Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/646059
ByJohnMinton There is some research suggesting that our 22 vet- erans taking their lives each day might offer them some hope. A lot of dynamics go into what makes each vet- eran tick. This also includes their families. What personal trauma did the person joining bring with them? What traumas occurred during their ser- vice? Were they and their families properly treated after the trauma? Why do they want to return to their military units? Why don't they want to reconnect with their families and commu- nities? Each situation is differ- ent but some factors ap- pear similar. Some joined their branch of service be- cause of family tradition or maybe they wanted to leave some traditions be- hind and begin their own. Something drew in each veteran. Bringing this with them they meet, train to- gether and possibly serve and suffer in a combat the- ater with many others ei- ther with similar or totally different backgrounds. Many, if not most, seem- ingly thrive on this while for others it's way more dif- ficult. Bonding can be dif- ficult for these others. But hasn't this gone on since men and women have gone off to war? Previously I mentioned a book that in- cludes most of this re- search, "Healing from the War," by Arthur Egendorf (1985). Then a lot of it seems to be how each returning vet- eran feels treated by their family, their friends, their community, and especially other veterans and veter- an's services organizations. Even though we all served under one flag it's as if only our era mattered more than someone else's. Why? Pos- sibly other dynamics, such as thinking your branch is better than that of another. Same flag, though. This research that I men- tioned suggests that if each veteran is greeted and wel- comed back and support and friendship are offered, instead of feeling like being looked down on, a veteran may feel more relaxed and willing and able to want to talk about their experi- ences. They may be able to let go of certain circumstances more easily. I've heard that "Empathy is the strongest word in the English lan- guage," as written in "Ver- bal Judo, the Gentle Art of Persuasion," by George B. Thompson. Ph.D. and Jerry B. Jenkins. We've all walked in our own shoes but have we walked in another veter- an's shoes? We tell our sto- ries but have we listened to those who are return- ing now or anybody else's? They may not be ready to share but they need to know that when they're ready someone will be there for them and their families. Families are vet- erans, too. They live it ev- ery day. They've served. Why does it go that we do not honor them? The research also sug- gests that if veterans are offered membership through encouragement in various organizations, in- cluding but not limited to volunteering with youth, the elderly and the dis- abled, they may see it as a new mission to be involved with. They may feel some control over their own des- tinies. It's one thing to say, "Thank you for your ser- vice." But why not also in- clude, "How may we serve you now?" Maybe make it an open invitation, but don't push too hard or too often. These ideas are only a beginning, though. It has to start somewhere. Why not with each of us in our own families, our own neighborhoods or our own veteran organiza- tions? Veterans have much to offer and many skills to demonstrate. Who might be the greatest beneficia- ries of these skills? Every- body, but especially our children. Another saying is that "Our greatest natural re- source is our children." But it's also our veterans. It won't be easy but that may only mean that it's worth it. The effort will be worthwhile. America benefits. It is hoped that as veter- ans return they are greeted fairly with justice, espe- cially by other veterans from all eras. Invite them to church, to help with the elderly and disabled, but especially to our many youth organizations. Vet- erans don't need or want pity. But they need encour- agement. Veterans have earned it. They've fought under one flag. Isn't it time to fight for them and their families? VeteranJohnMinton served from 1973 to 1984. His email is JarusHeadus5@gmail. com. VETERAN'S CORNER Empathyandthetwenty-two The Tehama County/ Red Bluff Landfill is now accepting textiles for recy- cling free of charge when segregated from the rest of a load. Common recycla- ble textiles include cloth- ing items, clothing acces- sories — i.e., purses, hand- bags, backpacks, belts, etc. — and household textiles — i.e. bedspreads, sheets, blankets, drapes, quilts, towels, washcloths, lin- ens, etc. Textiles must be self- hauled to