Thanksgiving – A Time To Say Thank You
The first Thanksgiving was held in early autumn of 1621 at Plymouth plantation in Massachusetts. The 53 colonists who survived harsh conditions celebrated with what they called a harvest festival. More than 90 native Americans were invited to join the feast of turkey, duck, fish, venison and cornbread. The feast lasted for several days and the tradition was repeated at harvest time in the following years. The event was not originally called Thanksgiving because, to the Pilgrim’s, thanksgiving was purely religious. The first recorded day of Thanksgiving was held in 1623 in response to a much-needed rainfall. It was much later that the two events were combined to what is known as Thanksgiving Day, which President Abraham Lincoln made an official holiday in 1863.
Hunting Season
Next Monday is the start of the Pennsylvania’s regular deer season. For those that are going out to harvest their deer, have a safe and rewarding season.
Send Those Care Packages
Time is drawing very close to sending packages to our service members all over the world, so that they can receive them by Christmas. There are many veterans organizations that are still excepting donations of money and goods. Give them a call. They will also need help in packaging.
Changing Directions
Army Brig. Gen. Donald Bolduc met with VFW National Commander Brian Duffy at the VFW’s Washington office Wednesday to discuss ongoing efforts to change the direction and narrative regarding the stigma associated with seeking mental health care. The general, who commands special operations forces for U.S. Africa Command and is a member of VFW Post 1670 in Laconia, N.H., is the latest senior officer to use himself as an example to his troops that seeking care is a sign of strength, not weakness, and that admitting to having post-traumatic stress is not a career-limiter. His story was featured in a New York Times article last month. Chief Duffy and VFW Auxiliary National President Colette Bishop have made mental wellness the signature issue of their year and have already partnered with the nation’s leading mental health providers, researchers, peer support and family caregiver organizations to help change the direction and narrative regarding mental health.
Congress Advances Veterans’ Bills
In its first week back from the election recess, Congress has advanced a number of veterans’ bills to expand the Veterans’ Oral History Project to gold star families, require VA to improve the Veterans Crisis Line to ensure no crisis call goes unanswered and improve VA’s Automobile Adaptive Equipment Program. H.R. 4511, the Gold Star Families Voices Act, and H.R. 5392, the No Veterans Crisis Line Call Should Go Unanswered Act, now await the president’s signature. The Veterans Corner will have updates on these bills and other important veterans legislation.
White House Hosts Veteran Homelessness Summit
The White House’s Joining Forces hosted a summit last Monday, bringing in leadership and mayors from across the country who have been crucial in Joining Forces’ initiative to end veteran homelessness. Since 2011, the initiative has cut veteran homelessness in half – eradicating it in 35 communities across the country, as well as in two states. During the event, both First Lady Michelle Obama and Second Lady Dr. Jill Biden gave speeches. Both women highlighted that though the success has been promising, the fight to completely end veteran homelessness will continue into the new administration come 2017.
TRICARE Publications Update
DOD has redesigned TRICARE handbooks, brochures, fact sheets and guides to make them more user friendly and visually appealing. To view the updated publications, go to www.tricare.mil/publications.
POW/MIA Update
* Army Pfc. William W. Cowan, 19, of White House, Tenn., was buried Nov. 19 in Fredonia, Ohio. On Feb. 12, 1951, Cowan was a member of Company M, 3rd Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. It would be later learned he had been captured but died in captivity in a POW camp in North Korea. * Marine Corps Pfc.Wilbur C. Mattern, 23, of Oelwein, Iowa, will be buried Nov. 21, in Arlington National Cemetery. In November 1943, Mattern was assigned to Company M, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. Mattern died on the second day of the battle, Nov. 21, 1943. * Army Sgt. 1st Class Robert R. Cummings, of Schoolcraft, Mich., was assigned to Company K, 3rd Battalion, 187th Airborne Infantry Regimental Combat Team, when his unit was attacked by an estimated 200,000 Chinese soldiers near the Yalu River in North Korea. He would be declared missing in action on Nov. 29, 1950. * Army Air Forces 1st Lt. Frederick W. Langhorst, 24, of Yonkers, New York, will be buried Nov. 26 in Battle Creek, Michigan. On July 17, 1945, Langhorst was assigned to the 1330 Army Air Force Base Unit, Air Transport Command, and was the co-pilot of a C-109 aircraft with three other crew members on a routine cargo transport mission from Jorhat, India, to Hsinching, China, when it crashed in a remote area. An extensive search of the area failed to identify the crash site and the crew was declared deceased on July 18, 1946, and their remains designated non-recoverable.
Have a great Thanksgiving. Till next week, praying for all service members.
