Fallen leaves: a story of remembrance

by Staff Sgt. Jarad A. Denton
501st Combat Support Wing Public Affairs

11/11/2015 - CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom -- It was a cool, autumn morning, and the leaves had only recently turned from a rich green to vibrant shades of red, yellow and orange.

They held fast to their branches before a gust of wind blew them away to gently descend on the people gathered in solemn reverence at Cambridge American Cemetery, United Kingdom, Nov. 11.

"We are gathered here today to remember," said Lt. Gen. Timothy Ray, 3rd Air Force and 17th Expeditionary Air Force commander. "We are all connected to this in a very obvious way. For us, this is personal - but to some, it is not."

Speaking during the annual Veterans Day ceremony, the general reflected on the 3,812 American Service members buried beneath the marble headstones adorning the cemetery.

"I stand here in vain hope that what I have to say will add meaning and value to this place, this location and this event," Ray said.

As Ray spoke, the winds shifted - blowing the fallen leaves against the wall behind him. Known as the Tablets of the Missing, the stone wall is engraved with the names of 5,127 Americans who were declared missing in action.

"Remember the stories," Ray said, speaking directly to U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 501st Combat Support Wing, who organized the ceremony. "Remember where we came from and all those who have gone before us. We have a tremendous obligation to live a life that is worthy of the sacrifice of those who have gone before us."

With quiet and distinguished reverence, Ray joined Col. Kevin Cullen, 501st CSW commander, along with U.S. and UK military and civic leaders, in laying wreaths to honor the fallen.

"It is in unison with Remembrance Day that we honor all veterans, including many of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of freedom," Cullen said. "And when it was all over we asked for nothing - just enough ground to bury our dead."

Among the trees and falling leaves at Cambridge American Cemetery, a little more than 30 acres were needed to give the dead their last measure of peace. As a stark contrast to the fleeting nature of the fallen leaves, the headstones and monuments stand as immortal testaments to the heavy price that comes from victory - and the importance of remembrance.

"Know that your stories are great to us," Ray said. "They teach us, they lead us and they inspire us. We need to hear those stories from the past. We need to know that we don't just serve for freedom and peace - we serve to honor the legacy set for us."

Obama Stresses Country’s Debt to Veterans

By Jim Garamone DoD News, Defense Media Activity

ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, Va., November 11, 2015 — Americans must do more than simply recognize what veterans mean to the country one day a year, President Barack Obama said here today.

While it is right and proper to recognize veterans on Veterans Day, “our tributes will ring hollow if we stop there,” the president said after placing a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

“If tomorrow, after the parades and the ceremonies, we roll up the banners and sweep the veterans’ halls and go back to our daily lives, forgetting the bond between the service of our veterans and our obligations as citizens, then we will be doing a profound disservice to our veterans and to the very cause for which they serve,” he said.

Veterans Day “is also a reminder of all that they still have to give to our nation and our duty to them,” Obama said.

There are 21.5 million veterans today and the country is in the midst of a new wave of veterans, the president said. Since 9/11 more than a million service members have completed their military service and returned to civilian life. Each year another 200,000 transition to veteran status. The 9/11 generation -- tested in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan -- deserve the care they were promised, Obama said.

Matching 'Words With Deeds'

“The good news is that in recent years, we have made historic investments to boost the VA budget, expand benefits, offer more mental health care and improved care for our wounded warriors, especially those with post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury,” the president said.

The disability claims backlog is slashed by nearly 90 percent. There has been tremendous progress in “reducing the outrage of veterans’ homelessness,” the president said. “Still, the unacceptable problems that we’ve seen, like long wait times and some veterans not getting the timely care that they need, is a challenge for all of us if we are to match our words with deeds.”

Despite the progress, Obama is not satisfied. “We are going to keep investing in the facilities and the physicians and the staff to make sure that our veterans get the care that you need when you need it,” he said. “That is our obligation, and we are not going to let up.”

Veterans also need the skills needed to compete for 21st century jobs. More than 1.5 million veterans and their families are using the post-9/11 G.I. Bill for education. “That’s why we worked to make sure that every state now provides veterans and their families with in-state tuition,” Obama said. “That’s why we're fighting to make it easier for our veterans to get the licenses and certifications to transition the outstanding skills they gained in the armed services to civilian jobs. That’s why we're helping more veterans and military spouses find jobs.”

Veteran unemployment is 3.9 percent – even lower than the national average, which is 5 percent.

