Bush Library and Museum a Blue Star Museum

Free Admission for Active-Duty Military at Bush Library and Museum

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The George Bush Presidential Library and Museum at Texas A&M University is proud to announce our participation as part of Blue Star Museums, a program offering free admission to all active-duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day 2012.

The free admission program is available to active-duty military and their family members (military ID holder and up to five family members). Active-duty military include Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and active-duty National Guard and active-duty Reserve members.

“The Bush Library and Museum considers it a privilege to offer free admission to our active-duty military and their family members in recognition of their service and sacrifice to our country,” said Warren Finch, Bush Library and Museum director.

While the Blue Star Museums program is strictly between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the Bush Library and Museum offers free admission to active-duty service members and their families year round. For more information go to bushlibrary.tamu.edu/military.

Blue Star Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 1,500 museums across America. The program runs from Memorial Day, May 28, 2012 through Labor Day, Sept. 3, 2012. Some special or limited-time museum exhibits may not be included in this free admission program. For questions on particular exhibits or museums, please contact the museum directly. To find out which museums are participating, visit www.arts.gov/bluestarmuseums. The site includes a list of participating museums and a map to help with visit planning.

‘Joining Forces’ Mother’s Day Card Honors Military Spouses

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 13, 2012 – The ‘Joining Forces’ campaign today issued a special Mother’s Day card that thanks the nation’s military spouses.

The card, which is available for view on the White House’s Web site, notes that 1.2 million military spouses “are out there making sacrifices for their families -- and the country.”

First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, launched the ‘Joining Forces’ campaign a year ago to support and honor America’s service members and their families.

President Barack Obama issued a May 11 proclamation declaring that day Military Spouse Appreciation Day.

And Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey both issued messages thanking military spouses for their contributions and service to the nation.

“America’s military spouses are a key part of what makes our armed services the strongest in the world,” Panetta said in a May 11 message. “All Americans should be grateful for the support they offer to our heroes in uniform."

"The love and encouragement our service members get from their spouses helps our military to fulfill its mission of protecting this country,” the secretary added.

Panetta also expressed his gratitude “to all mothers and grandmothers in our military family.”

Mother’s Day, the secretary added, is “a day to celebrate the extraordinary importance of mothers in our lives and the lives of this nation.”

Family Matters Blog: Explaining War to Our Children

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 25, 2011 – Guest blogger Stephanie Himel-Nelson is a social media consultant and the communications director for Blue Star Families.

By Stephanie Himel-Nelson

July 25, 2011

Explaining war to kids is always hard, but when you’re part of a military family, the task is even more difficult because it’s so personal. When my sons were little, their father was in the Navy Reserve as an intelligence officer with the Seabees, the Navy’s construction division. The boys understood what the military was in a very hazy “It must involve a ship, Daddy going away, and a large yellow bee” kind of way. But because their father wasn’t directly in harm’s way, I was able to gloss over hard questions about war and just concentrate on the fun parts of having a dad in the military from a toddler’s perspective — serving the country and wearing really cool hats.

When my brother, a soldier in the Ohio National Guard, went off to Kuwait three years ago, that explanation no longer seemed sufficient. While Uncle Bryan wasn’t hunting Taliban in Afghanistan, our family still worried about him and his safety. To keep the boys connected to their uncle, we checked his unit’s Web page with photos posted for family and friends, looking for that familiar face. On one night, my son asked to see a photo of an “Army truck” and I found him a few Humvee photos. On the back of each vehicle was a large placard with two stop signs and a message in Arabic and English. It read “DANGER STAY BACK.” My 3-year-old wanted to know why they had signs on the trucks. I tried the standard, “Well, cars and people could get hurt by that big Army truck if they get too close.” He wasn’t buying it, pointing out that tractors are bigger. So I said, perhaps rashly, “Sometimes bad people try to get too close to the trucks and blow them up.”

I’ll never forget the look on his face. The idea that someone might want to hurt his uncle was incomprehensible to him. I believe it was the first moment he realized that bad things don’t just happen in nightmares. The moment was a first for me, too, as I realized that my military family would walk a fine line between explaining what Daddy and Uncle Bryan do and letting my children be children for as long as possible.

In our military community, my children and their classmates understand more than most kindergartners should about the mechanics of war. My sons, now 5 and 6 years old, can identify military aircraft flying overhead, they can tell you what an RPG or an IED is, and they know that Seals aren’t just found lying on the rocks in the sun. But war isn’t just a cool game for the playground; it’s horrible and dirty and fraught with shades of gray. That’s where it gets hard.

