Below is a a tribute to SSG Michael Elledge, killed in Iraq March 17, 2008. The MFSG helped to honor
SSG Elledge when he was brought home to El Dorado County. He was
buried in Placerville, Calif., where his wife Carleen is from.
A nationwide program launched by the
Department of Defense. Recognizes citizen’s support for our
military men and women and communicates that support to members
of our Armed Forces at home and abroad.
Click here to watch a truly awesome video! It is probably the best tribute to being an American that we have seen in a very long time - or maybe ever, both visually and vocally.
The CalVet Services initiative has as its goal to help returning service members and their families with the sometimes difficult task of reentering civilian life. By utilizing online tools like its Reintegration form, the Department links returning veterans with service providers and resources. This program offers CalVet the opportunity to inform veterans and their dependents about veterans benefits and how to obtain these benefits through the process of application and representations of claims. CalVet's partnership with DMV augments this program by allowing many military and service members who may not have been reached before, with the opportunity to share their contact information with CalVet so that appropriate benefits information can be provided to them. Veterans wishing to contact CalVet's reintegration program directly can do so by going to the following link: https://my.calvet.ca.gov/Pages/Intake/ReintegrationForm.aspx
Cell Phones for Soldiers hopes to turn old cell phones into
more than 12 million minutes of prepaid calling cards for U.S.
troops stationed overseas in 2008. To do so, Cell Phones for
Soldiers expects to collect 15,000 cell phones each month
through a network of more than 3,000 collection sites across the
country.
DCoE assesses, validates, oversees and facilitates prevention, resilience, identification, treatment, outreach, rehabilitation, and reintegration programs for psychological health (PH) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) to ensure the Department of Defense meets the needs of the nation's military communities, warriors and families.
The El Dorado County Department of Veteran Affairs was
established by the Board of Supervisors of El Dorado County to
assist veterans, their dependents, and survivors in obtaining
entitlements from federal, state, and local agencies
administering veterans programs. It is not affiliated with the
Federal Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Collectively we will ensure that the sacrifices our
courageous warriors have made are not in vain, and that the
heroic soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who have been
charged with such a vital mission will be given the support they
need to complete their mission. The members of our organization
know well why these brave individuals choose to serve. We know
that these humble Americans leave their homes and loved ones
with the knowledge that they are making the world a safer place.
And we know that these dedicated service members are committed,
first and foremost, to seeing their mission through to
completion.
This site is dedicated to you... whether you're a Veteran or someone who loves a Veteran. It was created trying to figure out how to handle the "after shocks" of combat including PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). We're here to help you find your way, find the information you need, and find a way not only to cope with life after combat... but to survive and thrive.
1st in Flowers has a long history of working with military personnel both at home and overseas, to send flowers for special occasions, whether anniversaries, holidays, or just because. You can go to our website to see some of the testimonials service personnel have given us over the years. By clicking on our link, you will automatically have access to this 15% discount. It will not expire.
H.O.T. - "Honor Our Troops" is made up of a group of folks from the El Dorado County Association of Realtors (EDCAR). These folks greatly appreciate and support our troops. The H.O.T. group packs and ships care packages three times a year to men and women from El Dorado County who are deployed. The H.O.T. group holds several fundraisers throughout the year that help raise funds for the shipping of these packages.
Homes for Our Troops
is a non-profit, non-partisan, 501 (c)(3) organization founded
in 2004. This organization is strongly committed to helping
those who have selflessly given to their country and have
returned home with serious disabilities and injuries.
*All services provided by Homes for Our Troops are at no cost to
the veterans we serve.
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) -
www.iava.org
Founded in June 2004, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of
America is the nation's first and largest group dedicated to the
Troops and Veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the
civilian supporters of those Troops and Veterans.
The mission of Let's Say Thanks is to
provide a way for individuals across the country to recognize
U.S. troops stationed overseas. By submitting a message through
this site you have the opportunity to send a free personalized
postcard greeting to deployed servicemen and women.
Military & Family Life Consultant
Program -
www.mhngs.com
The MFLC Program addresses issues that
occur across the military lifestyle and helps service members
and their families cope with normal reactions to the stressful
events created from deployments of war and reintegration.
This site connects voters directly to the latest information on registering to vote, requesting ballots, faxing/mailing ballots, and Frequently Asked Questions.
Move America Forward is a non-partisan,
not-for-profit charitable organization committed to supporting
America’s efforts to defeat terrorism and supporting the brave
men and women of our Armed Forces.
