Happy Veterans Day! How To Help Homeless Veterans And Make The Day Mean More...

aandrethegiant

We have veterans that hail from MANY NATIONS in my guild, Tyrs Paladium. Neverwinter has ALWAYS been a friendly home for many active and retired military folks. For years, we have tried to raise awareness for veteran causes throughout the Neverwinter community, and have always been taken aback by the positive response not only from veterans but the overall Neverwinter community.

This year we'd like to highlight homeless veterans. The numbers are so staggering worldwide, it shocks even those who know of their serious plight.


* The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) estimates that 49,933 veterans are homeless on any given night in America alone.
* 1,700 are women.
* Appx 53% of homeless veterans have disabilities.
* Veterans spend an average of nearly six years homeless, compared to four years among non-veterans.

There is a bright side however.

In 2010 there were roughly 76,000 homeless veterans sleeping on American streets. Thats almost 30,000 Veterans that found a home through the graces of volunteers and generous individuals in the communities surrounding them. This is an injustice we actually can CHANGE.

Please let us know how to help homeless veterans in YOUR COUNTRY so we can post it for everyone!



United States: The Department of Veterans Affairs, VFW – Veterans of Foreign Wars, HUDVET
Canada: Veteran’s Affairs Canada, Veteran’s Emergency Transition Services, Local Branches of the Royal Canadian Legion also are willing to help if they hear of a homeless veteran.
England: SSAFA
Austrialia: RSL Lifecare, Homelessness NSW


Stand Downs





Stand Downs are typically one- to three-day events providing supplies and services to homeless Veterans, such as food, shelter, clothing, health screenings and VA Social Security benefits counseling.
Veterans can also receive referrals to other assistance such as health care, housing solutions, employment, substance use treatment and mental health counseling. They are collaborative events, coordinated between local VA Medical Centers, other government agencies and community-based homeless service providers.


Look in your community for Veteran Stand Downs!! ANYONE can easily help at these community events.

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yourenext2die

One love to my brothers and sisters in arms.



^ The good ol days.

aandrethegiant

Our Guild event, which typically happens in-game, but this year due to illness I had to modify it. Here's the transcript and the custom videos. Enjoy all...

Thank you guildies for taking the time to play these videos and experience first or second hand the incredible burden the homeless Veteran community carries with them each and every day ... whether they are born in Ogden, New York, Paris, Sydney, Milan or anywhere else in the world.

The greatest part of this tragedy is how close you and I are to helping a family or two. After watching these videos, you'll know EXACTLY what you need to do to EASILY help a veteran in YOUR community.

HAPPY VETERANS DAY to all our brave veterans around the world, and to their families who have also carried part of the burden.


Let's begin...

Tyrs Paladium's traditional opening ceremony poem (which we've recited for each ceremony we've done over the years):

"It is the Soldier, not the reporter,
Who has given us Freedom of the Press.

It is the Soldier, not the poet,
Who has given us Freedom of Speech.

It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer,
Who has given us the Freedom to demonstrate.

It is the Soldier, not the lawyer,
Who has given us the right to a fair trial;

And it is the Soldier--who salutes the flag,
Who serves the flag, and
Whose coffin is draped by the flag--
Who allows the protester to burn the flag."

Nov. 10 is the official birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps. The Marine Corps traces its roots back to the Second Continental Congress in 1775, which established a resolution stating that "two Battalions of Marines be raised" as forces to land with the fleet. The Marines were on hand for the first amphibious raid into the Bahamas in 1776 under the command of Capt. Samuel Nichols.

Tyrs Paladium celebrates the 240th Birthday of the US Marines with a memorable video I created two years ago…

https://youtu.be/ZA8gLlzQbaA

“Women are Veterans too.” This short song sang by the Late Miliza Milo who was a US Navy Veteran from WWII and a member of American Legion Hollywood Post 43. She advocated for female veterans and stood up for newer veterans. She passed away in a Veterans facility last year, shortly after recording this song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkakoFIpmeQ

aandrethegiant

FEATURE VIDEO:

A look at a remarkable homeless veterans rehabilitation center, and a popular Stand Down. Our longest video ever recorded at 30 minutes, 30 seconds, you will be[u] glued to your screen. Learn about some beautiful men and women, homeless, some handicapped, ALL with incredible stories. You may never forget this video, and the wonderful people contained within.

I guarantee if you watch the entire video, you will be inspired to contact your local Veterans affairs office to find out how you can help out Veterans in your neck of the woods…

http://www.veoh.com/watch/v96987610mGB75Kxj

No such thing as a Veterans Day Ceremony without a war story.

Charlie Brown was a B-17 Flying Fortress pilot with the 379th Bomber Group at Kimbolton, England during World War II. I narrated this amazing true humanitarian war story.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNtAQkc_MEo

CUSTOM VIDEO PRESENTATION:

POW MIA Remembrance Table Ceremony -- Narrated by Tyrs' own. Former US Marine Sergeant Bekki, who was also wounded in battle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=st-uEwTALL8

Transcript:

You may notice this small table here in a place of honor. It is set for one.
Those who have served and those currently serving the uniformed services of the United States are ever mindful that the price of enduring peace and freedom comes at the highest prices of personal sacrifice.
This table symbolizes our fallen and missing comrades. They are commonly called P.O.W.'s or M.I.A.'s, we call them brothers.
They are unable to be with us this evening and so we remember them.
This table set for one is small... it symbolizes the frailty of one prisoner against his oppressors.
The table cloth is white... it symbolizes the purity of their intentions to respond to their country's call to arms.
The single red rose signifies the blood many have shed in sacrifice to ensure the freedom of the United States of America.
The yellow ribbon represents all those who demand a proper accounting of our missing comrades.
A slice of lemon is on the bread plate... to remind us of their bitter fate.
There is salt upon the bread plate... symbolic of the family's tears as they wait.
The glass is inverted... they cannot toast with us tonight.
The chair is empty... they are not here.
The candle is the light of hope that lives in our hearts to illuminate their way home, away from their captors, to the open arms of a grateful nation.
Remember... all of you who served with them and called them comrades, who depended on their might and aid, and relied on them... for surely... they have not forsaken you.
You are not forgotten as long as there is one left in whom your memory remains!

-------------------- *** -------------------

Please remember this week all those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for you. Remember our homeless veterans, who are sleeping on the streets tonight, while we remain warm and enjoying an evening with family, and/or our guild. Keep the torch of our freedom burning brightly. Keep faith with those who died yester-year and with those who will die tonight and tomorrow. Teach your children well the importance of Veterans Day.

Thank you all for spending time with us, the brave men and women of the armed forces past and present, from the US and from many nations around this world, and most importantly in honor of those who could not be here.

Thus concludes our ceremony.