Knitted Hats for Our Amvets Scholarship Fund

Come in and get one of these very warm handknitted hats and support Amvets Scholarship Fund. Made by a master knitter. If you want to make a monetary donation reach out to our local Amvets. Information on the flyer.

Amvets Scholarship Fund Central Page

The Value of Friendship for Veterans

Illustrative
The value of friends.

Friendship is an important aspect of one’s life, and the more we develop quality friendships, the happier we often become and the more connected we feel to the social world around us. In many ways, friendship also plays a significant role in the world of business and life. When people become familiar with you and learn to trust your perceptions and judgments, opportunities tend to open up. This is one reason social networking is so common for those trying to advance within an organization, career, or professional field.

Much of what happens in life occurs through our social affiliations. These connections help us feel part of society and our communities, and they also help things get done when they need to be done. Because of this, being socially involved is both beneficial and practical. Friendship can take many forms, including close personal friends, social clubs, business associates, veterans groups, sports and recreation partners, or connections formed through shared activities.

On a deeper level, people are designed to function as part of a social organism. Those who are skilled at connecting people and building friendships are especially valuable because they foster interactions that often lead to growth and development. At the same time, it is important to be thoughtful about the types of friends you keep, as they tend to influence you personally and often reflect aspects of your own value system.

This does not mean judging every friend over minor details, but it does mean striving to surround yourself with quality individuals—people who are honest, demonstrate integrity, have your best interests in mind, and show consistency in their behavior. When you surround yourself with strong people, your chances of succeeding both personally and professionally increase because your support network is solid.

On the other hand, if you surround yourself with people who create negative experiences, you are more likely to become entangled in those negative patterns. This study was interesting because it explored the nature of friendship and reviewed existing literature on the topic. Whether you are a regular person, a veteran, or simply someone living your life, it is worth considering the importance of good friends and how they help create a sense of connectedness with the world.

Adult Friendships and Wellbeing

Stoicism and Military Veteran Leadership: A few thoughts on mastering challenges for business and life.

(Illustrative Only)
Representing Veteran Stoic 
Lessons for Executives, Leaders,
Business Owners. etc.

When one masters their response they begin to master their environment and philosophy can help us understand how this may work.Those who serve in the military, including veterans, often develop advanced skills out of necessity. They are regularly required to overcome challenges and complete missions, and those experiences tend to produce deep insight. Great challenges often lead to great change both personally and environmentally. 

Some may argue that philosophy has little to do with military or veteran development, but it is closely connected to understanding human nature under pressure in a broad environment. The article discussed philosophy and Stoicism, which was especially thought-provoking. As people develop, their emotional reactivity tends to decrease while their strategic thinking improves. This is where true mastery begins. Win or lose you did your part and were positively impactful.

At this stage, individuals learn to choose their responses making them a key strategic player. They act in ways that are most helpful to their unit, community, society, or organization. Developing this ability requires consistent challenge, adaptation, and overcoming adversity. Taking a moment to step back and think through options often leads to better outcomes. Acting impulsively, on the other hand, often leads to mistakes.

These ideas also apply to business ownership and executive development. This is one reason veterans are often strong candidates for leadership and development roles within organizations. Statistically, many have also succeeded in business by creating new opportunities for themselves. In many cases this persistence in the face of challenge and the ability to step back and make a strategic choice has long term benefits for personal and organizational development.

Over time, lessons learned across different situations help develop the ability to pause, evaluate options, create a strategy, and then execute it. Those who have served not only observe large organizations in action but often face situations that force them to challenge assumptions and adapt to new realities. Through this, they come to understand the edges and possibilities of personal development.

For those who master these challenges, they have learned a lesson in real life that most others can only view from a book, podcast or theory; even though they may not always know. This is a lesson many people struggle to successfully navigate throughout their lives. No executive grooming program can tap the worm at the core on that level. You understand when you can think "Impossibility is a paper tiger" crumple it up and threw it in the trash can where it belongs. Each challenge is a lesson and a chance to improve so choose to adapt willingly and come out stronger on the other side.

Stoicism and Military Leadership: Why Calm Command Still Matters

Research a WWII Veteran: The National WWII Museum

Illustrative of WWII 
Trench

Veterans are an essential part of our history. Across generations, they have served to help secure the freedoms many of us experience today. We cannot fully understand our future without knowing our past and making sense of the present.

At times, it is important to look back—to our fathers and mothers, our forefathers and foremothers—to better understand the sacrifices they made. Many families have relatives who served in World War II, and some of them, sadly, never returned. Their stories are part of our collective memory and deserve to be remembered.

This database offers an opportunity to search for the names of those who served and to learn more about their lives and service—details you may not have known before. For relatives, some of this information may be available at no cost.

If you are interested in learning more about your own family history, this database is worth visiting. Thank you for taking the time to explore and remember.

National WWII Veteran-Research a Veteran

Art Therapy for Veterans-Remote around the UP

Art is a way of expressing yourself—of exploring the connections between images, ideas, thoughts, colors, and feelings. We’re living in a time when more people are looking inward and seeking growth and awareness. Some find it through yoga or meditation, others through travel, volunteering, or personal development. But have you ever tried art?

DAV: Women Veterans-The Journey to Mental Wellness

From the Iron Mountain VA. 

 

VA Releases Findings on Vaccines, Heart Disease, and Veteran Homeless Care

The VA has released several interesting findings that highlight ongoing research into respiratory vaccines, potential treatments for heart disease, and healthcare services for homeless veterans. Research aimed at supporting veterans is critically important, as it often leads to new discoveries that can make a real difference in people’s lives. While research is a long and rigorous process, even incremental progress can result in saving or improving hundreds—if not thousands—of lives.

Staying informed about VA news is helpful for veterans and for those who work with or support them. It provides insight into what resources are available and how taxpayer dollars are being used. The three studies referenced below were released by the VA and are available for review if you are interested in their findings.

Thank you, veterans, for your service.

VA Research Wrap Up: New findings on RSV vaccines, heart disease and homelessness