When my boys were 2 and 3, they didn’t ask a lot of follow-up questions about war, death and dying. I could distract them by reassuring them that everyone would be fine and safe. Distracting them was always an easy fallback: “Look, there’s a pretty butterfly!” But it keeps getting harder. My husband is retired now, but last year some good friends of my boys welcomed their dad home from a yearlong deployment to Iraq and the boys suddenly became aware of all of their schoolmates with parents in Iraq or Afghanistan. That’s when they started talking about the wars. The boys didn’t ask me direct questions, but I knew that I needed to answer them when they did.

My husband and I tried to shelter the boys from the events of Sept. 11, 2001, until pretty recently. I simply didn’t think that they could handle hearing about that sort of evil. I can’t even talk about 9/11 without crying, so how could I explain why we’re fighting a war in Afghanistan to my little guys? After all, a dislike of broccoli or that kid who spits his milk at lunch doesn’t exactly prepare a boy for concepts like jihad, does it? But last year, while we were watching a documentary about presidential photographers, those familiar scenes from the twin towers flashed onto the screen. My kids watched in horror and turned to me for an explanation. They didn’t ask questions, they just looked at me, expecting Mommy to have the answers. I stopped the video, and I tried to explain about Osama bin Laden and the men who flew planes into the towers on purpose. To hurt people. And how we went to war to make sure it didn’t happen again. I’m sure it didn’t help that I cried through my entire explanation, but the kids seemed to think the whole thing was a lot less complicated than I did. My youngest son, who was 4 at the time, was shaken, but I thought he summed it up well by calling the terrorists “bad people.”

It seems awfully simplistic to explain away two wars with “bad people,” but so far it’s worked for us. I don’t even know how to explain Iraq to my boys, so I’ve punted on that one so far. Still, I try not to dodge my kids’ direct questions. I know that simply changing the subject will leave a lot of unanswered questions in their minds. So when my youngest spent three straight weeks asking me if there were bad people in the United States, or in our town, or in his school, or in the grocery store, I kept patiently explaining that there are bad people everywhere but that most people are good. And, of course, that the “bad people” won’t hurt them. I know, however, that the boys still worry for their friends with deployed parents and they worry about their uncle.

You see, Uncle Bryan is going to Afghanistan soon, and the kids know that it will be dangerous. When I talked about it with my boys recently, my 5-year-old asked, “Will Uncle Bryan die?” I said no, but I felt uncomfortable telling them that nothing bad would happen. I can’t make those guarantees. Instead, I explained that, yes, many service members have died in Afghanistan, but that Uncle Bryan is well trained and very careful, and that this isn’t his first deployment to a war zone. My youngest keeps asking questions about whether Uncle Bryan will be hurt or killed, but I know that he’s not really looking for answers; he just wants more reassurance from me that his uncle will be OK. I don’t let the boys see my fears.

I’m encouraging them to ask me, their dad and their uncle any questions they have. I’ve urged them to ask Uncle Bryan all about his job fixing tanks and other vehicles in the hope that the kids will focus more on my brother’s mission than on the danger. And we talk about how wonderful it is that so many Americans, including their Grandpa, Daddy and uncle, have volunteered to serve our country in the military. We talk about how sometimes it can be scary, but also how serving in our armed forces is something to be proud of.

Right now, war seems pretty black and white to my kids, but I know that it won’t last. It won’t be long before they ask questions about Iraq, or civilians who are hurt or killed, or the children in Iraq and Afghanistan. Right now, my 5-year-old is convinced that “Uncle Bryan can dodge the bullets,” but I don’t know what I’ll say when he realizes that not everyone dodges every bullet and that sometimes people we love die. For now, I just hug my boys tightly and hope for wisdom and peace.

(Note: This blog originally appeared in the New York Times blog: “At War: Notes From the Front Lines.” Used by permission of the author.)

Family Forum: A Pledge to Remember

By Deborah Mullen

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 25, 2011 – Deborah Mullen, a Navy wife and mom and a military family advocate, has been married to Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, for 40 years.

“Please don’t ever forget my son.”

That’s what a Mom -- a Gold Star mother -- said to my husband recently.

“He was my only son,” she continued, “and he died doing what he loved. But please don’t ever forget him.”

Michael promised her that he wouldn’t. He and I hear that same entreaty and make that same promise each and every time we have the privilege of being in the company of Gold Star families. These proud Americans have lost so much, have endured such pain. And yet they ask nothing for themselves. All they want is for someone, anyone, to remember the life and the service of a loved one.

