Veterans Are Needed in Politics

There is a direct correlation between the sad state of the Veterans Administration and the shortage of military veterans in Congress. A generation ago, a majority of our national legislators had served in the military. Treatment of veterans was a priority. But with the advent of the volunteer Army, fewer and fewer Americans have joined the military services leading to a declining veteran component in Congress. At present there are only about 100 members of Congress with military experience – out of 435 – and 28 of these served in Afghanistan or Iraq.

​The treatment of veterans is a critical issue and it will receive a higher priority in Congress when more members of Congress are themselves veterans. To be sure, there are many more veterans serving in state legislatures but at that level they have little ability to influence national policies. On the other hand, the veterans in state legislatures are gaining great experience that will serve them well when they seek national office and especially when they win. 

​We need more veterans making laws and policy. The Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes fully supports efforts to attract promising talent in the ranks of veterans into politics. It can be a tough challenge, but it isn’t rocket science. One can sign up for advanced training in the quest for public office through Veterans Campaign here: http://www.veteranscampaign.org/workshops/. 

If you or someone you know fits this description, please check in with us. We will do what we can to help you. 

- President & CEO of the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes, David Walker

Fun In The Sun

Pool time can be so much fun! Especially with the music cranked up and the kids laughing!

Today, I sit on my deck and listen to the sounds of laughter and water crashing against water. I would not change this for anything!

After a long, 7-day stretch of rain, we are finally enjoying the outdoors again. Seriously though, the pool was crazy cold because of all the rain, but that’s not stopping us from having fun in the sun!

We’ve played Marco Polo, volleyball, basketball, and even jumped from the top of the deck! We’ve floated on huge flamingos and laid on a piece of pizza! Haha, real talk.

I’m sad knowing our fun in the sun is quickly coming to an end as school starts in mid-August! But I guess I will still be having fun in the sun while they’re at school!! I mean come on, we are all kids at heart and who doesn’t love a huge pool all to themselves?

Make memories, take pictures, and have as much fun in the sun as you possibly can!

Melissa R.- Heroes Thanking Heroes Representative

When Life Gives You Lemons

As adults, we seem to think less of our childhood- even if it’s someone whom we still are friends with.

However, when tragedy hits all those memories come pouring back into our minds. This past week has been one of the hardest weeks of my life- and I’ve walked through some hard times! My childhood friend who also walked beside me during our homeschooling journey passed away.

A story always has a beginning and an end. Sometimes the end isn’t what we portray it to be. Cancer is ugly. It’s something people fight for days, months, sometimes even years. Well, my friend Tara, she fought the fight for a couple of years. She was pretty much superwoman in my book.

She lost her fight this past week, and it’s really been a life-changing situation for me. We go through emotions not knowing what the next emotion will be. That’s normal. The main thing is, we must keep going! We can’t give in to grief and become isolated. We have to surround ourselves with loving people.

I say all of that to say THIS- we may never know when life is going to give us lemons (or how sour it can be), and we may never be prepared, but when tragedy comes, we need to be strong and keep pushing forward!!

Melissa Riley, Heroes Thanking Heroes Representative

Easy and Simple

If you have children, you will understand my logic here...

I mean, how amazing is grocery pick-up?? I have 3 children and going to the grocery is a CHALLENGE- especially on a budget! BUT, the good ol’ grocery pick-up has saved the day!

It’s so simple! I go online and order groceries- and I’m talking everything down to laundry detergent and pool supplies. It’s that simple. I save so much money by not actually going into the store. Let’s face it. When we are hungry, we SHOULD NOT go grocery shopping! Haha!! We end up buying foods we would never eat or too much of one thing because our eyes are bigger than our bellies!

Sometimes those things are great... when you’re alone!! As for me, I’m very rarely alone. As a caregiver to my veteran husband, and full-time mommy, someone is ALWAYS with me. So grocery pick-up has become my best friend!!

If you haven’t tried it, you should! It has changed my life when it comes to keeping cost down as well as my nerves!
Happy shopping! 

-Melissa Riley, Heroes Thanking Heroes Representative & Veteran Caregiver

The Cabin in the U.P.

