“Post-deployment health issues require support from military families
The stress of deployment can often hit military families hard, but sometimes that stress can continue on after soldiers return home. Even though it’s supposed to be a time of reunion and happiness, a soldier’s return from deployment can often be overshadowed by the tough transition and possible wounds they are forced to deal with, after putting their lives on the line. It is in this time, that a soldier’s family is more important than ever.

Wartime wounds are most often thought of as taking place on the battlefield with injuries and bloodshed. In some cases however, wounds can be essentially “invisible” or mental type of wounds. For many soldiers today, there return from service requires them to take on wounds like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury and Mesothelioma.

PTSD is a severe type of anxiety related disorder that is common after psychological trauma, but is increasingly common with military service because of their difficult experiences. Some of the common symptoms include sleep problems, flashbacks, mood swings, and hyper arousal. Dealing with these symptoms in length can cause patients to suffer significant impairment to occupational and social functioning.
Like PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is largely viewed as a signature wound of the war on terror in the last ten years. TBI involves an external force that traumatically impairs or injures the brain. Though it’s common in children because of falls, military service personnel are often left with TBI because of an event or action during their service time. Common symptoms include dizziness, balance issues, blurred vision and sleep problems.

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is related to asbestos exposure. This is tied into military service because asbestos was one of the most commonly used materials throughout shipyards and bases for the better part of the 20th century. It is often common in older buildings and structures which are a commonality of battle as well. This cancer involves the lining of the organs within the lungs and effects victims long after original exposure, as the symptoms often arise decades later.
These are just a few of the health related issues that a soldier may deal with following their deployment. It’s important to be aware of any type of symptoms that may occur during their time home. Being educated and prepared for any type of health problems is vital as other issues can also present themselves following deployment.

I am involved in actively supporting our troops. We have 2 “adopted soldiers” that receive a care package filled with hard to get in the middle of the desert items……
They also get at least one letter a week.. Depending on life and what silliness I can share.
Smiles are a precious commodity to a stressed out soldier. The BengalBrats can be very entertaining..

I also am a member of Wednesday Hero, a group started by Christopher Lee.
I joined the group back in November, 2006. I first started blogging about supporting soldiers after Beth at Blue Star Chronicles invited me to join her blogroll.

Thank you Taylor, and Thank you to all who support our troops!

The problem is .. It took way more than 21 business days to discover Dell was full of crap, and that this was not the problem.
The “EXPERT” care offered by Dell, who cannot pour piss out of a boot, if the directions were printed on the heel was another 59.00.
Total so far…185.94
Then add in Dr Scott, (Dr Scotts PC Services- drscottspc(at) gmail(dot) com) who actually diagnosed the problem. Fan wasn’t running correctly, which is what caused the laptop to shut down.By the way, you have to remove the mother board to get to the fan. I am not comfortable doing this, I can replace the hard drive, I can also replace memory cards. But stripping the entire computer to get to the fan is above my ability.

Hard drive: 49.98
Memory cards (2): 76.68
New fan: 15.46.
Dr Scott: 45.00.
Total
246.40
Time laptop was down 42 days.

A new laptop is about 300.00.
Dell is aware of the overheating problem here and here and here

But because Dell lied rather than admit they weren’t sure what the problem was…
I now have an inspiron 1525 that cost about 250.00 more than it should have to be fixed.
I wont add the hours I spent fighting with dell just to get them to honor their “30″ days guarantee.
When the problem persisted after the new hard drive and memory cards were installed
they then tried to tell me it was a software problem, and I could pay another 59.00 dollars to have them diagnose that.
Heh.
Like I said, Dell you talk out of both sides of your lying greedy corporate mouth.

Frankly Dell you owe me a heck of a lot more than 59.00
21 days my butt.

Scenerio: INSPIRON 1525 Laptop overheats and shuts down.
Dell’s Solution for the ridiculous charge of 59.00… The hard drive and memory cards are bad.

So I replaced the hard drive and the memory cards… Problem computer STILL overheats and shuts down.
When they don’t know whats wrong they lie.

So I cleaned the heat sink, no inprovement.
Last possible solution before throwing laptop in trash, replace the fan.

Heh! Dell Sucks

Tigger is pissed off, because fixing this dell inspiron has taken way
to much time away from loving him.

Fan costs 15.95 through dell. You must buy the fan through dell or it may not fit.
So I bought the fan, only to discover that you have to completely disassemble the laptop to get to the fan, yep.. you
have to pull the motherboard…

So I did what any intelligent person does when faced with scary things like pulling motherboards.
I calles Dr.Scott’s PC services. (drscottspc(at)gmail(dot com). Now Scott who is a genius and wonder at all things PC has done work for us before. I highly recomend him.