And so we carry with us the photos and memory cards of their sons, daughters, moms, dads, brothers and sisters. We wear bracelets engraved with their names. We visit their graves when we can, and attend their funerals. We remember.

Monday is Memorial Day. In Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery, the families of our recently fallen will spend another holiday weekend at the grave of a loved one. They will not be alone. They will be surrounded by other Gold Star families from these and other wars who share with them the same sacrifice and loss, the same pride and even some of the same stories. They will comfort one another, even as they grieve for themselves.

There isn’t much the rest of us can do to assuage that grief. The pain of such loss is incalculable. But we can, and we should, promise them that we will remember those who lived and loved and fought for this country -- a young man or woman who, when duty called, performed that duty nobly and with passion. We can -- and we should -- take pains to remember also the special needs of surviving family members, especially the children. Theirs will be an extraordinary life.

If it’s true that a nation defines itself by those it honors, let us also define ourselves by those we support.

Navy Moms Website Earns Top Award for Social Media

By MC2 (SCW) Michael B. Lavender, Commander, Navy Recruiting Command Public Affairs

MILLINGTON, Tenn. (NNS) -- Navy Recruiting Command's (NRC) "Navy For Moms" website was awarded the Optimas Service Award for 2010, at a ceremony held in Chicago, Ill., March 24.

Rear Adm. Craig Faller, commander, Navy Recruiting Command; accepted the award citing the benefits of using the web as a platform for people to share their Navy experiences.

"Our families are passionate about the pride they have in their sons and daughters serving in America's Navy," Faller said. "This passion shared through social media has grown beyond anything we could have imagined. Families of current Sailors sharing information with families of future Sailors really helps answer many of the questions about life in the Navy. Our recruiters are always available to answer questions, but when parents or even grandparents share their own experiences, it's really powerful."

The service award is given to the organization whose workforce management leaders have created an initiative to help another constituency within the organization meet its business goals. The U.S. Navy won for an outreach program to mothers, to help recruiters meet their enlistment goals.

The Optimas Award was created by Workforce Management and recognizes initiatives that create positive business results for organizations.

Since March 2008, when it was established, the website has attracted a network of 36,000 mothers who talk about subjects ranging from fear and loss to birthday gifts.

NAVYForMoms.com was created for the mothers (and loved ones) of those who are currently serving or considering serving in the U.S. Navy. Since its establishment in March 2008, more than 36,000 members have used the website to discuss issues with others who share common concerns.

The content on the webpage is member-driven. Questions are asked and answered. Moms share with fellow moms their fears, dreams, personal experiences and even birthday gift ideas. The ultimate goal is to provide an environment of understanding, comfort and belonging to all involved.

"I am overwhelmed by how much this website has meant to me," wrote one Navy mom. "It carried me through boot camp … and most importantly, stood in my shoes when my son was seriously hurt last March, in Florida. I went on the site and put out an SOS for moms to be with him until I could get there from Connecticut. The response was unbelievable. I am forever grateful to the moms and dads who rushed to his side. This forum is what has been needed for so long. We've had our group on Yahoo for about 19 years, but this is the type of thing that was needed most."

"I'm proud of what we've been able to do with this social media community, because it's an important part of our global force for good," Faller said. "In this case, the 'good' comes from shared experiences by our Sailors and their families. We often hear about Sailors helping Sailors throughout the Navy. Well, NavyforMoms is literally families helping other families."

NRC consists of a command headquarters, two Navy recruiting regions and 26 Navy recruiting districts which serve hundreds of recruiting stations across the country.

With 70 percent of the world covered in ocean, 80 percent of the world's population living near coasts and 90 percent of the world's commerce traveling by water, America's Navy is very much a global force for good. NRC's mission is to recruit the best men and women for America's Navy to accomplish today's missions and meet tomorrow's challenges.

Guide Offers Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Resources

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

June 15, 2007 – After watching her own son return home from combat with post-traumatic stress disorder, an Army mom wants to share the lessons she learned -- and resources she found -- with others who find themselves faced with the same challenges. Emily Afuola said she'll never forget the emotions that tugged at her and her family when they learned that Pvt. Matthew Afuola had been diagnosed with PTSD during his deployment to Afghanistan with the 10th Mountain Division.

"When families find out about this, they're scared and worried. They're in a state of shock and a state of panic," she said.