Do you have a place where you can go as a family and reconnect?
My family of seven head up north to the Upper Peninsula. My husband’s cousin lets us use the cabin in the summertime, we’re normally here with his parents, but they couldn’t make it this year.
This is the first year, we get the cabin to ourselves for 10 whole days. This is where we leave the stress behind and reconnect as a family. It doesn’t cost us much. We bring our food from home and set a budget.
This cabin has brought our family closer, year after year. I always thank his cousin for letting us come here. There is so much laughter here. My husband and I are able to sit back and talk. It’s hard to explain it really. We all have our own stresses. He has PTSD, I have anxiety, our kids deal with their own stressors, some that we cause them (sorry kids, you know we love you). It isn’t always perfect either, but it’s close enough for us. It’s just out of town, a short walk or bike ride. We take the kids every day and enjoy watching them play at the park or swim in the bay. Meals are planned and they help prep everything. Maybe next year, they’ll have me kick my feet up and just do it all. A mom can daydream about it anyhow.
We celebrated July 4th, we love the fireworks, we love how the whole town comes together and supports one another. We just love it all. We found a couple of yard sales and my kids found some great treasures. My husband and I found a board game. We are hooked!
So far, our trip is going great. If you ever make it up to Michigan, I suggest taking that long drive to the U.P and take in the relaxation there is to be had up here.


Kacy R.

Weathering the Storm

An update from Melissa J.: We are into week two. Still some bumps or rather storms… literally. My oldest finished all her state exams and finals. I am happy to report we are now ready to enter 11th grade, and will even get a permit to drive next month. "Blink and you miss it", they say. "How can time slip that fast away", I think? This is the conversation I had a few times over her first month being born. Clearly I must have blinked, because she is being just this tiny bundle handed to me and babies can’t hold car keys. As trying as she sometimes is being a teenager, I am the lucky one. I get to be her mom. I can’t wait to see where her journey takes her with college browsing starting this fall. Awards night done, dinner finished and I thought wow I have got this!

I set my house to leave because while we are gone the property manager has set updates to be done. I think having that thought was kind of like Murphy's law. I got everything cleaned, started packing, got to work after I set the kids for bed and then a horrible storm blew in, AND the power went out after the lights flickered the magical third time. I knew we just needed to settle in because it was going to be a long time before the lights were back on. Candles lit and Uno out. Jasmine went to play games with her friends. Storm or no storm my littlest was spent and fell asleep just after touching the bed, sprawled out as if she just made a snow angel. She just finished preschool and said goodbye to friends which is hard at any age. Nicholas, who hates storm, was glued to my side (I was the same way as a kid). Uno in the candlelight and fun was found in the darkness. Two rounds and then off to bed for both of us. It's still a school night for him.



The next morning- no power and a school delay. Hopefully, it will be on soon as I do not have time for all of this. GOD clearly understood because the power came back on and by the way- it was not just a horrible Thunder/Lightning storm, it was a tornado that ripped through. This almost never happens in our area. Ignorance really can be bliss. I am so glad I knew that AFTER and not during.
 I now had to finish 2 days of work in one, all while getting 3 kids and myself ready to leave in the morning. Luke’s wings helped my family get airline tickets to visit Nathan over Father’s Day Weekend. All of us needed to be ready to leave at 4:30 am to make our flight. They now have been away from each other for 14 days and are more than excited to go. I do believe in miracles. I can do this one task- one thing handled at a time. And it was. We are off and so thankful for all the help getting there. This will help Nathan's treatment be even more successful. When your homesick and can’t go home yet, you take the next best thing... Home coming to you.

Fourth of July for the Riley's

The 4th of July means an array of emotions in our home. Starting early in the month and lasting for weeks to come- fireworks!

For most of us it’s a time to celebrate with cookouts and fireworks, but for most veterans it means triggers, flashbacks, or discomfort.

There are many things civilians would never think of, or even know to ask a veteran or the family around this time. That’s why, as a caregiver to my husband, I feel I have a responsibility to keep him safe, or at least make him feel safe and comfortable around the Fourth of July and weeks after.

We plan ahead. We know about all of his triggers. We tell our family and friends those triggers as well. For those who don’t know about the triggers you can fill them in by telling them how your veteran gets uneasy around crowds, has light sensitivity to the fireworks, or reacts to the boom of the fireworks.

Always remember to pay attention to your veteran around the Fourth of July and the weeks after. If you noticed them becoming uneasy, remember to take them away from that situation. I speak to our neighbors and ask if they are doing fireworks with a request to please let us know in advance so we can prepare my husband. It seems to help some.

It may seem silly to some people, especially if they’ve never lived with a combat veteran. It doesn’t matter how silly they may think it is- It’s necessary! Take care of your veteran this Fourth of July and the weeks after!

I hope your Fourth of July was amazing and I hope that you enjoyed it to the fullest!