Specialists, Leaders, Managers

Government alone can’t do it all, nor should it, the president said. “I realize that with less than 1 percent of Americans serving in uniform, the other 99 percent of folks don’t always see and appreciate the incredible skills and assets that our veterans can offer,” he said. “On this Veterans Day, here’s what I want every American to know. Our veterans are some of the most talented, driven, capable people on Earth.”

Leaders tested on the battlefield have no fear of making decisions in a corporation. Specialists using cutting edge technologies can apply those skills in the civilian sector. Veterans demonstrated the ability to adapt, and while primarily warriors, also have performed humanitarian work and recovery operations. “They've managed large-scale projects, they've learned how to work on teams, how to stay committed to a mission, how to solve seemingly intractable problems,” the president said. “They get stuff done, and they are selfless, and they are brave and they are qualified. And America needs folks who know how to get stuff done.”

Service members who come home are not done serving. They are the ones volunteering for Scout troops or service organizations or at religious institutions.

“Our veterans are moms and dads, they are teachers and doctors, engineers and entrepreneurs, social workers and community leaders,” he said. “They are serving in statehouses across the country, they are serving in Congress. You’ve got a proud veteran, retired Navy Captain Scott Kelly, commander of the International Space Station, who is up there right now.”

Jen's Story

The president pointed out the journey of one veteran -- Jennifer Madden. “Jen joined the army at 17 years old. She wanted to be just like her grandpa, a Korean War veteran,” he said. “Her very first day of basic training was September 11, 2001.”

Madden deployed to Afghanistan where she pulled security details during attacks, and lost friends. “When she came home she tried to get back into her old life but she found she simply couldn't stay focused in school or at work,” the president said. “She was struggling to relate to her family and her friends. Soon she was self-medicating and became homeless.

“Jen felt like she had lost her mission, her sense of purpose,” the president continued. “But then, thanks to an organization that connects veterans with therapists who donate their time, Jen was able to get counseling at no charge.”

The young veteran began dealing with her post-traumatic stress, and she put her life back together. Today, “Jen and the love of her life, Josh, are raising two beautiful children,” Obama said. “She is a licensed nurse. She works at a rehab facility helping folks who are just like her, including veterans, get back on their feet.”

Madden is also working with the Joining Forces initiative, sponsored by Michelle Obama and Jill Biden.

“I tell Jen’s story because, like all our brave men and women in uniform, Jen represents the best of who we are as a nation,” the president said. “She has sacrificed for us and has the scars – seen and unseen – that are part of that sacrifice. And she is an example of what is possible when we express our gratitude not just in words, not just on one day, but through deeds every day when we open our hearts and give hope to our returning heroes.”

McDonald: New Generation of Vets Continue Tradition of Service

By Jim Garamone DoD News, Defense Media Activity

ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, Va., November 11, 2015 — Army Capt. Florent Groberg, who will receive the Medal of Honor in a White House ceremony tomorrow, is representative of America’s veterans, the secretary of Veterans Affairs said today.

Bob McDonald, speaking at a Veterans Day ceremony at the Memorial Amphitheater here, said Groberg’s actions in Kunar province, Afghanistan are "emblematic of the service and sacrifices of young men and women from every generation of American veterans.”

McDonald said Groberg – who was medically retired due to his wounds – “acted in a manner that saved the lives of many of his comrades.” Still, a suicide bomber killed four men in his patrol.

“When he was informed last month that he would receive the Medal of Honor, he said, ‘This medal belongs to them. It’s my mission to tell everyone thank you for recognizing me, but this does not belong to me. It belongs to them,’” McDonald said.

Selfless Service for Others

For 240 years, Americans have answered the call to duty to preserve and defend the vision that is the United States, he said.

“Each generation has done its part to deliver a strong and free America to the next generation,” the secretary said. “They have done so with great determination, personal toughness and willingness to risk it all for others.”

McDonald especially acknowledged those who served in two conflicts. “This year marks the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and the beginning of our 50th commemoration of the decade-long war in Vietnam,” he said. “To those who fought in both wars, thank you for your selfless service. Americans are ever grateful for your sacrifices.”

McDonald said his agency will continue to drive the claims backlog down. The VA has hired new staff and is opening new facilities, he said, and the agency is looking to further partnerships within communities.