Afuola sought out every resource she could find to get answers and allay her and her families' concerns. "Initially, it was very, very hard," she said. "But I found that people were out there who wanted to help."

Afuola recognized that other families are confronting the same circumstances and wanted to share what she learned. She joined together with several other members of Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc., to produce a 17-page "Guide to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder" to help them.

"We knew that other families are going through the same thing we did, and we're hoping that through this, they won't have to walk the same path," she said.

The guide offers basic, easy-to-understand information about what causes PTSD and symptoms to look for, as well as advice for getting treatment. It recognizes the effect a servicemember's PTSD has on family members, and the role they can play in helping their loved one deal with the affliction.

One of the guide's most valuable resources is an extensive list of places to turn to for help.

Afuola emphasized that the guide wasn't compiled by mental health professionals and isn't designed to replace the services they offer. "We just realized a need for something like this, and wanted to help make things a little easier for the people affected," she said.

Initially, the Blue Star Mothers had planned to roll out the guide during the group's annual convention in August. But so many people were seeking the information, Afuola said, organizers decided to publish it as quickly as possible. "We realized that there was a need to do something now, not to wait," she said.

Afuola said she's hopeful the guide will help reduce uncertainty surrounding PTSD and encourage more people who have it, or whose loved ones have it, to step forward. "We want to change some of the stigma so people can come forward without fear of retribution," she said.

The guide is available online at the Blue Star Mothers Web site, www.bluestarmothers.org. Afuola also includes her e-mail and phone number in hope that servicemembers or families in crisis will contact her directly.

The message she hopes servicemembers and their families take away from the guide is simple, she said. "There is hope, and people out here who care about you," she said. "We want them to know that even when they can't stand up for themselves, we will stand up for them."

Blue Star Mothers Inc. is a non-partisan, non-political organization committed to supporting servicemembers and their families. It is a partner in the Defense Department's America Supports You program that showcases initiatives groups, companies and individuals nationwide are undertaking to support America's men and women in uniform and their families.

Blue Star Mothers' Show Support

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

Feb. 26, 2007 – While some American homes have only drapes or blinds in the windows, other households also display a unique flag that signifies a family's support of a son's or daughter's service in the military. Those banners represent an old tradition and are part of Blue Star Mothers of America Inc., a patriotic organization that traces its roots back to World War I, when mothers displayed flags decorated with stars signifying the number of offspring serving in the military.

Gail Cunningham, a resident of Lakewood, N.J., founded New Jersey-based Chapter 1 of the Blue Star Mothers in March 2005. "Blue Star Mothers" banners seen in members' windows can be obtained through the organization's Web sites, she said.

"We do support the troops, because those are our sons and daughters," Cunningham said, noting her son is a medic in the Air Force Reserve.

Cunningham said her chapter is proud to partner with the America Supports You campaign, a Defense Department-sponsored program highlighting the ways Americans are supporting the nation's servicemembers.

"ASY helps us a lot and posts our events on their Web site," Cunningham said. In addition, as part of the "Why We Serve" program, ASY will furnish two servicemembers who will talk to New Jersey residents about their experiences in places like Iraq, Afghanistan or the Horn of Africa, she added.

ASY's grassroots coordinator, Camille Hart, has proved invaluable, Cunningham said.

"Camille is an excellent resource person in finding ways to help us publicize our organization and meet goals," Cunningham said, "and she also helps us reach out for corporate sponsorship of Blue Star Mothers chapters."

Blue Star Mothers chapters routinely send care packages, including cakes and cookies, to support U.S. troops deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan as part of the war against terrorism, Cunningham said.

"For Christmas, we sent over 25 packages to Iraq," she said. "We try to send them something from home."

Cunningham started the Blue Star Mothers New Jersey chapter after her son enlisted in the Air Force.

"I was expecting his deployment to Iraq, and I needed some kind of support," Cunningham said. "So, I went on the Internet and searched for a group, and I came upon the Blue Star Mothers."

There was no New Jersey chapter at that time, Cunningham noted, so she chartered one. Another New Jersey chapter has been established since, she said. Cunningham's chapter has about 35 members who live statewide.

Cunningham's husband, Goldsmith, nicknamed "Goldie," is an associate member of the chapter and an Air Force veteran.

"I have a little insight into what's going on" regarding military matters, Goldsmith Cunningham said. He added that his wife and the Blue Star Mothers "are doing an outstanding job" in support of servicemembers and their families.

"We are all family, and we stand by each other," he said.

Sponsors of the article include criminal justice online leadership; and, military and police personnel who have written books.