Solution..Laptop runs quietly and does not overheat.I am now the proud owner of a laptop with a new and unnecessary hard drive and 2 memory boards.. whohoo…On reflection I should have just bought a new computer.

Thanks for nothing Dell.. You and your “experts” who do not speak english suck.And next time just tell the truth, that you have no freakin idea what the problem is….

It’s been one of those weeks.

Too many doctor visits, one case of bronchitis, and one
case of pneumonia.The pneumonia is just in my right lung, so I figure it’s already half whipped!
Yep, enough.

Spring is here and my fingers are itching to get dirty, TheMasterOfTheUniverse
reminded me this morning, its hard to play with roses, when you cant breath.
Heh! I knew that!.

SonnyBob has hit a record of 400 zillion pounds, and
is now restricted… Any bets on how long that lasts?

Tigger has gone 5 days without biting me, maybe cause he feels sorry for me?
Naugh, he just hasn’t felt that that uncontrollable urge lately, I’m thinking!

Is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to “The United States of America,” for an amount of “up to, and including his life.”

These Individuals deserve to be honored! There are way too many people in this country today, who no longer understand that fact.
Not sure who originally wrote that but… its a point worth remembering.

Our Veterans, lay or have laid their lives on the line for us. Simple respect is the very least you should afford them.. No I really don’t want to get started.

For all of you that have served or are serving a truly heartfelt thank you, and God bless you and keep you safe.

I was looking at TheMasterOfTheUniverse’s medals the other day. A few years ago I framed them so our grandkids could ooohhh and aaaahhhhh and ask questions which has worked out pretty darn well… He has been off, recovering from surgery. I’ve been driving him crazy of course….
It was really scary to have him be on the other end of the recovery
road, no matter how minor the surgery. He is doing great. For which we are very thankful to God.

But the point of this post is that he is MY HERO!

He has 5 Vietnam campaign medals, Vietnam service medal, national defense service medals, meritorious unit medal, good conduct, army of occupation…….
a few others…
He is MY HERO! I thank God for him.

They were the catalyst that
united the hearts and souls of the American people.
It was an America transformed.

9-11-2001-wtc

A United America. A country that proudly flew the flag that represents freedom.
A country that mourned and healed together.

Nine years later, apathy has risen it’s ugly head.
Discord, fear and mistrust abound.

I pray for a spark of unity in America, healing to those who have suffered loss.

A heart felt thank you to our hero’s and American troops fighting
paying the price for our freedom.

Keeping the evil and terror at bay.

We must Never Forget. We have a responsibility to remember.

The attackers that morning flew American Airlines Flight 11 into the north
side of the north tower of the World Trade Center at 8:46 a.m.

United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the south tower At 9:03a.m.
Both towers collapsed.

American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon- Arlington County, Virginia at 9:37a.m.

The fourth hijacked plane, United Airlines Flight 93, crashed in a field in southwest Pennsylvania, at 10:03 a.m.

2,996 people died in these terrorist attacks.

Dale Roe organizes 2996, bloggers from around the world who write tributes and memorials to those who were murdered that September morning, nine years and a life time ago.

Please consider being involved. So we never do forget.

The Project in 2010
I have received several dozen emails over the past month, from past participants in Project 2,996, asking if I will be running the project again this year.

I’ll start by answering that question: Absolutely, yes.

However, now, and in the future, I’m planning on running the project a little bit differently. In the past, the focus has always been to randomly assign names to the participants, and to ask them to post their tributes, or remembrances, to their own websites on September 11 (often called a blogburst).

Starting now, my focus is to make sure that each name on the list has at least one tribute still active on the web. I’m going through past lists to try and find people who no longer have a tribute posted, and I’ll assign those names to new volunteers.

What is there for you to do?

1.Check back here. I’ll be posting lists of the victims whose links have expired, and who now have 0 tributes.
2.Write a new tribute. And send me the link. Try to send the URL of a page or permalink, instead of the main URL of your blog/site.
3.Keep your old tributes online. Remember, the goal is to get at least 1 for every name on the list.
4.Make sure the Current List (not yet posted) includes your past tributes. It’s certainly possible that I’ll mark a link as dead, by accident. If I’m wrong, tell me!
5.On, 9/11, make sure your tributes are on the front page of your site. But don’t change links you’ve already given me. Many participants, simply repost the same information in a new post.
6.Spread the word.
It may seem like I’m starting awfully late to do this all by 9/11/2010. But what I’m really doing is starting very early for 2011, the tenth anniversary.

9/11/10 marks 9 years since the attacks of World Trade Center I and II, The Pentagon, Shanksville, American Airlines Flights 11 & 77, and United Airlines Flight 93 & 175.

