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Category: Veterans issues

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Giving of Ourselves

Giving of Ourselves

By Jan S. Gephardt Sometimes the best way to beat supply-chain issues is by giving of ourselves. If that sounds so sweetly altruistic you can’t even stand it, please hold on. Don’t give me an eye-roll just yet! Last week I wrote about solving supply-chain issues for holiday gift-giving by focusing on locally-available goods. And especially those bought from small, locally-owned businesses. But the smallest, most local resource at our disposal is right here in our own homes, inside our…

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The front of the Kansas City VA Medical Center, in Kansas City, MO.
Our veterans haven’t failed us. But have we failed them?

Our veterans haven’t failed us. But have we failed them?

Every Veterans Day, as a nation we’re supposed to pause. We’re supposed remember the many ways that veterans have never failed to serve our nation, when we called on them. But, especially on this Veterans Day, I worry: have we failed them? Personal connections I’ve never served in the armed forces, but service members and veterans have had a place in my heart for a long time. My father is a World War II Navy vet. He was one of…

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4-book Aces High, Jokers Wild pubishing.
For the characters

For the characters

I’ve heard it said that people pick up the first book of a series for the plot, but they stay with the series for the characters. This is true in spades (sorry: pun intended), when it comes to the “Aces High, Jokers Wild” series by O. E. Tearmann. If you’re already a fan of this series, I have excellent news! The fourth book, Aces and Eights, is now available in e-book format (here’s hoping a paperback and audio version are released soon!). If you’re not already a fan of…

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K9VeteransDayMontage
K9 Veterans Memorial

K9 Veterans Memorial

Today is an especially fitting day to share photos of the K9 Veterans Memorial. Because today is K9 Veterans Day.  Established on March 13, it’s the anniversary of the 1942 founding of the United States Army K9 Corps. If you’ve followed my blog for long, you know I’ve recognized K9 Veterans Day several times. Some background on the K9 Veterans Memorial The K9 Veterans Memorial’s centerpiece is the sculpture Unbreakable Bond. Wisconsin animal sculptor Mark Dziewior created a touching vision in bronze. It’s in McCoy Park in Fort Atkinson, WI. The…

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This photo shows crisis dog Tikva, a Keeshond, with responders at Ground Zero.
Service dogs for first responders

Service dogs for first responders

In light of Wednesday’s post, here’s a video about service dogs for first responders.  Thank goodness, leadership in some areas has begun to cut through the “tough-guy” culture in many agencies. It’s high time we recognize the huge impact of stress on first responders. When more than twice as many police officers die by suicide than in the line of duty, something is seriously wrong! Anyone who’s followed this blog for a while knows I’ve posted about service dogs many times before. I’ve featured dogs who help calm child…

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A German Shepherd sits alertly in front of a glowing Christmas Tree.
Seasonal K9 moments

Seasonal K9 moments

The Artdog Images of Interest It’s the end of the week, and for many of us it’s the start of a holiday break. I thought you might enjoy some seasonal K9 moments on a Friday-before-the-big-events!  Home for the holidays One inevitable problem every year is the struggle to travel. We Americans live in a far-flung nation, so we’re always going to grapple with travel woes. But it’s far from only an American problem.  Crowding, bad weather, and security bottlenecks create chaos wherever we are…

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Happy Thanksgiving
Blessings to count

Blessings to count

Happy Thanksgiving! It’s Thanksgiving in the USA this Thursday. Many nations, cultures, and religions through the ages and throughout the world have designated official days to give thanks. But seriously. No matter what day it is, there are always blessings to count. If you don’t think that ‘s true–or at least not for you—you’re overlooking some important aspects of your life. Including that you have one.  What blessings? It’s a near-certainty that there are people who love you. Please note: companion animals count as “people” for the purpose of…

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Three dogs hug their humans.
Could it be love?

Could it be love?

Does your dog love you? Or are you just projecting? Scientists try very hard to avoid anthropomorphizing their animal study subjects. Emotions are difficult to measure. But now we’re finally getting closer to answering the question, “could it be love?” This is the third and final (for now) post in a series about dog cognition. In case you missed them, click: “Dogs: verbal virtuosos?” and “How much does your dog understand?” I’ve also previously written about working dogs on this blog–a post that touched…

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On a background of the US flag are the symbols of the five branches of US military service and the words "Veterans Day: Remembering all who served."
Service comes at a price

Service comes at a price

All of our current service members have chosen to be there, standing between us and our foes. Increasing numbers of veterans volunteered for their tours of duty. They signed up to protect and defend their country and the Constitution. I believe their choices deserve our honor and deepest respect. Because their service comes at a price. We still have a lot of Boomer veterans, and significant numbers who served in the Korean War, or (like my 95-year-old father) in World War II. But the USA has had an…

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