TBI is caused by forced trauma to the head, either by being shaken or hit. The severity of a TBI varies from case to case, but symptoms range from mild concussions to a debilitating state. The majority of TBI’s acquired by military personnel are classified as mild traumatic brain injuries (MTBI). Initial symptoms of MTBI consist of loss of consciousness, disorientation, loss of memory, headache, and temporary loss of hearing and vision. They are often partnered with anxiety, irritability, difficulties processing information, limited concentration amongst other problems experienced down the road. While MTBI is most common amongst the men and women of the armed forces, more severe cases of TBI are happening much more frequently and often require the victim to attended specialty rehabilitative nursing centers, like CareMeridian.

The most common cause of a TBI in the military is due to blasts. There are three degrees of blast injuries where a TBI is common; Primary (due to blast itself), Secondary (due to objects being propelled by a blast) and Tertiary (due to a collision with a third party object). According to the Veterans Health Initiative, active male members of the military from the ages 18-24 are hospitalized with a TBI at a rate of 231 per 100,000 and females 150 per 100,000. Based on military force projections this would mean that 4,141 military personnel are hospitalized on average each year with a TBI, and these numbers often rise during wartimes.

The best prevention for veterans to avert the long-term effects of a brain injury is to recognize the symptoms of a TBI. Once the symptoms are identified an individual should take basic precautionary measures in order to begin the healing and recovery process until a more specific diagnosis can be made.

Service men and women give so much to protect this country and they deserve to come home to a happy and healthy life. Creating awareness about TBI will help ensure their long term health. By helping our veterans, their friends and their families recognize the early warning signs of a TBI, treatment can be sought as early as possible.

Just recently, while surfing the net, I came across a post that I thought will really be helpful for our veterans. It is a collection of discounts for our veterans and it’s just worth sharing. You can see more it of by visiting Exclusive Deals for our Veterans.

A while ago as I was browsing one of my favorite forums, I found a thread that has (I think) a very comprehensive list of veterans organizations with their websites that will surely help our veterans on their specific needs. Here are some of them:

1st Cavalry Division Association – http://www.1cda.org/
2/3 Vietnam Veterans Association – http://233part1.homestead.com/Page1.html
20th Brigade, 79th Group, 104th Engineers – http://www.104thengineers.com/
20th Engineer Brigade Reunion – http://www.20thengineerbrigadereunion.com/
20th Special Forces Group – http://www.alguard.state.al.us/20thSFG.htm
601st/615th Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron Reunion Organiztion – http://www.601st-615th-acw.org/index.html
82nd Airborne Division Association Hartford Chapter – http://www.paratrooper.org/
African American Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – http://www.aaptsdassn.com/
Air Force Association (AFA) – http://www.afa.org/
Air Force Sergeants Association – http://www.afsahq.org/
Air Force Women Officers Associated (AFWOA) – http://www.afwoa.org/
American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) – http://www.aarp.org/
American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor – http://www.west-point.org/family/adbc
American Ex-Prisoners of War – http://www.axpow.org/
American Gold Star Mothers – http://www.goldstarmoms.com/
American Gulf War Veterans Association – http://www.gulfwarvets.com/
American Legion – http://www.legion.org/
American Logistics Association – http://www.ala-national.org/
American Logistics Association (ALA) – http://www.ala-national.org/

To view the complete list, please visit http://www.patriotfiles.com/forum/showthread.php?t=108962

Just like other military related blogs I read, the Homefront Six blog has articles that are not just interesting but entertaining as well. I also personally like her random thoughts of the day that are mostly extracted from the bible.

Homefront Six is also a blog that commemorates our heroes by including videos and personal petition of prayers for those who have wounded or killed in action. I can simply feel for every word she wrote as well as the poems embedded in every post. This is actually one of the many blogs with a true heart for our service men. Her other blogs that I usually read are A Princess and a Little Man & Footprints in the Sand.

Thanks to hfs because you’re inspiring me to go on and blog for our heroes.

homefront six blog

Here are more random facts about AMVETS:
1. They promote the interests of veterans including benefits and other programs that aim to help American veterans and their families.
2. This organization is also active in ROTC and JROTC wherein they present awards, scholarships, and savings bonds to qualifying cadets in a unit.
3. Their members include ladies-auxiliary, sons of AMVETS and Junior AMVETS

3.1 Ladies Auxiliary group include the wives, daughters, granddaughters, adopted daughters, mothers, sisters and grandmothers of AMVETS members.
3.2 Sons of AMVETS include the sons, grandsons, adopted sons, stepsons, brothers, grand fathers, fathers and husbands of AMVET members.
3.3 Junior AMVETS includes the under-18 children and grandchildren of AMVETS MEMBERS, Ladies Auxiliary and Sons of AMVETS Riders.