The secretary praised President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden for their support and for finding new resources for veterans. “The president and vice president understand and value the service and sacrifice of veterans,” McDonald said. “That’s why they have provided strong and increasing resources for care and benefits, support of the new GI Bill to educate the next generation of American leaders, tremendous support to help VA drive down the backlog in claims by almost 90 percent and improve access to quality health care for all veterans.”

The secretary also praised Michelle Obama and Jill Biden for their work with the Joining Forces initiative, which aims to bring the public and private sectors together in support of employment of service members, veterans and all of their family members.

“Veterans could not ask for stronger advocates than our president, vice president and their wives," McDonald said.

Disabled Veterans Use Baking to Work Through PTSD Symptoms

By Shannon Collins DoD News Features, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, November 11, 2015 — Smiles and the smells of freshly baked bread, cakes and cookies greet visitors of Dog Tag Bakery here, a place where disabled veterans can learn more than just baking.

Disabled veterans, their spouses and caregivers can participate in a work-study fellowship that will help them as they transition from the military to the civilian workforce, said Kyle Burns, senior program director for the fellowship program at Dog Tag Bakery.

The Program

Burns said the program has three prongs: The first is education, where they partner with Georgetown University to deliver a certificate in business administration through the university’s School of Continuing Studies. The second prong is rotations through the different business roles at the bakery, such as management, human resources, marketing, public relations, product development and customer service. The third prong is developing transition skills such as resume preparation, interview skills, group dynamics, resolving conflict in the workplace and networking.

“Throughout the course, we put what they learned from the classroom into the hands-on experience here in the bakery,” she said.

The bakery opened last year, and its second set of students began their five-month course in June and graduate next week. Most of the students have post-traumatic stress or traumatic brain injuries.

“It’s incredible to see the transition for all of them,” Burns said. “They start anxious and excited, and then they go through this journey. It’s challenging, and it’s interesting and exciting. It’s just amazing to watch as they blossom and grow and begin to see how valuable the skill sets are and how needed they are in the civilian world -- and they begin the see their place in it.”

Helping Veterans Plan for the Future

For Josh Tredinnick, a medically retired Army sergeant, the Dog Tag Bakery fellowship gave him a new future.

Tredinnick was injured in 2009 in Afghanistan when he was struck by an improvised explosive device. He had hip and back surgery and has a TBI and PTSD. He said his work in a veteran support office was fulfilling, but baking has always been beneficial for him.

“Baking has been very therapeutic as far as just getting me involved in a healthy activity,” he said. “What I’ve enjoyed most about it that you can take this set of ingredients, you can follow these steps, and you’re more than likely to come out with this final product every single time.

“You take these small steps and do it correctly, you put everything you’ve got into it, and you’ll come out with a better product on the other end,” Tredinnick added. He said his favorite part of baking is the variety of breads that can be made from the same basic set of ingredients.

He said his wife, Erica, has enjoyed his work at the bakery, especially when he brings home some of the French baguettes he bakes.

“She’s been very supportive,” he said. “She’s excited for what happens next.”

Taking Advantage of an Opportunity

Burns said Tredinnick is making the most of his fellowship.

“Josh is really dedicated to the program and what he can take from it, taking advantage of all kinds of opportunities and making this an experience that will benefit him in his future,” she said.

Tredinnick said he hopes to open his own bakery and already has a job lined up at another bakery when he graduates next week.

He and Burns recommend that disabled veterans and their spouses and caregivers consider applying to programs like this one.

“It’s okay to take help, and it’s okay to know that the next steps are probably going to be a little difficult. But take advantage of the opportunities that are out there, especially when you can find good programs like this. It will really be beneficial,” Tredinnick said.

The professors provide handouts, resources online and a book to reinforce the material for those with PTSD and TBI issues, he added.

“There are two fellowship programs each year,” Burns said. “... We are always looking for wounded warriors, sponsors and caregivers to be a part of those classes.”

The application is available at www.dogtagbakery.org, she said, noting that they are recruiting right now for the January class. “We encourage anybody who thinks this might be a great program for them to please apply,” Burns said.

She also encourages anybody who would just like to visit the Dog Tag Bakery to just stop by.

“We’re open Tuesday through Sunday in Georgetown, off M Street and Wisconsin, toward the river. We have free Wi-Fi. Come down and get a great cup of coffee and great pastry or a sandwich,” Burns said. “You can also get a dog tag made on one of the original dog tag presses and take one home as a keepsake, and we’ll hang the other up on the dog tag chandelier to honor a fallen service member. Proceeds go toward the fellowship.”