The post 9/11 Veterans Education Assistance
Act of 2008 greatly improved the benefit for those who've served
since Sep. 11, 2001. The American Legion played a vital
role in the development of the new benefit, as it did when
members of the organization drafted and passed the Servicemen's
Readjustment Act of 1944 - the original GI Bill. This site will
provide you with all of the benefit information that you need to
take advantage of the new GI bill.
Steve Cotcher, CEO of MyHuggy, knows firsthand the significance the teddy bears
can have and is trying to get as many bears to departing troops as possible. When
he was deployed
in the Marine Corps, he left behind his young wife and two-year-old son. “I was a Marine. When I came
home from deployment my son didn’t know me,” said Cotcher. “My Mother and I came up with this concept.”
He vowed that no one else would experience the pain he did if he could help it.
MyHuggy teddy bears have 20-minute recording devices in them, so the troops can say whatever they want to
say to their families, who will never be without their voices.
“When you’re not around, your kid can hug
the bear and feel like you’re there,” Cotcher said. “They can close their eyes and hear your voice.
They don’t understand why we have to leave.”
We are proud of our troops and are looking
for ways to help. Unfortunately there are some vets and military
families that are struggling with little help in sight. Our
goal is to provide short-term financial support and assistance
to vets and military families in a pragmatic and
non-bureaucratic way.
With more and more
soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with mental health
concerns, NAMI recognizes the need for increased services for
veterans and their families. With our Veterans Resources Center,
we have attempted to consolidate the most useful online
resources. Whether you are looking for information on
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, mental illness, or how to obtain
Veterans Administration (VA) benefits, we have tried to provide
an extensive list of sites online where you can find that
information.
For the first time, veterans, service members, their families and service providers have one comprehensive website to find vital information:
- Crisis counselors specifically trained to help returning soldiers and members of their families
- College and job training programs available to veterans
- Housing, shelter and homeless services
- Social networking tools they can use to connect with and find support from members of the military community
With 1.5 million veterans expected to return home in the next
two years, Network of Care is an essential bridge to information
about health services and programs available to veterans in
California.
Seeks to lift troops' morale, and bring a
smile to their faces by sending care packages addressed to
individual service members deployed overseas. Operation
Gratitude care packages contain food, toiletries, entertainment
items and personal letters of appreciation, all wrapped with
good wishes of love and support.
Patriot Outreach is made possible by a dedicated group of professionals and other individuals who share a common concern for the health and well being of the brave men and women who selflessly devote their lives to the defense of liberty and our nation.
Returning OEF/OIF service members have a newly enhanced VA Web site just for them. The returning service members' site offers tailored information on
VA services and programs, as well as Internet-savvy video
features, stories… even a blog.
Our passion is to provide positive encouragement while battling loneliness. Supporting wives, girlfriends and mothers during times of deployment. We are handwritten letters of Christ, writing from our hearts to yours.
We are a family business that makes
products to support the U.S. Military and their families. We
were the first DoD certified manufacturer of the Service Flag
after 9/11.
The "SPC Mathew Taylor Wounded Warriors
Organization" was started in memory of SPC Mathew Taylor, who
died September 26, 2007. Mathew passed away from injuries he
received from an IED attack on July 23, 2007 in Afghanistan.
The Soldiers Project was founded in 2005 by psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Judith Broder, MD.
The Soldiers Project offers FREE therapy to service members, Veterans AND their families. Insurance is NEVER billed.
Therapy is 100% CONFIDENTIAL. No reporting to ANY government agencies.
Therapy usually takes place at the private practice offices of therapists.
There is NO red tape for those seeking therapy.
The therapists are all licensed.
The therapy is open-ended as far as sessions.
And most importantly, ALL therapists are trained in PTSD, TBI and Sexual Trauma. The three diagnoses that soo many of our loved ones are 'dealing with'.
T*A*P*S (Tragedy Assistance Program for
Survivors) -
www.taps.org
Provides a wonderful support network for
the surviving families of those who have died in service to
America. To accomplish our mission, TAPS has a small
professional staff and a large national volunteer network,
managed by our Board of Directors and supported by our Honorary
Board.
This organization works with individuals and businesses to help local veterans with needs such as transportation assistance, job training and assistance, short-term housing needs, household items and home repairs and specific financial help. Learn more about how to either get involved to help meet the need of one of our service members or if you know a service member who could benefit from the this great organization.
Bright Hope Designs,