A Veteran’s Day Tribute

Posted on November 5, 2010 by Cheryl Hanson

Your service to our country was an amazing thing you gave us, to all Americans.  On Veteran’s Day, we honor our Servicemen and Women with a Moment of Time, where we say Thank You.  Not many in this world will go out of their way, to stop their lives, and find time to do what others need them to do.  Many will not put their lives in harms way, only to do what is necessary for our country.

Freedom is not Free, and your cost of years, time, emotional and economic challenges are proof of this.  If I could do one thing, I would tell everyone who reads this, to constantly honor our Veteran’s by doing good to others, and honor their service by honoring this gift of Freedom.  If we squander it, and do not apply ourselves, we will all lose in the end.  As Americans, there are new challenges and battles that we must fight, in our domestic lives, and in our battlefields.

We need to stop and say thank you to the men and women who have honored us with a soldier’s life, and risk that they can only appreciate fully.  We need to surround them with support and honor their lives by being sure to support them in times of emotional distress.

For this reason, I started this website, in the hopes that it would grow into something to do good, and enable our soldiers a place to call their own.  I hope to add a forum to the site, to allow you all to comment and add your experiences one by one.

I believe the power of not being able to tell each story can hurt our armed service men and women. And, as well, not telling stories, not telling truths, can hurt those service men and women who support our armed battle members.  Being able to tell stories is important and part of the healing process.

I welcome your comments and I am honored to be your technical lead on this your site.  Remember your pledge and your support is here, and you can begin to become a better civilian as a soldier.

Posted in Standing Down | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Being a Homeless Veteran

Posted on October 29, 2010 by Cheryl Hanson

You have served your country well.  You have gone and done things that most ordinary Americans could never even think of being involved with.  You are a soldier.

Now, you are a veteran, and despite your best efforts to return home, and find work, you have become homeless, and are feeling less than you should.  You are not alone, and need to discover that you are going to need help.  Do not give up on yourself, find the strength to ask for direction, and ask for help.

Resources for you as a Veteran

Veteran Volunteers

Jericho Project

You need to endure right past the pain of the moment, and find the person that left for war.  You are still that soldier, and you need to move into that great area of time.  It is not over.  The past is still real within yourself, and you can make it happen for you once again. You have the strength to find your calling.

Since you are not fighting right now, does not mean you should become obsolete.  You are a great and awesome power in our country.  No one can express the appreciation we have for all of you.  You are an amazing and rich and diverse American.  Your experience will lead us further, than any other professional could. We need your strength now, more than ever.

Your skills with project management and following orders are needed.  We have large infrastructure challenges ahead.  Our roads and bridges are becoming dangerous.  We need you to endure, find the part of your skills that led you into war, and bring them forward in civilian life.

Only you can make the difference that we require.  Know that you are very important to all of America.  Tell us your story here, and we will be honored to value your service with a kind and listening ear.  We require your service here soldier.

If you find yourself homeless soldier, do not feel alone.  Your life is so powerful, you need to find your feet once again, and do it for you and yourself alone.  Find the assistance you need to find work, establish housing, and once again, make a difference.  It is important that you do this for yourself and for all of America.

Posted in Standing Down | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

America Needs Your Strength

Posted on October 29, 2010 by Cheryl Hanson

It is more than you can even understand.  Our country needs your strength and resolve even more, than we have in recent memory.  Your knowledge, your experience, can lead us here at home just as much as you led us in battle.  Your strength is needed here.

Children are Lost

Many of our Educational endeavors have not produced new and innovative students.  They are struggling.  Just as you are struggling with the grit of returning back to civilian life, they are struggling with just getting through algebra.  Who needs algebra?  Many people see no reason for this mathematical class, and do not appreciate the problem solving skills that are created by this subject.  There is a clear lack of problem solvers in the world today.

Our kids are struggling with bullies, being hungry, and having to fight their way through a competitive structure at school.  Teachers are over worked, and parents are too.  Your strength soldier, can move them into a new frame of mind.  Your experiences are needed, and needed in a dire way.  If you are being challenged by the daily civilian needs, you simply need to start here.  Volunteer at your local school.  You can make a difference, and they can envision an entirely new way of thinking.

Problem solving is Your Gift

You have been blessed with many talents and skills, and to not pass them along is a tragedy.  Break free from the loose life style of civilian life, and continue with your regime.  You woke at dawn, you dressed, you were ready for battle.  You had your orders.  This kept you going during the war, and during your service.  Nothing has changed, only your commander has.  You are your own commander, and you need to find how to problem solve through your light days as a veteran.

Do not let yourself down. It is time to rise to the occasion, put down the excuses, and once again climb the wall that you need to.  Your new life is about to begin.  Expect greatness, and you will be supported.

Your next step as a civilian is not that different than when you were in service.  You need to ensure that you find your steps forward by making a difference.  Do it for your community, but most of all do it for yourself.

Posted in Standing Down | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

No one is ready for the box of cereal

Posted on October 20, 2010 by Cheryl Hanson
A Strong Soldier

Your Strength is Your Best Weapon

Remember the scene in Hurt Locker, when our hero comes home and is given the choice of finding a box of cereal in the grocery isle?  It is a quiet and emotional view of America.  There are many boxes of cereal, and the isle is perfectly packed.  The image is very hurtful and poignant; if you have lived through the brutality of war, you do not need cereal.  You need some kind of mental eraser to help you out a little bit.

Amnesia would be an amazing gift.  You cold find so much to enjoy, if you could only go back to the time before you were a solider.  It would be so great to have just one day.

So much to think about here.  If you play the devil’s advocate, you would never be the amazing and powerful person you are right now without the pain of your experiences.  And, there is some form of beauty in being alive to tell the story.  You are someone who can rule the world-if you could only get a grasp of your emotions.

I do not want to play down any of your experiences.  You are an individual who has a war story that is different for every solider.  The story too, is most likely something you have told few.   You do not like having to voice the stuff you saw.  The people you tell usually are those who have their own solider stories, because, they are the only ones who understand.

What you do need to understand is, there is a way to objectively find some peace in your mind.  Do not turn to booze, or cigarettes for your relief.  The simple plan to just go out and have a good time is usually a good one at the beginning, but you can end up using this excuse too much and too often.  You need some way to think about your experiences with insight.  You can not do this when you are emotionally bound.

This will take some time.  You need to talk to someone who understands.  The powers that be have some great resources for you to follow, and they are doing their best to ensure your story is heard, and heard in the right way.  Be patient with yourself.  Let yourself feel bad, and remember it will not last.  It will take time.

Our emotions are stuck in the bottom parts of our minds, slowly twisting and turning our thoughts when we need some encouragement to work through our emotional issues.  With time, you are going to deal with these emotions, and handle them to a positive outcome.

Your strength is what made you who you are.  Our country needs this strength more than ever.  You need to know America is grateful for your service.  You need to be patient with your emotions and let them wind themselves out.  Take time, be kind to yourself, and breathe your way through anger and pain.

The cereal isle is one step.  It is amazing how one daily task can bring up some raw and challenging emotions.  If you are rested, and quiet, you can find the strength to watch the emotion rescue you towards your new and impressive life.

Your strength lies in being patient, and letting your emotions lead you further towards your new life.  If you have the time to find your way patiently, you can evolve past the pain.

Posted in Standing Down | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment