I never really thought about the irony of March being dedicated to brain injuries until I decided to read about the origin of this month - Here are some facts that will uniquely bind our 750,000 veterans struggling with brain injuries, - to the origins of this month.
MARCH -
Named after MARS, the Roman God of War
March was originally the 1st month of the year, in Roman times, the month that Julius Caesar would resume WAR in Roman times, having weathered the winter - and literally, his troops "marched' into battle.
IRONIC, isn't it that it is the same month we now re-inform the nation of the wounds of war, Traumatic Brain Injuries, and the deadly consequences associated with failure to recognize and treat.
NOW MARCH also signals the polar opposite of war with the entrance of Spring - and rebirth, renewal, and regrowth all occur during this same month. In fact, this year, EASTER SUNDAY is on the last Sunday of the month, matching our namesake- "the Resurrecting Lives Foundation," where we are dedicated to providing resources to literally "bring the veteran back to life - brain, body, spirit."
MARS, the god of War, was also the guardian of agriculture -
THINK ABOUT THAT!!!
Warring on one hand; Creating and growing on the other - All this is significant with our new journey in the foundation.
In addition, we are moving into the arena of HORTICULTURE Therapy- which has been defined as the use of plants and plant-based activity for the purpose of human healing and rehabilitation." Please note our story from Emily Emmons, executive director of HO'OLA Farms in Hilo, HAWAII - to discover how getting back to nature adds balance and recovery for our veterans.
In honor of brain injury awareness month, Dr. Kate Rocklein, Mr. Frank Larkin, and I went to the Hill to share our bipartisan bill with members of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees and several other members outside of the committees. Our bill, the Froede-Larkin Military Suicide and Traumatic Brain Reform Initiative, is named in honor of Kate’s late husband, Mike, and Frank’s late son, Ryan. These Veterans sustained TBIs while serving on missions in support of the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) and died by suicide after not receiving the care they needed. We cannot watch this happen to anyone else, so we put forth eleven action items to prevent, treat, and bring justice to service members, Veterans, and family members impacted by TBIs and suicide. The bill addresses the institutional betrayals experienced by so many GWOT Veterans by advocating for them to receive the Purple Heart entitlement, receive ongoing treatment for chronic TBI symptoms, and restore the tabs and tridents stripped as punishment for having a TBI. Our research demonstrates that these interventions will lower suicide risk. Other items in the bill address breaching protocols, blast overpressure during military training, necessary research reforms, and benefits for family member survivors. We have strong support from SENs Ernst and Warren, who are working closely on this effort, but need to maintain the momentum to ensure policymakers follow through.
We ask for your help by calling your members of Congress to urge them to add our initiative (in part or full) to the upcoming National Defense Authorization Act. Thank you!
- Jayna Moceri-Brooks, PhD, RN
Hoʻōla Veteran Services 501(c)(3), d.b.a. Hoʻōla Farms was established in 2015 to provide natural agriculture educational training and hands-on experiences for military veterans and first responders, their families and caregivers, and the community in hopes of creating a more sustainable future and well-being for all.
Our mission is to serve military veterans and first responders, their families and caregivers, and the community by providing opportunities to heal, connect, learn, grow and thrive.
Hoʻōla Farms provides opportunities to come together and work towards a positive goal for all—growing healthy food! We do this by providing a safe, welcoming environment where we combine everyday gardening and farm work with education, fellowship, and fun.
Hoʻōla Farms connects veterans with agricultural opportunities, helping them contribute to rural prosperity and achieve an enhanced quality of life for themselves, their families, and communities. We want to increase the number of veterans seeking and securing educational, employment, and entrepreneurial opportunities in the food and agriculture sector. We think it helps when we include support accessing crucial health and wellness services.
Emily Emmons is a caregiver for her husband, John. Before he was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in 2014, he suffered from a menagerie of symptoms on a weekly basis. For eight years, he struggled with severe migraines, anxiety, night sweats, and other symptoms before finally getting an accurate diagnosis.
Gardening helped ease the pressure of his PTSD and TBI. After their daughters got involved and it became a family activity, it became clear that it wasn’t just gardening. It was a means to reconnect and to heal every day while keeping their fruits and veggies healthy.
Healing through gardening inspired Emily and John to provide this therapeutic opportunity to other veterans coping with PTSD and other conditions and hardships by founding Hoʻōla Farms—a nonprofit that serves military veterans, caregivers, first-responders and their families by providing opportunities to heal, connect, learn, grow and thrive.
With help from GoFarm Hawaii, they launched their Growing Veterans program, which consists of classroom-style lectures (in-person and via internet), hands-on practical work days at the training farm, and field trips to operational farms.
On being an Elizabeth Dole Foundation caregiver Fellow, Emily says: “It has made a significant impact on my life. It has empowered and encouraged me to live my life with purpose everyday. Once you are a Fellow, you’re always family. And that couldn’t be more true… in Hawaiʻi we call it ʻohana.”
Emily now serves as Hoʻōla Farms’ Executive Director and an advocate for veterans and their families living in rural areas on Hawaiʻi Island. Mahalo to the Elizabeth Dole Foundation for this excerpt and for helping us tell our story.
One word could describe the Hawai'i experience: Ohana
From the moment of the decision to create the Hawai'i Flag, to the capturing of the 'Flag image over the USS ARIZONA Memorial, to the nearly 60 San Diego community members' participation in installing Screws "In Honor of the Veterans in Hawai'i", our mission was clear. Honor our Hawaii veterans, who compose 8.2% of the state's population with a strong representation from Native Hawaiians and Southeast Asian communities.
PRESS RELEASE
-Melody Bell (Outreach Coordinator) Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Child & Family Services
On February 11th, 2024, the VSTAA flag ceremony was held in Hawaii and hosted by AMVETS West Veterans Center.
This ceremony, which will designate the local organizations as keepers of the flag, is celebrated in honor of our Veterans and their families. This nationwide campaign called "Veterans Standing Together Across America" provides Patriotic events to honor those who have served and sacrificed through art therapy as well as connect our community awareness for suicide prevention education and brain health among service members and veterans, as well as celebrate those whom we love. The flag is gifted to the state of Hawaii by the Resurrecting Lives Foundation as a symbolic tribute to the 50th state, where nearly 10% of the population served in the military.
Presenting the flag will be award-winning artist Joseph Pisano, who is also a retired U.S. Naval Reserves Chief Petty Officer. Pisano is traveling from his home in San Diego, California, to Hawai'i to present his art, which is inspired by the flag that flies over the USS Arizona Memorial, with the goal of raising awareness and support to reduce the rate of military suicides. Pisano's flag art is unique in that it is made of more than 5,000 drywall screws. He's gathered 50 community participants to install a ceremonious screw, symbolizing the support of the veterans, service members, and military families in Hawai'i.
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Visit our website for the complete story and photos.
Resurrecting Lives Foundation (click here)
The Stand Together Flag Project will raise awareness of the brain health issues that contribute to the dramatic increase in veteran suicides. The project promotes family and community support and gratitude for service. We bring veterans out of isolation and have them connect to family and community in a ceremony of honor and healing with a movement of Patriotism for 2024. More than 750,000 Global War on Terrorism veterans struggle with TBI or PTSD issues.
The Stand Together Flag.
The flag is the first 3-D art creation of U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Joe Pisano, a renowned San Diego artist. The piece consists of a waving American flag bordered by a frame panel featuring signatures of veterans and their family members. The flag is comprised of more than 4,300 drywall screws and is an interactive piece for veterans giving family members an opportunity to remember and honor the military service of their loved ones.
Project Launch and Events.
Resurrecting Lives Foundation will launch the Veterans Standing Together Across America (VSTAA) project at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum on Nov. 1, 2023, and re-dedicate the project in San Diego Nov. 11, 2023 at Liberty Station, home of Chief Pisano’s art studio.
These ceremonial signings will be followed by a yearlong journey throughout the state to various communities to evoke praise and healing for our veterans and our communities; to instill pride, patriotism, and unity. Each state will have the opportunity to receive a Pisano Artistry VSTAA 3D flag, created to reflect the state’s individual hallmarks, but fashioned to remind us all that we are united under the USA Flag.
Resurrecting Lives Foundation and PISANO Artistry intend to raise the Nation's unifying consciousness and lead our struggling Veterans to the appropriate services needed for healing and a successful future.
Please join us in this MOVEMENT - Veterans Standing Together Across America will be filled with the Virtue of Hope and Reverence; the Value of Healing and Recovery; the Vision of Honor and the Resurrection of Patriotism and Unity - under the USA FLAG. We are a charitable organization dedicated to serving our community. Our mission is to provide assistance to those in need and promote social welfare through a variety of programs and initiatives. With the help of our dedicated volunteers and generous donors, we are able to make a positive impact in the lives of many.
Next Event: (Story of Blessing of the Flags in DAYTON)
The Blessing of the Bikes
May 19th, 2024
Kil-Kare Raceway
1166 Dayton-Xenia Rd., Xenia, OH 45385
Time: 8 am - 2 pm
For more information regarding this event visit: resurrectinglives.orgEVENTS (Click Here) Anyone who would like to volunteer for this event please contact
info@resurrectinglives.org
Please Email: info@resurrectinglives.org
Resurrecting Lives Foundation is planning events in Columbus, OH, San Diego, CA and Washington, DC to raise awareness of brain health issues that contribute to veteran suicides, such Traumatic Brain Injuries and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
The foundation enjoys a Platinum Rating by the GuideStar Foundation, with 90 cents of every dollar being spent directly on veterans. Support our advocacy with a tax-deductible gift today.
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