the landfill, not placed in residential or commercial recycling ser- vice containers for pickup. When bringing your tex- tiles to the landfill, re- member to segregate the material from the rest of your load and inform the scale house attendant that you will be dropping off textiles for recycling. Unacceptable items for textile recycling include pillows, sleeping bags, mattresses, rugs, carpet, cushions, foam furniture, foam mats, vinyl shower curtains, large luggage, wet items and smelly or moldy items. If you have any questions or con- cerns, call the landfill at 528-1102. Have gently used items in good condition? Try do- nating or giving them to someone who might find them useful. Remember — Reduce, Reuse and then Recycle. Carpet, carpet pad- ding, mattresses and box springs are accepted as part of separate recycling programs at the landfill. Call 528-1102 for more in- formation. TEHAMA COUNTY Textiles now accepted at the landfill for recycling The United Way of Northern California will be releasing a new request for proposals for commu- nity charities to apply for funding through the United Way Workplace Giving Campaign. It is looking for agen- cies that fall under three primary categories: Solu- tion Based Programs, Ba- sic Needs and Innovative Programs. Solutions Based Pro- grams will focus on cre- ating financial stabil- ity in the community by supporting the focus of the United Way's Pros- perity Initiative through one of these five areas: Increasing Financial Sta- bility, Preparing a High Skill Workforce, Build- ing Community Pride & Identity and Enhancing Civic Engagement, De- veloping Our Youth and Achieving Economic Vi- tality. The United Way want to support community move- ments that involve collab- orative efforts between multiple agencies and fo- cus on the work of Collec- tive Impact. You can learn more about Collective Impact by going to http://www. norcalunitedway.org/ community-impact-0. Basic Needs programs will focus on meeting the immediate and basic needs of the nine-county region. The Innovative Pro- gram funding would ide- ally support a new, use- ful and valuable project that fills a gap currently in one of the communities of United Way of Northern California. This must be a program that is not currently in place in your area or of- fers an alternative part- nership for multiple agen- cies. United Way will be of- fering three forum hours — 1-2 p.m. Friday, March 18, 10-11 a.m. Monday, March 21 and 3-4 p.m. Fri- day, March 25 — so that agencies can learn about the new process and ask questions prior to the re- lease of the request for proposals. All of the fo- rums will be hosted in the UWNC Community Room, 2280 Benton Drive, Bldg. B in Redding. RSVP for one of these dates by Wednesday, March 16 to Phylicia Snow, development direc- tor at psnow@norcalunit- edway.org or call 241-7521 ext. 101. UNITED WAY Request for proposals from charities to be issued Advocacy American Legion, Lassen Post 0167 Red Bluff, 528-1026 American Legion, Rais- ner Post 45 Corning, 518-3152 Am Vets, Post 2002 Corning, 526-2883 VFW Los Molinos, 384-1301 Red Bluff, 528-1026 Corning Post 4218 Dis- trict 15 Auxiliary 4218, District 15 824-5957 DAV 529-4579 Marine Corps League, Detachment 1140 (888) MCL-1140 Military Family Support Group 529-1852 or 529-2416 Services Tehama County Veterans Service Office 529-3664 Tehama County Veterans Collaborative Tehama Together, 527- 2223 Veteran Resource Cen- ter Chico (530) 809-2831 Redding (530) 223-3211 VA Crisis Hotline (800) 273-8255 VA Homeless Outreach (530) 247-7917 Redding VA Outpatient Clinic (530) 226-7555 Chico VA Outpatient Clinic (530) 879-5000 Veterans Home, Redding (530) 224-3800 Faith Based Advocacy PATH — Poor And The Homeless 736-3959 Pastor Dave Lambers, VCF 736-3400 Serving veterans? If your local organization or government entity offers service specific to veterans, send contact information to editor@redbluffdailynews. com, fax to 527-9251 or drop it off at 545 Diamond Ave. in Red Bluff during busi- ness hours to be added to this listing. RESOURCES Veterans services and advocacy groups listed PLEASE RECYCLE THIS NEWSPAPER. Publishedthroughaneventco- sponsorship agreement with the RedBluff Exchange Club & Soroptimist International presentthe 10 th ANNUAL SEARCH FOR TALENT SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27 TH 7:00 PM AT RED BLUFF'S HISTORIC STATE THEATRE TICKETS ADULTS = $5.00 11-18 = $3.00 UNDER 10 = FREE for further information, contact Ben Hughes at 527-6654 LIFESTYLES » redbluffdailynews.com Saturday, February 27, 2016 »MOREAT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS A7