civilian corollaries, leaving veterans with the right job skills but the wrong certifications. Military service demands other skills that civilian jobs don’t (managing violence, repairing weapons, defending convoys). But where that unfamiliar experience entails universal qualifications (leadership, judgment, communication), employers don’t always know how to recognize them.”
BATTLE-BRO – the Veteran call-a-day network combatting suicide – has created RWSacred.org to provide this certification free for our veterans. Please sign this petition and encourage the VA to push bridging programs such as RWS Accreditation to establish better connectivity between vets and employers. More jobs for vets could quite literally save lives.
To:
Robert A McDonald, US Dept of Veterans Affairs, Secretary
Dear Mr McDonald,
Congratulations on your recent appointment to the VA, we look forward to seeing how you transform and ameliorate this challenging institution.
We’d like to ask you to help improve veteran’s employability potential via RWSacred.org (and programs like it) that interprets a veterans MOS to the standard business vernacular and fosters greater consideration by employers. As you know, employers are often deterred from hiring vets mostly because of the skill-language barrier. However, joblessness and the inability to support their family is a prominent factor in a veterans tragic choice to commit suicide.
By accrediting our vets WE can assume the due diligence cost/process and close the language gap between a veteran’s military service and the business sector. By YOU raising national awareness of this program, more employers will know of it’s existence thereby increasing its usefulness and simultaneously launching an invaluable life-affirming tool for our service men and women. TOGETHER we can assuage the devastating suicide numbers among our heroes and heal this national moral debt.
We do hope you will enjoy this opportunity, and thank you sincerely for your help.
The tragic events of 9/11/01 will forever remain etched in my mind. It’s with a heavy heart I celebrate the lives taken and those left behind to grieve. I think of the men and women of our military bravely fighting for our freedoms. The cost of freedom is high. Let us not forget as we sip our Starbucks, a soldier will die today and a family is left behind. A soldier who hasn’t seen his newborn son. Let us not forget the innocent lives lost in war zones and the pain families suffer. The pain and agony of losing a loved one is universal, it’s a human feeling regardless of the language spoken. M
Countless hours spent making phone calls and letter writing to Federal and State Officials have fallen on deaf ears. Overwhelming support has rallied behind Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi petition yet more is needed. Please take a few minutes to read, sign and pass to all you know. We can turn the injustice around. The comments were taken from letter written by Pastor Rich Tidwell.
Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi, has been unjustly imprisoned in a Mexican federal prison for nearly 5 months on weapons charges after accidentally crossing the border with legally purchased U.S. registered weapons. Since his incarceration, I often find myself imagining what it must feel like languishing in a foreign high security prison, surrounded by unfamiliar faces, suffering from PTSD, malnourished, and unable to effectively communicate with others.
Andrew’s plight should not be a burden carried alone as his treatment by Mexican officials demonstrates how any American could potentially be treated should one of us make a similar mistake. His sufferings could easily be shared by ourselves, our siblings, our families, our friends and our countrymen… a fearful thought to say the least. Furthermore, Sgt Andrew Tahmooressi is a decorated veteran, saving the lives of multiple Marines during combat. He is a man who has fought injustice on our behalf, actively securing our American liberties after volunteering to make the ultimate sacrifice should his nation need him to. He is a man worthy of our rescue and a man our nation cannot afford to do without.
Change.org petition link:
Thank You. M
lookingforthelight.blog 
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