On that day 2,996 people were ripped from their lives. But as the media and society tend to do, they have focused on the killers. We’ve all learned more about them than we wanted to. On that day many of us made a pledge to never forget what happened.

From it’s beginning in 2006, Project 2,996 has always encouraged individuals with their own blogs or websites to learn about one or more of the victims, and to post that information on their own sites.
.

The PGR is the Hell’s Angel that has held a flag for three hours in honor of a fallen solider.

The PGR is the Christian Motorcyclist Association rider that is standing next to him.

The PGR is the elderly lady with a flag draped over her walker that is standing next to him.

The PGR is the biker that will ride over 300 miles, praying to God to give him strength, so he can make it in time to have the honor of standing the flag line for the wake of a hero…Alone.

The PGR is having 250 bikes show up the next day in a town of 3500 people: Some riding hundreds of miles, staring at 0400…In the rain.

The PGR will be humbled when the color guard comes out to shake his hand for standing there alone, and tell them with confidence there will be more tomorrow.

The PGR is spending hours in a flag line in 90 degree heat, only later to find out the son of the guy standing next to you had committed suicide 6 months after returning from Iraq.

The PGR are the couple that served lunch to 286 bikers, refusing all donations. They are the grandparents of the solider that killed himself.

The PGR is “freebird57” from IL who drives around in his van, loaded with 135 flags and coolers of water and supplies for those standing the line along with him.

The PGR is the Viet Nam vet that was spit on when he returned, or the lady next to him whose brother was in the Battle of Bulge. Or it is 12 year old Taylor Batten, who had her first heart surgery at the age of 6 months. Taylor has had many surgeries in her past and will have many more in her future, which may not be that long. She is now a PFC USMC, and an honorary MI PGR Ride Captain.

The PGR is not a service group, we are not lobbyists. There are many fine organizations that do this work, and we heartily encourage your support.

The PGR is the biker that will ride over 200 miles in rain so bad he can barely see, and rides only by the taillights of those ahead of him, because the protesters will be at the funeral of PO1 Jerry Tharp in Galesburg IL. And he will not only consider it a privilege to have protesters scream in his face, shielding them from the family, but will consider it one of the proudest days of his life. And there are 329 people standing next to him feeling exactly the same way.

The PGR is the rider who could not think of any place he would rather be at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, than to stand at the grave site of a friend’s father, on the anniversary of his passing. A father who earned the Silver Star in Korea for gallantry above and beyond the call of duty: A father whose family had no idea what he had done and the awards he had won, until they went through his belongings after his death.

If you do not fit in anywhere in the above, or you have another agenda, you might reconsider whether you are in the right place. However,if you are with us, it will be my honor to stand with you anytime, anywhere.

And when the organizers of a parade ask how many PGR will be there, I will tell them there might be 100, but I will only guarantee one.

And if there is an Honor Mission for a fallen hero that same day, I will not be there either.

Being a PGR is not fun. It may well be one of the hardest things you will ever do.

You may have the mother of a fallen solider cry on your shoulder, thanking you for being there.

You may have a Marine, who has escorted his buddy from Afghanistan, stand at attention and salute you, with tears streaming down his f ace.

Being a PGR may not be fun, but you will never stand with better people. It may be one of the most rewarding things you will ever do, and without a doubt, it will change your life forever.

We know that Freedom Is Not Free.

Photo Credit to EMCS(SS) Randy Herrick

Veterans Day originally began in England and France. On November 11, 1920, to commemorate the ending of World War I (11am on November 11, 1918 or the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month), England and France each held ceremonies where they buried an unknown soldier of the war in a high place of honor, Westminster Abbey in England and the Arc de Triomphe in France. This day became known as Armistice Day, “armistice” meaning “truce.”

The United States soon followed the examples of England and France. An unknown American World War I soldier was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in 1921. It wasn’t until 1928, though, that November 11 was officially known as Armistice Day in the United States. Even then, it still wasn’t a holiday. A congressional action twelve years later in 1938 then made Armistice Day an official national holiday.

In only a few years, the United States would enter World War II. Sixteen and one-half million Americans took part in this war. Armistice Day did not pay tribute to these people, so President Eisenhower changed Armistice Day to Veterans Day in 1954 to honor all Americans who had served in all wars.

The memorial amphitheater that was built around the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier continues to be the focal point for official ceremonies for Veterans Day. A combined color guard representing all military services executes “Present Arms” at the tomb at 11 a.m. on November 11 every year. A presidential wreath is also laid out as the nation’s tribute to its war dead, and a bugler plays “Taps.”

At least he shared.. sigh….

Click photo for full sized image.