IMPORTANT Stop-loss info (source: www.IAVA.org):
Soldiers, retirees and veterans who think they may be eligible for retroactive stop-loss pay have 12 months to apply for the special $500 per month entitlement authorized by Congress earlier this year. Effective Oct. 21, the Army will compensate soldiers for each month, or portion of a month, they were retained on active duty beyond their contracted separation or voluntary retirement date. Claims may be submitted starting Oct. 21 at a dedicated Web site (see below).  As many as 140,000 current and former soldiers may qualify for payment.
 www.stoplosspay.army.mil
 
 
This is a wonderful initiative for military families.  Sesame Street character Elmo shares his uncle's death with the audience, and shows them how he honors his uncle's memory.  It's a beautiful program that will no doubt have far reaching positive effects.
Please read the entire article, written by Elaine Wilson, a writer and editor for American Forces Press Service.  click here
Read more from Ms. Wilson on her blog, “Family Matters” click here
Thank you Sesame Workshop and PBS.
 
 
This announcement from The Partnership is important for all military families:

The Partnership, together with the National Military Family Association (NMFA) and National Association of School Nurses (NASN), have created new online tools to assist military families and teens through difficult periods of transition, such as a deployment, major injury of a parent, and frequent moves to new neighborhoods and schools. The effort is the first collaboration among the three organizations to provide assistance with the complex, extraordinary circumstances often faced by military families.

The Partnership’s new military family support tools -- available for free at TimeToTalk.org/Military -- were recently introduced at a press event in Washington, D.C. sponsored by Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO). McCaskill has previously sponsored the SUPPORT Substance Use Disorders Act, which would make addiction treatment more readily available to members of the military and would provide privacy protections to those seeking help.

“While we’re living in difficult, unsettling times in general for many families, the added stress and constant state of change faced by military families and their teens can sometimes push kids towards risky and dangerous behavior,” said Steve Pasierb, President of the Partnership. “We’re coming together with the National Military Family Association and National Association of School Nurses to help these families safeguard their children at these times of increased risk and when they are more vulnerable to making the wrong choices.”

 
 
 
WarFighterDiaries.com, an online resource for service members, offers free videos from other service members about their experiences.  The goal of the website is to prepare the individual warrior and the warriors family for the effects of war.  There are free videos to watch online or to download on your phone or mp3 player.  Service Members and their families can connect with each other through the online forum, or directly with a Chaplain, Family Services, and trained mental health professionals.  Those wishing to share their stories can submit them online.  This wonderful resource is available at http://warfighterdiaries.com.
 
 
Please read this letter from Sharon Howard and Operation Gratitude about items needed for Fall Care Packages
 
 
One of our favorite military support organizations, Soldiers' Anglels will host  America's largest military baby shower on October 10 in Las Vegas for 32 new and expectant mothers who have deployed partners or are active-duty servicewomen. Sponsored by Operation Top Knot, the surprise event will include gifts from the local community and flowers from expectant fathers.

Soldiers' Angels project team Operation Top Knot is a nationwide network of
individuals who use their talents to support infants and expectant mothers of
military families. Dedicated volunteers knit, crochet, sew, quilt, and design
blankets, baby clothes and other homemade gifts. They also assemble and
deliver or ship gift baskets for mother and child. Additionally, they help
deployed fathers celebrate by sending them "It's a Boy!" or "It's a Girl!"
bubblegum cigars.

The shower will be held on October 10 at the Nevada National Guard Armory in
Las Vegas, 6400 Range Road, from 1 p.m. to 3 pm. The press is welcome to
attend, and no permission from Public Affairs is needed.

Soldiers' Angels is a volunteer-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing aid and
comfort to America's military men and women, as well as veterans and military
families. For more information, see www.soldiersangels.org or contact Jody
Shervanick of Soldiers' Angels, 702-862-6064, Operation Top Knot VP Caren Vink, cvink@soldiersangels.org, or Yvetter Weigold with the Clark County Armory, 702-632-0513.
 
 
Here's some information about an upcoming tv show that needs guests!
Calling all military wives!  A nationally syndicated health and wellness
show is looking for a military wife who has taken charge of her health and
lost a great deal of weight since her husbands most recent deployment
overseas. If youve lost more than 50 pounds, we want to hear from YOU!
You may have the opportunity to share your inspirational story with the
rest of the country.

Filming is fast approaching, so please contact Jed Strong on or before August 28th - the sooner the better! You can reach Jed
via email at jstrong(at)zoco.com or by phone, 212-259-1546.
 
 
The new website "Family Matters" was recently launched by the Department of Defense and provides valuable resources for military families.
Logon for information covering deployments to benefits and more!
http://afps.dodlive.mil
 
 
Last year Soldiers’ Angels sent more than 38,000 homemade
blankets to war zones for deployed American heroes.
Join the effort this year!  This is the perfect way to get involved and support our troops.
Please visit www.soldiersangels.org and click on “Blankets of
Belief” for information and guidelines on blanket-making and shipping.
Thank you on behalf of Patti and the Sewing Team — and
especially on behalf of those who will receive their own Blankets of Belief
this holiday season.
More details in the PDF below.
Blankets of Belief
File Size: 718 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
 
 
Cannabis Science of COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., announced a plan for testing an emerging cannabis based medicines for Veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).