For more details about AMVETS, you may visit their official site at www.amvets.org

Over the years, the United States has created remarkable inventions that made history. And two of its very important inventions are what we are using right now, the Internet and Global Positioning System (GPS).

All of us knew that the Internet was created primarily for military operation and communication. It was only released to be used by the public in early 90s. Now, we are enjoying the benefit of this technology including shouting to the world about our opinions as well as the opportunity to earn.

On the other hand, the GPS is the same with the Internet. As its name implies, it is used for locating positions. Now, this technology is used on our mobile systems such as cars and phones.

Other well known inventions that we are using now include digital computer, e-mail, programming language and a lot more.

Such non-government associations comprise of establishments that offer preferred pricing benefits to the United States armed forces. And one of the recently announced benefits is the Boston Market deals in partnership with Veterans Advantage.

Boston Market is one of the most famous and favorite restaurants in the country. Their 550 branches are currently serving the 28 States of the country. Through Veterans Advantage membership, the service person can get 20% off their bill when they dine and eat in any Boston Market restaurant across the country.

This is Boston Market’s one way of recognizing the contribution of our service personnel and Veterans Advantage advocate to help them.

Learn more about Boston Market deals…

A Rose by Any Other Name

Just like Anna(the poster), I’m also patriotic and have sympathy to our country’s heroes. Her posts are truly eye openers and I especially like the blog’s portion of featuring the “Wednesday Heroes”. As a matter of fact, I would like to also make a category for the soldier that have been killed in wars as part of my recognition to them.

Aside from being informative, Anna’s posts are also very sympathetic and full of feelings. You can truly feel a lot from her writings. Her blog was also a finalist of the 2006 Blogs of Summer – a true measure of her significant contribution to the www.

Her last post was last May 7, 2009 and it has never been updated until now. It is actually my immense honor to have “ A Rose by Any Other Name” featured as one of the most influential and inspirational blogs about our veterans.

And because they are too many to be listed, I would like to list down all the first ladies during the 20th and 21st century of the United States with their pictures. This will be in reverse-chronological order.

MICHELLE OBAMA (b.1964)

LAURA WELCH BUSH (b.1946)

HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (b.1947)

BARBARA PIERCE BUSH (b.1925)

NANCY DAVIS REAGAN (b.1921)

ROSALYNN SMITH CARTER (b.1927)

ELIZABETH BLOOMER FORD (b.1918)

PATRICIA RYAN NIXON (b.1912 — d.1993)

CLAUDIA TAYLOR (LADY BIRD) JOHNSON
b.1912 — d.2007

JACQUELINE LEE BOUVIER KENNEDY
b.1929 — d.1994

MAMIE GENEVA DOUD EISENHOWER
b.1896 — d.1979

ELIZABETH VIRGINIA WALLACE TRUMAN
b.1885 — d.1982

ANNA ELEANOR ROOSEVELT
b.1884 — d.1962

LOU HENRY HOOVER
b.1874 — d.1944

GRACE ANNA GOODHUE COOLIDGE
b.1879 — d.1957

FLORENCE KLING HARDING
b.1860 — d.1924

EDITH BOLLING GALT WILSON
b.1872 — d.1961

ELLEN LOUISE AXSON WILSON
b.1860 — d.1914

HELEN HERRON TAFT
b.1861 — d.1943

EDITH KERMIT CAROW ROOSEVELT

b.1861 — d.1948

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY to You and the rest of the United States’ First Ladies.

18th Century
Martha Washington
Abigail Adams

19th Century
Martha Jefferson
Dolley Madison
Elizabeth Monroe
Louisa Adams
Rachel Jackson
Hannah Van Buren
Anna Harrison
Letitia Tyler
Julia Tyler
Sarah Polk
Margaret Taylor
Abigail Fillmore
Jane Pierce
Harriet Lane
Mary Lincoln
Eliza Johnson
Julia Grant
Lucy Hayes
Lucretia Garfield
Ellen Arthur
Frances Cleveland
Caroline Harrison
Frances Cleveland
Ida McKinley

I suggest everyone to watch the movie in full listen to every word of the narrator to learn and realize how these men fought for our liberty. Please continue to have them on your prayers.