Every year, we mark Veteran's Day with parades and, as a nation, we say thank you to veterans for the service they've given. We also remember those soldiers who have given their lives for their country. Restaurants give free meals and politicians remind us to keep the sacrifices of our military in mind. This year, I've watched several political debates where the issue of military action and veteran care has been discussed. It seems that veterans and the issues surrounding them are important…

Military action often leads to casualties. It's an unfortunate reality that when service members are sent in to harm's way serious injuries and deaths will occur. Evidence of the carnage of war and military action has been around since the 1800's. Civil War photographers captured images of dead American and Confederate soldiers who died in some of the fiercest battles our country has ever seen. The 20th Century introduced us to video. Since World War 2, the public has been exposed to the…

Anyone know where I can get a baseball cap or bumper sticker to advertise Dryhootch?

Attached is a list of companies, stores, restaurants etc., that offer special discounts over Veterans Day. If you know of more, please add a comment! Also, Note: always call (or visit web site) before going to be sure of the date the discount is being offered, or if the particular location is even participating.

Restaurants…

In addition to our Veterans Career Camp that takes Vets from unemployment to a career we will now be offering these additional benefits for Veterans:

Computer Training Lab to train Vets in basic computer skills



Computer Repair Lab to train Vets to repair computers and upon completion of training will be a Certified Computer Technician that will lead them to a career.



The VEA Center will also have an internal computer repair facility that will employ Vets that are…

“Celebrating Our Troops”

An Open Letter to the Church:

The community is sometimes unacquainted with the role of public service, and the lives of the many unsung heroes who have sacrificed their lives to provide global security and service to this country and community as a whole as military personnel.   As a veteran, I want to challenge our communities of faith to support our combat ready Armed Forces (by providing opportunities such as letter…

I just sent an email to Budweiser telling them that I would boycott all of their products until they stop showing an ad that shows a vet returning home from military service. The first thing the guy gets from his friend/brother is a bottle of beer. I told them that I thought their Wall Street ad men don't seem to care about the drug/alcohol problems of our service men and women. Please join me in boycotting all Budweiser products until they pull this ad.  Thanks.

The breaking news tonight of Bin Laden's death creates a lot of emotions. This will not bring back the thousands of lives lost and millions affected, but we can celebrate this accomplishment. We are a nation of uncompromising pride, strength, and courage to prevail. As we will inevitably be faced with moments of trial, we also have many things to embrace. …

A Vietnam veteran that I wrote about recently in my PTSD article sent me these two site today. I think many of you will find them interesting IF you do not know about them. They are using their writing of poems and art to help heal. Excellent work. 

http://warriorwriters.blogspot.com/

 …

Over the past several years military families have found themselves unwittingly on the front lines of a dangerous battle- the increasingly widespread battle against “invisible wounds”. The term invisible wounds refers to a several vastly different injuries, like post-traumatic stress disorder, mesothelioma, and traumatic brain injury, that are ailing soldiers and their families.  These wounds, which have been increasingly commonly in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, are called invisible…

I hope all of the members of Dry Hootch get to read my latest article. With all the returning veterans suffering from PTSD from Iraq & Afganhistan the numbers are staggering and I think the information I give in the article will give great hope to these men and women that have put their lives on the line for our country. In the article is a story of a Vietnam veteran that suffered from PTSD for over 37 years and is now on his way to full recovery and enjoying life again. 

This is…

I heard about Dry Hootch and joined. There was a chapter from Menomonie, WI. This is only about 40 miles from where live. It was the closest chapter.

Next time I came to the site, the chapter didn't exist. I have asked around on here, but never received an answer to what happened to this Menomonie Chapter of Dry Hootch.

In the meantime, I joined a Dry Hootch chapter that was for Vets older than 60. No one in that chapter is anywhere close to where I am in the Northwestern part…

This may be one of the great PTSD healing techniques out there:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Yuxq_5JTtc&feature=related

Please share.

I know this is late, but I need help for 3 hours tomorrow, 3/25/2011, selling Dryhootch coffee at an event at the Italian Community Center. I was going to handle the event alone, but a close friend of mine (A Vet) passed away Tuesday night and we're holding a memorial service tomorrow at the VA hospital chapel. I'd need help from 12:30pm - 3:30pm. The event is a luncheon honoring local women. During the event women buy items that they then send to military women stationed in combat zones.…